What is Euro 5 motorcycle standard?

Two-wheeled vehicle legislation is changing rapidly and the Euro 4 standard is about to expire. V Euro 5 motorcycle standard came into force in January 2020... It replaces Standard 4 in force since 2016; and 3 other standards since 1999. With regard to the Euro 4 standard, this standard has already changed many aspects of motorcycles, in particular in terms of pollution and noise with the advent of catalysts.

The latest Euro 5 standard is set to come into effect no later than January 2021. This applies to both manufacturers and bikers. Find out everything you need to know about the Euro 5 motorcycle standard.

What is Euro 5 motorcycle standard? Who cares about this?

As a reminder, the European Motorcycle Standard, also referred to as the "pollution control standard", aims to limit the emission of pollutants such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates from two wheels. Therefore, it is regularly updated to reduce the amount of polluting gases.

This standard applies to all two wheels, without exception: motorcycles, scooters; as well as tricycles and quadricycles of category L.

This standard should apply to all new and approved models from January 2020. For older models, manufacturers and operators must make the necessary changes by January 2021.

What does this mean? Builders, this involves modifying existing and commercially available models to bring them in line with European emission standards. Or even the withdrawal from the market of certain models that cannot be adapted.

For example, some manufacturers update motorcycle software to, for example, improve display and thus limit power or noise. What's more, all new models planned for 2021 (such as the S1000R Roadster) meet this standard.

For drivers, this implies changes, especially with regard to traffic in urban areas due to Crit'Air vignettes, which further reinforce restricted traffic areas.

What changes have been made to the Euro 5 motorcycle standard?

The changes introduced by the Euro 5 standard, compared to the previous standards, relate to three main points: emission of polluting gases, noise level and performance of on-board level diagnostics... Of course, the Euro 5 standard for two-wheeled motorized vehicles also brings its share of much stricter regulations for motorcycles and scooters.

Euro 5 emission standard

To reduce pollution, the Euro 5 standard is even more demanding on pollutant emissions. Thus, the changes are noticeable compared to the Euro 4 standard. Here are the maximum values ​​currently in use:

• Carbon monoxide (CO) : 1 mg / km instead of 000 mg / km
• Total Hydrocarbons (THC) : 100 mg / km instead of 170 mg / km
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx) : 60 mg / km nitrogen oxides instead of 70 mg / km nitrogen oxides
• Methane Hydrocarbons (NMHC) : 68 mg / km
• Particles (PM) : 4,5 mg / km particles

Euro 5 motorcycle standard and noise reduction

This is by far the most annoying impact on bikers: noise reduction of two motorized wheels... Indeed, manufacturers are forced to limit the volume of sound produced by their vehicles in order to comply with the Euro 5 standard. These rules will be even stricter with the transition from Euro 4 to Euro 5, whereas Euro 4 already requires a “catalyst.

Besides the catalyst, all manufacturers install a set of valves which allows the valves to be closed at the exhaust level, thereby limiting noise in certain engine speed ranges.

Here are the new standards for the maximum permitted sound volume:

• For bicycles and tricycles less than 80 cm3: 75 dB
• For bicycles and tricycles from 80 cm3 to 175 cm3: 77 dB
• For bicycles and tricycles over 175 cm3: 80 dB
• Cyclists: 71 dB

Euro 5 standard and OBD diagnostic level

The new pollution control standard also provides for: installation of the second integrated diagnostic connector, the famous on-board diagnostics or OBD II. And this is for all vehicles that already have an OBD level.

As a reminder, the role of this device is to detect any malfunction in the emission control system.