Environmental Effects of Off-Highway Recreational Motorcycles

A Task Force of the SAE Motorcycle Committee was chartered to develop a method of classifying environmental impact potentials of off-highway motorcycles. The Task Force concentrated on the potential of the machines–even though environmental impact is also strongly affected by the operator, the type of resource, and the conditions under which these interface. The Task Force concluded that off-highway motorcycles can be classified according to their acoustic impact, using easily performed SAE stationary tests. Willie classifying off-highway motorcycles according to their surface impact potential appears possible, non-machine factors (such as rider attitude and skill, terrain, soil, etc.) are far more important than the machines themselves in assessing any actual surface impact. Other than sound and ground, environmental impact potentials from off-highway motorcycling are very minor.