It is against the law to alter the structure or color of a motor vehicle. To make the modifications lawful, owners must obtain ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) approval for the new parts and an endorsed registration certificate.
Illegal Bike Modifications in India
1. Exhaust Change
Such modifications are illegal. The number of stares a motorcycle receives as it speeds through traffic while emitting a high-pitched noise may give you a few goosebumps, but I’m sorry to shatter your bubble.
Most inexpensive motorcycle exhausts are free-flowing and easy to install, which protects the environment from your motorcycle’s harmful emissions. Installing free flow exhaust increases the exhaust’s decibel level. The effects of a free-flowing exhaust are much more profound than the advantages.
The police or RTO will seize your motorcycle due to the excessive commotion and increase in emissions. However, few performance-enhancing exhaust systems are available from established manufacturers such as Akrapovic. Sadly, they do not produce exhaust systems for the majority of affordable standard motorcycles.
2. Engine Modification
A motorcycle has many additional components besides the engine. These additional components, such as the exhaust system, have been precisely tuned to function with the engine.
Many motorcycle modifiers alter the engine’s displacement by boring the cylinder to increase power. In addition, they made modifications such as enlarging the carburetor’s fuel injection nozzle and replacing the original air filter.
If you have altered the engine specifications listed in your RC, you will be in serious trouble. No engine modifications are permitted, and the only way to make a motorcycle street-legal is to take it to ARAI, who will homologate the motorcycle again to determine if it satisfies the Indian standard.
3. Modification of the Chassis
It is forbidden to cut the chassis, weld it with more metal, or reshape it in any manner. Many custom motorcycle builders cut and weld the chassis to completely change the motorcycle. Modifying the chassis compromises the motorcycle’s integrity, and the RTO views it as a risky vehicle that could injure you or other road users.
Is Color Modification of Bike Legal in India? Know the Common Rules of Modification!
Modifying the chassis is strictly prohibited unless you intend to transport the motorcycle on a trailer, show it to friends, and return home. Your vehicle’s RC is a legal document that contains all of the information about your motorcycle. If it states two wheels, be sure you don’t convert it to three wheels or purchase a sidecar for fun.
4. The Pressure Horn
In India, pressure horns are prohibited. Pressure horns produce a great deal of noise. The incredibly loud noise produced by pressure horns can also cause hearing damage. These horns can contribute to noise pollution.
Even if you do not use such pressure horns in traffic, simply having them on your bike is enough to have it seized. Avoid these in favor of OEM dual horns.
5. Engine Swaps
Engine exchanges are extremely grave offenses. Your motorcycle’s chassis has been designed to accommodate a specific engine, its power, its weight, and other factors. Other essential components, such as the wheels and brakes, are also adjusted for a specific speed.
Changing the motorcycle’s powerplant alters the vehicle’s dynamics. In India, engine swapping is prohibited and will result in vehicle seizure. Even if you are resurrecting a vintage motorcycle, the engine should be resurrected and not replaced with a different engine.
6. Hid Without Projector
High-Intensity Discharge lamps are extremely potent and may cause harm to the eyesight of onlookers. It is required to install a projector lens to concentrate the beam of HID bulbs. If a police officer or RTO official discovers that an HID has been installed without a projector lens, the motorcycle will be impounded.