This page provides information on motorcycle mudguards and tail tidies. It is not intended to cover every technical aspect but provides a brief overview.
The Australian Design Rule (ADR) 42 describes the requirements for mudguards on motorcycles, motorcycles with sidecars, and motorcycle-based trikes (L-group vehicles).
ADR 42/05 Summary or mudguards and tail tidies
Extracted on 6 October 2022:
'17.1. Wheel Guards for L-Group Vehicles
17.1.4. ‘Wheel Guards’ may consist of either permanent body structure or part structure and other components, including mudflaps, provided the specified protection is retained during vehicle operation.
17.1.1. General Requirement
The wheels of a vehicle and the wheel of a sidecar must be fitted with wheel guards of a width not less than the ‘Section Width’ of the tyre. The wheel guards must be so designed as to protect other road users, as far as practicable, against thrown-up stones, mud, ice, snow and water and to reduce for those users the dangers due to contact with the moving wheels.'
What does this mean
This means that the specific requirement for a motorcycle wheel guard to extend to a particular angle found in the previous versions of ADR has now gone.
The specific requirement is now for a wheel guard:
i. of width not less than the ‘Section Width’ of the tyre
ii. designed as to protect other road users, as far as practicable, against thrown-up stones, mud, ice, snow, and water
iii. to reduce for those other road users the dangers due to contact with the moving wheels.
There is no specific requirement for a minimum wheel guard length, but the rear mudguard should cover the rear tyre sufficiently so that it is not visible when viewed from above.
This means that a wheel guard of appropriate width to cover the tyre tread must be present and designed to offer characteristics that will provide some protection to other road users.
If a motorcycle was built to meet the previous version of the ADR, we recommend that you do not remove any part of the original wheel guards.
However, if a motorcycle was built with a tail extension so that it met the requirements of the previous version of ADR 42/04, you may wish to remove the extension and fit a tail tidy, in which case you must ensure that:
Original tail extension
Fitted with a 'tail tidy
- the number plate must be near vertical so that it is visible from behind and can be read at:
- both 3m and 18m from the rear of the motorcycle
- an angle of 45° from either side of the rear of the motorcycle
- an angle of 45° looking down from above the rear of the motorcycle
- the number plate must be flat, and not otherwise mutilated
- the number plate must be illuminated with a white light when the lights are switched on
- the indicators show an orange light when operating and are:
- ‘E’ marked
- separated by at least 180mm
- visible from 80° to the side of the vehicle as well as to the rear
- a rear retro-reflector is fitted at no more than 15° from the vertical.
If your tail tidy tucks the lights and number plate in underneath the tail it is unlikely your motorcycle will meet these requirements, so check how your tail tidy will fit before purchasing as it may not have been manufactured to meet the requirements of the Road Traffic Act, Motor Vehicles Act and Regulations.
The motorcycle must also continue to meet these requirements when loaded, or when any luggage is attached.
More information on the installation of lighting and light signalling devices on motorcycles can be found in ADR 19/.. and ADR 67/.. or by contacting Vehicle Standards.
Vehicle Standards reference: MR1540.
