Technical Standards Document No. 123, Revision 1 - Motorcycle Controls and Displays

Publication Date: August 22, 2007
Effective Date:  August 22, 2007
Mandatory Compliance Date:  February 22, 2008

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

Technical Standards Document 
Number 123, Revision 1

Motorcycle Controls and Displays

Introduction

As defined by section 12 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, a Technical Standards Document (TSD) is a document that reproduces an enactment of a foreign government (e.g., a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard issued by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). According to the Act, the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations may alter or override some provisions contained in a TSD or specify additional requirements; consequently, it is advisable to read a TSD in conjunction with the Act and its counterpart Regulation. As a guide, where the corresponding Regulation contains additional requirements, footnotes indicate the amending subsection number.

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Effective Date and Mandatory Compliance Date

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In the case of an initial TSD, or when a TSD is revised and incorporated by reference by an amendment to the Regulations, the mandatory compliance date is as specified in the Regulations, and it may be the same as the effective date. When a TSD is revised with no corresponding changes to the incorporating Regulations, the mandatory compliance date is six months after the effective date.

Official Version of Technical Standards Documents

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(Original signed by)

Director, Standards Research and Development
for the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities
Ottawa, Ontario

Technical Standards Document
Number 123, Revision 1

MOTORCYCLE CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS

The text of this document is based on Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 123, Motorcycle Controls and Displays, as published in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Part 571, revised as of October 1, 2006

S1. Scope

This Technical Standards Document (TSD) standard specifies requirements for the location, operation, identification, and illumination of motorcycle controls and displays, and requirements for motorcycle stands and footrests.

S2. Purpose

The purpose of this TSD standard is to minimize accidents caused by operator error in responding to the motoring environment by standardizing certain motorcycle controls and displays.

S3. Application

[CONTENT DELETED] For applicability, see Schedule III and subsection 123(1) of Schedule IV to the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations.

S4. Definitions

Clockwise and counterclockwise mean opposing directions of rotation around the following axes, as applicable:

(a) The operational axis of the ignition control, viewed from in front of the ignition lock opening;

(b) The axis of the right handlebar on which the twist-grip throttle is located, viewed from the end of that handlebar;

(c) The axis perpendicular to the center of the speedometer, viewed from the operator's normal eye position.

(Sens des aiguilles d'une montre et sens contraire des aiguilles d'une montre)

Scooter means a motorcycle that:

(1) Has a platform for the operator’s feet or has integrated footrests, and

(2) Has a step-through architecture, meaning that the part of the vehicle forward of the operator’s seat and between the legs of an operator seated in the riding position is lower in height than the operator’s seat. (Scouteur)

S5. Requirements

S5.1 Each motorcycle shall be equipped with a supplemental engine stop control, located and operable as specified in Table 1.¹

S5.2 Each motorcycle to which this TSD standard applies shall meet the following requirements:

S5.2.1 Control location and operation. If any item of equipment listed in Table 1, Column 1, is provided, the control for such item shall be located as specified in Column 2 and operable as specified in Column 3. Each control located on a right handlebar shall be operable by the operator's right hand throughout its full range without removal of the operator's right hand from the throttle. Each control located on a left handlebar shall be operable by the operator's left hand throughout its full range without removal of the operator's left hand from the handgrip. If a motorcycle with an automatic clutch other than a scooter is equipped with a supplemental rear brake control, the control shall be located on the left handlebar. If a scooter with an automatic clutch is equipped with a supplemental rear brake control, the control shall be on the right side and operable by the operator’s right foot. A supplemental control shall provide brake actuation identical to that provided by the required control of Table 1, Item 11, of this TSD Standard. If a motorcycle is equipped with self-proportioning or antilock braking devices utilizing a single control for front and rear brakes, the control shall be located and operable in the same manner as a rear brake control, as specified in Table 1, Item 11, and in this paragraph.

S5.2.2 Display illumination and operation. If an item of equipment listed in Table 2, Column 1, is provided, the display for such item shall be visible to a seated operator under daylight conditions, shall illuminate as specified in Column 2, and shall operate as specified in Column 3.

S5.2.3 Control and display identification. If an item of equipment in Table 3, Column 1, is provided, the item and its operational function shall be identified by:²

(a) A symbol substantially in the form shown in Column 3; or

(b) Wording shown in both Column 2 and Column 4; or

(c) A symbol substantially in the form shown in Column 3 and English or French wording shown in both Column 2 and Column 4.

(d) The abbreviations "MPH", "km/h", "r/min.", "Hi", "Lo", "L", "R", and "Res." appearing in Column 2 and Column 4 may be spelled in full. Symbols and words may be provided for equipment items where none are shown in Column 2, Column 3, and Column 4. Any identification provided shall be placed on or adjacent to the control or display position and shall appear upright to the operator.

S5.2.4 Stands. A stand shall fold rearward and upward if it contacts the ground when the motorcycle is moving forward.³ 

S5.2.5 Footrests. Footrests shall be provided for each designated seating position. Each footrest for a passenger other than an operator shall fold rearward and upward when not in use.⁴

Table 1 — Motorcycle Control Location and Operation Requirements 

Table 2 — Motorcycle Display Illumination and Operation Requirements

Table 3 — Motorcycle Control and Display Identification Requirements⁵ 

No.	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
	Equipment	Control and Display  Identification Word	Control and Display  Identification Symbol	Identification at Appropriate Position of Control and Display
1	Ignition	Ignition or Contact	_________	Off or Arrêt
2	Supplemental Engine Stop  (Off, Run)	Engine Stop and  Arrêt du moteur		Off and Arrêt, Run and Marche
3	Manual Choke or Mixture Enrichment	Choke and Étrangleur or Enrichener and Enrichissement		_________
4	Electric Starter	_________		Start and  Démarreur¹
5	Headlamp Upper-Lower Beam Control	Lights and Phares		Hi and Route Lo and Code
6	Horn	Horn and Avertisseur		_________
7	Turn Signal	Turn and Clignotant		L and G, R and D
8	Speedometer	MPH or MPH and km/h5	_________	MPH4 MPH, km/h5
9	Neutral Indicator	Neutral and Mort		_________
10	Upper Beam Indicator	High Beam and Faisceau-route		_________
11	Tachometer	R.P.M. or r/min. or Tr/min.	_________	_________
12	Fuel Tank Shutoff Valve  (Off, On, Res.)	Fuel or Carburant		Off or Fermé, On or Ouvert, Res. or Aux.

¹ Required only if electric starter is separate from ignition switch.
² Framed areas may be filled.  
³ The pair of arrows is a single symbol. When the indicators for left and right turn operate independently, however, the two arrows will be considered separate symbols and may be spaced accordingly.
⁴ MPH increase in a clockwise direction. Major graduations and numerals appear at 10-mph intervals, minor graduations at the 5-mph intervals.
⁵ If the speedometer is graduated in miles per hour (MPH) and in kilometers per hour (km/h), the identifying words or abbreviation shall be “MPH” and “km/h” in any combination of upper or lower case letters.

ENDNOTES:

¹ Please see subsections 123(2) and (3) of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (MVSR) for additional requirements.

² Please see subsections 123(5), (6), (8), and (9) of the MVSR for additional requirements.

³ Please see subsection 123(13) of the MVSR for additional requirements.

⁴ Please see subsection 123(14) of the MVSR for an additional requirement.