ISO 11460:2007

Overview

ISO 11460:2007 - "Two‑wheeled motorcycles - Positioning of lighting and light‑signalling devices" defines the positioning requirements for lighting and light‑signalling devices fitted to two‑wheeled motorcycles (as defined in ISO 3833). It specifies where lamps, reflectors and indicators must be located and oriented on the vehicle body for visibility and signalling effectiveness. It does not cover electrical installation or wiring - only positioning, orientation and dimensional limits.

Key topics and technical requirements

• General rules
  • Reference axis of lamps must be parallel to the vehicle bearing plane; tolerance ±3°.
  • Verification with vehicle unladen on flat horizontal surface, handlebars straight.
  • Lamps should be symmetric about the median longitudinal plane unless specified otherwise.
• Headlamps
  • Driving/main‑beam: height 500–1 300 mm above ground; separation between any two headlamps ≤ 200 mm.
  • Passing/dipped‑beam: height 500–1 200 mm; separation between any two passing/dipped headlamps ≤ 200 mm.
  • Orientation: forward facing; headlamps may move with steering.
• Position lamps and reflectors
  • Front position lamp height: 350–1 200 mm.
  • Rear position and rear reflex reflector height: 250–1 500 mm (rear position) and 250–900 mm (rear reflex reflector).
  • Side reflex‑reflecting devices: height 300–900 mm and placed to avoid masking by rider.
• Direction indicators and hazard
  • Front indicators: minimum separation 240 mm; must be outside tangential planes of headlamps; height 350–1 200 mm.
  • Rear indicators: minimum inner clearance between illuminating surfaces 180 mm.
  • Hazard warning lamp follows combined indicator positions.
  • Table of minimum indicator intensities vs. required separation (e.g., 90 cd → 75 mm; 400 cd → 0 mm).
• Other lamps
  • Stop lamp: 250–1 500 mm height, rear of vehicle, rear facing.
  • Rear registration‑plate lamp: positioned to illuminate the plate.
  • Front fog lamp: reference centre in median plane or within 250 mm; not higher than highest point of passing/dipped headlamp; ≥250 mm above ground.
  • Rear fog lamp: 250–900 mm height; ≥100 mm from stop lamp.

Applications and users

• Motorcycle manufacturers (OEMs) - design and layout of lamp clusters to meet international positioning requirements.
• Component manufacturers - lamp and reflector design to ensure compliance with mounting positions and orientation.
• Regulatory bodies and homologation labs - type approval, vehicle inspection and compliance testing.
• Aftermarket and retrofit providers - ensuring relocated lamps or accessories remain compliant with positioning limits.
• Safety engineers - optimize visibility and signalling for rider and road user safety.

Related standards

• ISO 3833 - vehicle types, terms and definitions (referenced for motorcycle definition)
• ISO 6726 - vocabulary for masses (mopeds and motorcycles)
• ISO 7227 - lighting and light‑signalling vocabulary

Keywords: ISO 11460:2007, two‑wheeled motorcycles, motorcycle lighting standards, headlamp positioning, direction indicator requirements, fog lamp positioning, vehicle homologation.