From January 2025, new motorcycles sold in the European Union will have to comply with stricter noise emission standards, with the implementation of the UN-ECE R41.05 regulation.
The new measures do not change the permissible noise limit, but expand the test conditions, which will now include a range of speeds between 10 and 100 km/h and various gear changes. In addition, these tests will now be carried out by independent entities, replacing the manufacturers in the evaluation of the models themselves, which aims to ensure greater accuracy in the results.
The standard, which has already partially covered motorcycles in Europe since 2016, now seeks to mitigate the noise impact of motorcycles in both urban and rural areas. By requiring motorcycles to be tested at higher speeds and in all gears, the EU hopes to reduce the noise generated especially during acceleration, often a complaint in towns and cities.
The change in the enforcement process seeks to make it more difficult for any kind of technical adjustment to manipulate noise, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to minimizing noise pollution and improving the quality of life in areas affected by heavy motorcycle traffic.