[Starwolf]

m also pretty sure that laws that require bikes to be quieter than according to DOT and FMVSS regulaations will be overturned.

I have had similar patchwork issues with headlight modulators, which are on all of our motorcycles. Quite legal, and seem to help them be more conspicuous to on coming traffic. Every so often on a trip some local yokel LEO will take offense to it. I carry the Federal docs to show that they are legal, sometimes that helps, sometimes it doesn't. If it bothers them that much I agree to turn it off, wait until I am out of thier jursidiction and then turn in back on.

Local rules suck in a nation with good interstate highways

[-YYZ-]

I agree. If a vehicle meets federal regulations and is legally licensed in one state (or province, since the US and Canada have coordinated regulations), that should be good enough for any jurisdiction.