MOTORCYCLE BRAKE TESTS TO BE UPDATED

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) plans to update the new performance tests for motorcycle brakes, first adopted in 1972. The test requirements are part of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 122, Motorcycle Brake Systems, which applies to both two-wheeled and three-wheeled motorcycles. The NHTSA is proposing to specify a more stringent dry-brake measure; provide new high-speed, wet-brake and heat-fade tests; specify tests and performance requirements for antilock brake systems; and add a new power-assisted-braking-system failure test. The rule would match a global technical regulation that has already been adopted. For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.