# Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Motorcycle Brake Systems
> **National Highway Traffic Safety Administration** · Final rule. · Published 2001-08-14 · Effective 2002-08-14 · 66 FR 42613
## Document
- **Document number:** 01-20428
- **Category:** fmvss
- **Sub-agency:** National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- **Federal Register citation:** 66 FR 42613
- **CFR reference:** 49 CFR 571
- **Publication date:** 2001-08-14
- **Effective date:** 2002-08-14
- **DOT docket:** DOT Docket No. NHTSA-01-10367
## Abstract

In this document, we (NHTSA) amend the Federal motor vehicle safety standard on motorcycle brakes by reducing the minimum hand lever force from 5 pounds (presently specified) to 2.3 pounds and the minimum foot pedal force from 10 pounds (presently specified) to 5.6 pounds in the fade recovery and water recovery tests. The new force levels are low enough to accommodate new braking systems that are combined or "linked" (i.e., the hand and foot brakes working in tandem). Compared with older motorcycle braking systems, combined or "linked" braking systems do not need as much force exerted on them to be effective. Yet the force levels are still high enough to ensure that motorcycles utilizing more mature technologies will not have problems with overly sensitive brakes. This rulemaking was initiated in response to a petition from American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2001/08/14/01-20428/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards-motorcycle-brake-systems)
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