Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 11 - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION › Subtitle 14 - MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION-VEHICLE INSPECTIONS › Chapter 11.14.03 - Safety Standards for Motorcycles › Section 11.14.03.02 - Steering, Alignment, and Suspension

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
Steering and alignment items should be checked visually and
				  adjusted according to the manufacturer's specifications. Check for condition,
				  adjustment, wear, or broken and defective parts.
Procedures:
Reject Vehicle If:
A. Swing arm bushing, bearing or rubber mount. Place
						  motorcycle on jack or stand with rear wheel raised and inspect for wear or
						  looseness. Check for lateral movement of swing arm by applying side to side
						  force against rear wheel. Rubber mounted swing arms are designed to flex.
A. There is noticeable lateral movement of the swing arm
						  or rubber mounts are cracked, broken, or torn.
B. Steering head bearings or bushings. Place the
						  motorcycle on a stand or block with front raised. Grasp both fork legs and
						  apply fore and aft force. Inspect for loose adjustment or play in steering head
						  bearings or bushings. Turn handle bars from side to side and inspect for
						  roughness or galling in bearings or bushings and location of stops.
B.
(1) There is noticeable play or roughness
						  in the steering head bearings or bushings. Drag from a steering damper is not
						  cause for rejection. (2) Stops are missing or do not adequately prevent forks
						  from excessive travel or contact with the tank, etc.
C. Wheel Alignment. Inspect front to rear wheel alignment
						  and front wheel to fork tube alignment. For ease of inspection, three reference
						  lines 1 inch apart on the floor may be used. Center the front tire on the
						  center line and observe tracking of rear wheel as motorcycle is moved along the
						  lines.
C. Front to rear wheel misalignment exceeds 1 inch or
						  front wheel is not vertical and parallel to front fork tubes. Front fork tubes
						  are bent or damaged preventing full travel and free action of front forks.
D. Handlebars. (1) Inspect handlebars for cracks,
						  deformation, excessive flexure, proper alignment, mounting heights, width, and
						  handgrips.
D. Handlebars. (1) The handlebars are: (a) Cracked; (b)
						  Deformed; (c) Show excessive flexure other than flexure from rubber mounts; (d)
						  Improperly aligned; (e) Not constructed of adequate material; (f) Less than 18
						  inches in overall width; (g) Not equipped with grips.
(2) Inspect handlebars for type of material used and
						  proper thickness.
(2) Handlebars will not withstand up and down
						  force.
(3) Apply up and down force to handlebars.
(3) Handlebars are more than 15 inches above the lowest
						  portion of the occupied operator's seat.
(4) Inspect for unobstructed rotation of forks from stop
						  to stop.
(4) Handlebars prevent front fork from rotating from
						  stop to stop.
E. Shock Absorbers (if equipped) and front fork tubes-
						  check dampening effects. Inspect for leaks. Check for rebound.
E. Shock absorbers, mounting bolts, or mounts are
						  missing, broken, or loose. Severe leakage (not slight dampness) of shock
						  absorber or front fork tube seal.
F. Wheel Bearings- grasp tire at top and bottom and rock
						  it in and out. Rotate wheels and check for roughness and galling.
F. There is noticeable play or roughness when wheel is
						  rotated.