2. 10. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 263/5 
Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 78/1015/EEC on the approximation 
of the laws of the Member States relating to the permissible sound level and exhaust 
system of motorcycles 
COM(84) 438 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 12 September 1984) 
(84/C 263/07) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 100 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par­
liament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas Annex I to Council Directive 78/1015/ 
EEC (') defines limits for the sound level of 
motorcycles; whereas Article 8 of that Directive states 
that before 31 December 1984 the Council shall, on a 
proposal from the Commission, decide on a reduction 
in the maximum permissible sound levels provided for 
in Annex I; 
Whereas, when Directive 78/1015/EEC was adopted, 
emphasis was given to the fact that it constituted an 
initial step towards the improvement of the 
environment, that the technical development of less 
noisy motorcycles should be further encouraged, that 
the prescribed limit values should be reduced before 
1985, particularly in the case of more powerful 
motorcycles, and that the levels to be fixed should 
take account of the technical resources which would 
be available at that date; 
Whereas the protection of the population in urban 
environments against acoustic nuisance calls for 
suitable measures to reduce the sound level of 
motorcycles; whereas such a reduction should be 
made possible by the technical progress achieved or 
to be promoted in the manufacture of these types of 
vehicle; 
Whereas, to this end, Directive 78/1015/EEC should 
be amended in order to make the prescribed method 
of measurement more representative of the conditions 
of actual use of motorcycles in urban traffic, to 
reduce the number of categories of motorcycle in 
view of the different methodology and to reduce the 
O OJ No L 349, 13. 12. 1978, p. 21. differences in the treatment of these categories; 
whereas the definition of sound level limit values for 
each of these new categories of motorcycle will 
effectively reduce the level of sound at present 
emitted by these types of vehicle; whereas this 
reduction should be put into effect in two stages in 
order to give manufactures sufficient time to improve 
their products; 
Whereas these reductions constitute an important step 
towards the improvement of the environment, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
Annex I to Directive 78/1015/EEC shall be amended 
in accordance with the Annex hereto. 
Article 2 
However, before 1 October 1992, the Council, acting 
on a proposal from the Commission, shall review the 
sound level limit values to be applied from 1 October 
1995 and/or the latter date itself as set out in item 
2.1.1 of Annex I to Directive 78/1015/EEC, in order 
to determine the need for possible amendments in the 
light of any new technical and/or economic factors 
which come to light after the adoption of the present 
Directive. 
Article 3 
1. From 1 October 1986: 
— Member States in which motorcycles or certain 
categories of motorcycles are the subject of 
national type-approval shall, at the request of the 
manufacturer or his authorized representative and 
as the basis for national type-approval, apply the 
harmonized provisions of Directive 78/1015/EEC 
instead of the corresponding national provisions, 
— Member States in which motorcycles or certain 
categories of motorcycles are not subject to 
national type-approval shall not refuse to register, 
nor prohibit the sale, entry into service or use of 
such motorcycles on the grounds that the 
harmonized technical provisions of Directive 
78/1015/EEC have been conformed to instead of 
the corresponding national requirements. 
No C 263/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 2.10.84 
2. From 1 October 1987: 
— Member States shall no longer issue the certificate 
referred to in Article 3 (1) of Directive 
78/1015/EEC in respect of a type of motorcycle 
the sound level and exhaust system of which do 
not conform to the provisions of the said 
Directive, 
— Member States may refuse to grant national type-
approval or prohibit the registration, sale, entry 
into service and use of a type of motorcycle the 
sound level and exhaust system of which do not 
conform to the provisions of Directive 78/1015/ 
EEC. 
3. Three years after the dates on which the limit 
values defined in item 2.1.1 of Annex I to Directive 
78/1015/EEC enter into force, Member States may 
ANNEX 
Amendment of Annex I to Directive 78/1015/EEC 
Items 2.1.1, 2.1.4.3.1 and 2.1.4.3.2 shall be replaced by the following: 
'2.1.1. Limits 
The sound level of motorcycles, when measured under the conditions set out in 
items 2.1.2 to 2.1.5, shall not exceed the following limits: 
Categories by cubic capacity 
< 80 
> 80 < 175 
> 175 Maximum permissible sound level 
in dB (A) 
With effect from the 
implementation of 
the Directive 
77 
80 
82 With effect from 
1 October 1995 
75 
78 
80' 
Motorcycles fitted with a non-automatic gearbox 
Approach speed 
The motorcycle shall approach line AA' at a steady speed of 50 km/h, the speed 
of rotation of the engine being equal to 75 % of the speed referred to in item 
2.4 of Annex II. 
Choice of gear ratio 
irrespective of their engine capacity, motorcycles fitted with a gearbox with not 
more than four gears shall be tested in second gear; 
motorcycles fitted with an engine having a cubic capacity not exceeding 175 cm3 
and a gearbox with not less than five gears shall be tested only in third gear; 
motorcycles fitted with an engine having a cubic capacity exceeding 175 cm3 
and a gearbox with not less than five gears shall be tested in second and third 
gear. The mean value of the two tests shall be taken as the result; prohibit initial entry into service in respect of a type 
of motorcycle the sound level and exhaust system of 
which do not conform to the provisions of the said 
Directive. 
Article 4 
Before 1 October 1986, Member States shall adopt 
and publish the provisions necessary to comply with 
this Directive. They shall forthwith inform the 
Commission thereof. 
They shall apply such provisions with effect from 
1 October 1986. 
Article 5 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
'2.1.4.3.1. 
2.1.4.3.1.1. 
2.1.4.3.1.2. 
2.1.4.3.1.2.1. 
2.1.4.3.1.2.2. 
2.1.4.3.1.2.3. 
2.10.84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 263/7 
2.1.4.3.1.2.4. if, during the test conducted in second gear (see items 2.1.4.3.1.2.1 and 
'2.1.4.3.1.2.3), the steady engine speed of the vehicle as it approaches the line 
marking the end of the test section is more than 110 % of the speed referred to 
in item 2.4 of Annex II, the test shall be conducted in third gear, the sound level 
then measured being the only value recognized as the test result.' 
'2.1.4.3.2. Motorcycles fitted with an automatic gearbox 
2.1.4.3.2.1. Motorcycles without manual override 
2.1.4.3.2.1.1. Approach speed 
The motorcycle shall approach the line AA' at different steady speeds of 30, 40 
and 50 km/h or at 75 % of its maximum road speed if this value is lower. The 
speed producing the highest sound level shall be chosen. 
2.1.4.3.2.2. Motorcycles fitted with a manual override having X forward-gear positions 
2.1.4.3.2.2.1. Approach speed 
The motorcycle shall approach the line AA' at a steady speed of less than 
50 km/h, the speed of rotation of the engine being equal to 75 % of the speed 
referred to in item 2.4 of Annex II, or a steady speed of 50 km/h, the speed of 
rotation of the engine being less than 75 % of the speed referred to in item 2.4 
of Annex II. If a change-down to first gear occurs during the test at a steady 
speed of 50 km/h, the speed of the motorcycle may be increased up to a 
maximum of 60 km/h in order to avoid such a change-down. 
2.1.4.3.2.2.2. Position of the manual override 
If the motorcycle is fitted with a manual override having X forward-gear 
positions, the test shall be conducted with the selector in the highest gear 
position; the deliberate change-down facility (e. g. the kick-down) shall not be 
used. If automatic change-down occurs after the line AA', the test shall be 
restarted using the second highest, and if necessary the third highest, gear 
position, in order to find the selector position corresponding to the highest gear 
which enables the test to take place without automatic changedown (without 
using the kick-down).'