The motorcycle and your equipment

On a motorcycle you have no car body to protect you. Your equipment and the condition of the motorcycle are therefore extra important. This chapter covers what the law requires and what you should think about to reduce injuries if something happens.

Helmet

A safety helmet (skyddshjälm) must be worn by anyone travelling on a motorcycle, that is, both the rider and the passenger (Traffic Ordinance (trafikförordningen) 4 kap. 9 §).

• The rider must make sure that passengers under 15 years wear a helmet or other permitted head protection.
• Passengers who have not turned seven may use other suitable head protection instead of a motorcycle helmet, for example a riding helmet, ski helmet or cycle helmet.
• A helmet does not need to be worn when the motorcycle is stationary or when riding within a car park, multi-storey car park, petrol station or garage area.
• In a three- or four-wheeled motorcycle with a body, no helmet is needed. Instead you must use a seat belt.

A motorcycle helmet must be E-marked in accordance with ECE Regulation 22, amendment series 05 or later, for example 22.05 or 22.06 (TSFS 2017:94). A cycle helmet or canoe helmet is not a motorcycle helmet.

The helmet must fit correctly. It must sit firmly and not be possible to pull off when the chin strap is fastened.

Protective clothing

The helmet is what the Traffic Ordinance requires. But other protective equipment can also make a big difference in an accident. Trafikverket (the Swedish Transport Administration) highlights helmets and other protective equipment as an important safety factor. At the practical test the following are required:

• protective clothing of leather or another heavy-duty material,
• goggles or a visor,
• sturdy boots,
• gloves,
• back protector.

That is a good standard to follow after the test too. Clothes in light colours or with reflectors also make you easier to see.

Tyres

The minimum permitted tread depth (mönsterdjup) on motorcycle tyres is 1 millimetre. That is less than for cars, but remember that a worn tyre has poorer grip, especially on a wet road.

You do not need special winter tyres on a motorcycle in winter road conditions (vinterväglag). Your speed must nevertheless always be adapted to the road conditions, and in practice winter road conditions are very risky on two wheels.

Check the tyre pressure regularly. The wrong tyre pressure affects road holding, braking distance and fuel consumption.

Brakes and braking systems

A motorcycle has one brake on the front wheel and one on the rear wheel. The front brake provides most of the braking force, because the weight is transferred forwards when you brake. In most cases, effective and stable braking requires you to use both brake controls.

Many motorcycles have systems that support braking:

• ABS (anti-lock brakes, låsningsfria bromsar) senses when a wheel starts to skid and adjusts the brake pressure so that the wheel does not lock. You then keep better steering ability and stability (förordning (EU) nr 168/2013 artikel 3.24).
• Combined braking system (CBS, kombinerat bromssystem) means that the brakes on at least two wheels are operated with one and the same control (artikel 3.25).

Trafikverket highlights ABS, even on light motorcycles, and cornering ABS (kurv-ABS) as important safety measures.

Lights

When riding on a road you must use dipped headlights (halvljus) (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 69 §). In fog and heavy precipitation you may use fog lights (dimljus) instead of dipped headlights (3 kap. 71 §).

If you park a two-wheeled motorcycle without a sidecar at the very edge of the road, no lights need to be on, not even in darkness (3 kap. 75 §).

Passengers

On a motorcycle you may only carry a passenger if the motorcycle is equipped (inrättad) for it (trafikförordningen 4 kap. 6 b §). In addition:

• You may carry at most one passenger.
• The passenger must sit in the seat intended for passengers. Small children may therefore not sit in front of you.
• You must have turned 18 to carry a passenger. This also applies with A1. There is an exception for practice riding under the Driving Licence Act (körkortslagen), so that the supervisor or instructor can ride along.
• If the motorcycle has a sidecar, a passenger may sit there.

With a passenger, the motorcycle behaves differently. It becomes heavier, the braking distance becomes longer and it reacts differently in bends. Ask the passenger to sit still, hold on and lean with you in bends.

Trailer

To a two-wheeled motorcycle you may attach a trailer (släpvagn) that is at most 125 centimetres wide. The trailer may also not weigh more than half of the motorcycle's kerb weight (tjänstevikt), minus the weight of fuel and tools (trafikförordningen 4 kap. 15 a §).

Registration, roadworthiness test and insurance

A motorcycle must be registered, have a number plate at the rear, have third-party traffic insurance (trafikförsäkring) and be taxed. It must also undergo periodic roadworthiness tests (kontrollbesiktning). The first test must be carried out no later than 48 months after the month the motorcycle was first put into service, and after that at least every 24 months.

Off-road riding

It is normally not permitted to ride a motorcycle off-road (terrängkörning), for example in forests or on meadows.

Check before riding

Do a quick check before you ride:

• tyre pressure and tread depth,
• brakes and brake fluid,
• chain tension and lubrication,
• lights and direction indicators,
• mirrors,
• oil level.

Remember

• A helmet is required for both rider and passenger. The rider is responsible for passengers under 15.
• Children under seven may use other suitable head protection.
• The helmet must be E-marked according to ECE 22.05 or later.
• The minimum tread depth is 1 mm. Winter tyres are not required.
• Use both brakes. ABS prevents the wheels from locking, CBS links the brakes together.
• Dipped headlights on the road. Fog lights may replace dipped headlights in fog.
• At most one passenger, and the rider must have turned 18.
• First roadworthiness test no later than after 48 months, then every 24 months.