Overview
ISO 6460-3:2007 defines a standardized method to measure motorcycle fuel consumption at a constant speed, applicable both on the road and on a chassis dynamometer. It covers motorcycles (per ISO 3833) equipped with spark-ignition engines (four-stroke, two-stroke, rotary) or compression-ignition engines. The part is used together with ISO 6460‑1:2007 (general test requirements) and specifies test procedures, measurement tolerances and result presentation for reproducible fuel-consumption data.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test modes: Road test and chassis dynamometer test (set-up per ISO 11486).
- Measurement systems: Fuel flow meter or carbon balance method (on dynamometer). Fuel supply measuring accuracy: ±1%.
- Test speed control: Road tests require speed within ±2 km/h of the target; dynamometer tests within ±1 km/h.
- Test repetitions: Minimum three tests; mean values calculated and rounded to one decimal place.
- Test section: Test run must consume >10 mL fuel or be >300 m in length; road section length measured to ±0.1%.
- Rider and loading: Rider mass 75 kg ±5 kg, height 1.75 m ±0.05 m, seated in a defined position; total test mass (rider + instruments) measured before testing.
- Environmental limits: Wind and ambient conditions controlled - e.g., max steady wind 3 m/s, gust 5 m/s, air temperature 278 K to 308 K, relative humidity ≤95%. Relative air density must be within ±7.5% of reference.
- Fuel temperature and switching: When volumetric systems are used, fuel temperature must be measured; switching to the measuring supply must occur within 0.2 s.
- Result reporting: Presentation format and calculation methods provided (Annex A and Annex B).
Applications and who uses it
ISO 6460-3 is intended for:
- Motorcycle manufacturers and powertrain engineers validating fuel efficiency and drivetrain development.
- Accredited testing laboratories performing homologation, certification or R&D fuel-consumption tests.
- Regulatory bodies and type-approval authorities requiring repeatable, comparable fuel consumption data.
- Emissions and environmental analysts pairing fuel-consumption data with gaseous exhaust measurements.
Practical benefits include improved comparability of fuel-economy figures across vehicles and test platforms, repeatable lab-to-road correlation, and a clear protocol for both development testing and regulatory compliance.
Related standards
- ISO 6460-1:2007 - General test requirements for gaseous exhaust emissions and fuel consumption.
- ISO 11486 - Methods for setting running resistance on a chassis dynamometer.
- ISO 3833 - Vehicle classification (motorcycle definitions).
- ISO 7117 - Measurement of maximum speed (referenced for related speed testing).
Keywords: ISO 6460-3:2007, motorcycle fuel consumption, constant speed test, chassis dynamometer, road test, carbon balance, fuel flow meter, test procedure.
Open preview (PDF)Motorcycles — Measurement method for gaseous exhaust emissions and fuel consumption — Part 3: Fuel consumption measurement at a constant speed
