2stroke going to 4stroke

[Flashypaint]

There is alot of talk on here lately about 2strokes pollution and lakes being closed to 2strokes. Noise laws and on and on. Does anyone know the latest scoop on when they are supposed to stop production import on them in the US. I have heard through numerous people including motorcycle dealers about this.
Not for sure but seems like it was 2007 everything was going to have to be 4stroke jetskis,boat motors,lawn equipment.etc.
I was told by my motorcycle dealer that parts will still be available but production of new models would not.

Flash

[Backfire]

It is apparent that your "numerous people" don't know jack. There is no Federal ban on anything! There is EPA rules that have to be met for outboards as in 4 stroke and 2 stroke next in 2006 and 2008 and nothing certain beyond that. You can make a turbine, a Wankle, a Sterling, a 2 stroke, a 4 stroke, a whatever as long as it meets the EPA regs. Today, not all four meet those regs for 2006. Today all 2/s Evinrude E-TEC engines meet 2008 regs. Most/all Merc 2/s Optimax meet 2008 regs. Most if not all E-TECs are quieter than 4/s at WFO. Evinrude made a decision to let the engines utter enough sound at idle so you could just tell if the engine actually was running with out having to look at the tach or the pee stream. It's a new day out there, but a lot of people are still in the dark. As far as the bikes go, don't know, don't care, I'm in the dark.
Backfire ;)

[staylor]

...and the extra weight needs more horsepower to push it. I have heard that the only big change for the new EPA regs will be the manufacturers eliminating the small 2 cycle fishing motors in the 2-25 hp range and switching these over to 4 strokes. Bigger 2 strokes will use Opti or E-Tec. I hope Merc or OMC figure out how to adapt Opti or E-Tec to these little motors. My present 15 Merc 2 cycle weighs 78 lbs or so. The 4 stroke 15 Merc is 112 lbs, as much as a old Merc 25 2 stroke. This will probably sink my little 14 ft fishing rig. As for the bigger motors, I'm running a 2002 Opti 150 on my big boat. It's light compared to a 4-stroke, and as far as I can tell runs every bit as well. In fact, I've had 4 stroke guys listen to my Opti at the dock and come over to see the "New merc Opti 4-Stroke". They seemed shocked when I tell them it's a 2 cycle. All I know is that the Opti starts instantly, idles at 570 rpm, doesn't smoke and doesn't foul plugs. Plus, it's a lot quicker than a 150 4 stroke. With a 2 stroke this nice, who needs anything else?

[Backfire]

Nothing printed yet but it is said that Evinrude will take E-TEC to 9.9 hp maybe less. Doubt Optimax will see less than 75 hp, ?.
Backfire ;)