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Transport Canada
Disclaimer: These documents are not the official versions (more).

MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT

Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations

Standard 123



Controls and Displays--Motorcycles

123. (2) This section does not apply to motorcycles designed and sold exclusively for use by law enforcement agencies.

(3) Every motorcycle shall be equipped with the following equipment controls, namely,

(a) a horn;

(b) a fuel control;

(c) a twist-grip throttle;

(d) a supplemental engine stop;

(e) a front wheel brake;

(f) a rear wheel brake; and

(g) subject to subsection (4), an ignition switch.

(4) Paragraph (3)(g) is optional in the case of a limited-speed motorcycle.

(5) If a motorcycle is equipped with an equipment control set out in column I of an item of Table I to this section, the equipment control shall be located as specified in column II of that item and shall be operable throughout the full range of the control without removal of the operator's hand from the handlebar, as specified in column III of that item and, in the case of hand-operated controls, the equipment control shall be operable

(a) by the operator's left hand, if the control is located on the left handlebar; or

(b) by the operator's right hand, if the control is located on the right handlebar.

(6) If a motorcycle with an automatic clutch is equipped with a supplemental rear brake control, the control shall be located on the left handlebar.

(7) If a motorcycle is equipped with self-proportioning or anti-lock 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.

(8) If a motorcycle is provided with a speedometer or a tell-tale that indicates the neutral position, the displays for those functions shall be visible to a seated operator under daylight conditions and shall be provided with illumination

(a) for the speedometer, by any means, whenever the headlamp is activated, except that, at the manufacturer's option, the speedometer need not be illuminated in daytime pursuant to section 108; and

(b) for the tell-tale, by a green tell-tale, whenever the transmission control is in the neutral position.

(9) If a motorcycle is equipped with an article of equipment set out in column I of an item of Table II to this section,

(a) the control for the equipment shall be identified by the words or letters set out in column II of that item or by the corresponding symbol in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Standard ISO 6727, entitled Road Vehicles - Motorcycles - Symbols for controls, indicators and tell-tales, 1st ed., 1981;

(b) the function performed by the equipment control at a specific position shall be indicated as set out in column III of that item;

(c) any word, words or letters set out in column II or III of that item or a symbol referred to in paragraph (a) shall be placed on or adjacent to the control and, except in the case of a fuel control, shall appear in an upright position when viewed by a seated operator; and

(d) the abbreviations used in columns II and III of that item are minimum requirements and appropriate words may be spelled out in full.

(10) A motorcycle stand shall automatically fold rearward and upward if it is in contact with the ground when the motorcycle is moving forward.

(11) Footrests shall be provided for each designated seating position of a motorcycle.

(11.1) On a motorcycle other than a motor tricycle, each footrest provided at a designated seating position for a passenger, but not for the operator, shall fold rearward and upward when not in use.

(12) Speedometers fitted on motorcycles shall be calibrated in kilometres per hour.

(12.1) Odometers and trip record counters fitted on motorcycles shall show distances in kilometres.

(13) A turn signal tell-tale fitted on a motorcycle shall be green or yellow.

TABLE I

Motorcycle Control Location and
Operation Requirements


 
  
  Column I 

Equipment Control

Column II

Location

Column III 

Operation 

1. Manual clutch or integrated clutch and gear change Left handlebar 
 
Squeeze to disengage clutch. 
 
2.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foot operated gear change
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Left foot control
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
An upward motion of the operator's toe shifts transmission toward lower   numerical gear ratios (commonly referred to as "higher gears"), and a downward motion toward higher numerical gear ratios (commonly referred to as "lower gears"). If three or more gears are provided it shall not be possible to shift from the highest gear directly to the lowest gear or vice versa.
 
3.  Headlamp upper-lower beam control Left handlebar Up for upper beam, down for lower beam. 
4. Horn Left handlebar Push to activate. 
5. Turn signal lamps Handlebars At the option of the manufacturer. 
6. 
 
Ignition
 
  "Off" - counterclockwise from other positions when viewed from in front of the ignition lock opening. 
7.
 
 
 
 
 
Manual fuel shutoff control
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 

Rotate to operate; "On" and "Off" are separated by 90 degrees of rotation; "Off" and "Reserve" (if provided) are separated by 90 degrees of rotation; sequence order; "On" -- "Off" -- "Reserve". 

 

8.
 
 
Twist-grip throttle 
 
 
Right handlebar 
 
 
Self-closing to idle in a clockwise direction, when viewed from the end of the handlebar, after release of hand. 
9. Supplemental engine stop Right handlebar   
10. Front wheel brake Right handlebar Squeeze to engage 
11.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Rear wheel brake
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Right foot control
In the case of a motorcycle that has a motor that produces 3.75 kW (5 b.h.p.) or less 

(a) right foot control

(b) left handlebar or 
 

(c) pedals
 

Depress to engage. 
 
 
 

Depress to engage. 

Squeeze to engage. 
 

Reverse pedalling. 
 

TABLE II

Motorcycle Control and Display
Identification Requirements

 
  Column I

Equipment Control

Column II

Location

Column III 

Operation 

1. Ignition Ignition or Contact Off or Arrêt 
2. Supplemental engine stop Engine stop or Arrêt du Moteur Off or Arrêt, Run or Marche 
3. Manual choke  Choke or Étrangleur  Start or Demarr.1
4. Electric starter    
5. Headlamp upper-lower beam control Lights or Phare Hi or Route, Lo or Code 
6. Horn Horn or Avertisseur   
7. Turn Signal  Turn or Clignotant L or G, R or D 
8. Speedometer km/h   
9. Neutral indicator Neutral or Mort   
10. Upper beam indicator High beam or Faisceau-route   
11.
 
Fuel control
 
Fuel or Carburant  Off or Fermé, On or Ouvert, Res or Aux, Pri, Pr or Amorçage 
1 Required only if electric starter is separate from ignition switch. 

 
   Established by the CONSOLIDATED REGULATIONS OF CANADA, 1978.

amended by

SOR/79-306 30 March, 1979 pursuant to sections 4 and 7 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, effective April 1, 1980

Item 11 of Table I to section 123 of Schedule IV.

SOR/79-940 6 December, 1979 pursuant to sections 4 and 7 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Renumbered from section 121 of Schedule IV in the Consolidated Regulations of Canada to section 123.

SOR/82-656 30 June, 1982 pursuant to sections 4 and 7 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, effective September 1, 1982

Revoked and replaced.

SOR/88-268 5 May, 1988 pursuant to sections 4 and 7 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, effective September 1, 1988

Subsection 123(1) of Schedule IV is revoked; subsection 123(4) of Schedule IV; and item 11 of Table I to section 123 of Schedule IV.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT IS NOW CHAPTER M-10 OF THE REVISED STATUTES OF CANADA, 1985.

SOR/93-31 28 January, 1993 pursuant to sections 4 and 7 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act

The heading preceding section 123 of Schedule IV; subsection 123(9) of Schedule IV preceding paragraph (b); item 7 of Table I to section 123 of Schedule IV in column III; and section 123 of Schedule IV the word "vehicle" is replaced by "motorcycle".

SOR/94-374 26 May, 1994 pursuant to sections 4 and 7 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Item 7 of Table I column III to section 123 of Schedule IV to the French version.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT IS NOW CHAPTER 16 OF THE STATUTES OF CANADA, 1993

SOR/95-536 7 November, 1995 pursuant to paragraph 5(1)(a) and subsection 11(1) of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act

The portion of item 8 in column III of Table II to section 123 of Schedule IV is revoked.

SOR/96-366 July 10, 1996 pursuant to section 5, subsection 11(1) and section 12 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Schedule IV by adding subsection 123(13).

SOR/97-421 August 28, 1997 pursuant to subsection 5(1) and section 11 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, in force August 28, 1997

Subsection 123(8) of Schedule IV.

SOR/2003-272 24 July, 2003 pursuant to section 5 and subsection 11(1) of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, comes into force 24 July, 2003.

The portion of subsection 123(3) of Schedule IV to the French version before paragraph (a) is replaced; Subsections 123(5) to (7) of Schedule IV are replaced;  The portion of subsection 123(9) of Schedule IV to the English version before paragraph (a) is replaced; Subsections 123(11) to (13) of Schedule IV are replaced.

 


Last updated: 2005-03-02 Top of Page Important Notices