New Euro 5+ emissions standard

POSTED: 30/11/2024

All new motorbikes sold from 1 January 2025 will be subject to a new European emissions standard.

Euro 5+, also called 5b, is the latest standard for motorbikes.

Euro 1 was introduced in 1999 and Euro 5 arrived five years ago.

All new models launched in 2024 had to be Euro 5+ compliant but from 1 January it will apply to all new bikes sold.

Dealers have until the end of 2025 to sell any 2024 Euro 5 models in stock.

While Euro 5 was more about lower emissions, Euro 5+ focuses on the long-term performance of the catalytic converter which removes exhaust pollutants.

As the years and miles roll by, catalytic converters become less efficient so Euro 5+looks at their long-term effectiveness.

With Euro 5+, instead of testing emissions with a new catalytic converter and then calculating how it might deteriorate, now they have to go through 35,000km (21,748 miles) of real-world testing on motorbikes that can top 130km/h (80mph).

The motorbike’s ‘brain’, the engine control unit (ECU), has to regularly monitor the catalytic converter’s performance using two oxygen sensors, one on each side of it, to compare readings.

While emission levels are not affected, catalytic converters will have to work harder and last longer to maintain them.

Dave Willis said: “We have to sell 2024 Euro 5 models in stock by the end of 2025. We’ve got a year to shift our stock so there will be some good deals and offers.

“But a lot of 2024 models were already Euro 5+ compliant.”

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