Transport Canada is responsible for transportation policies and programs. It promotes safe, secure, efficient and environmentally-responsible transportation. Since 1971, the Transport Canada enforced the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (MVSR) for all vehicles entering Canada (including road and non-road motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles) in accordance with MVSA. The importers have the responsibility to ensure that vehicles comply with the applicable standards before being imported into Canada; they should also be responsible for the issuance of defects notification (recall) for vehicles after-sale due to any defect in design or manufacturing. The Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) have been formulated on the basis of MVSR.

(1) Definition of motorcycle in Canada

"motorcycle" means a vehicle, other than a power-assisted bicycle, a restricted-use motorcycle, a low-speed vehicle, a passenger car, a truck, a multipurpose passenger vehicle, a competition vehicle, that:

(a) has steering handlebars completely constrained from rotating in relation to the axle of one wheel in contact with the ground;

(b) is designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground;

(c) has a minimum seat height, when the vehicle is unladen, of 650 mm;

(d) has a minimum wheel rim diameter of 250 mm;

(e) has a minimum wheelbase of 1016 mm, and

(f) does not have as an integral part of the vehicle a structure to enclose the driver, other than that part of the vehicle forward of the driver's torso and the seat backrest.

    The motorcycles in Canada are classified into two categories: Motorcycle (MC) and Limited Speed Motorcycle (LSM). The main difference between MC and LSM is that LSM cannot achieve a speed in excess of 70 km/h.

(2) Reference standards

Sample of a completed compliance label and “advisory” label.

CMVSS 106 – Brake Hose

CMVSS 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices

CMVSS 111 – Mirrors 

CMVSS 115 – Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) 

CMVSS 116 – Hydraulic Brake Fluids

CMVSS 120 – Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars 

Technical Standards Documents (TSD) 122 – Motorcycle Brake Systems 

CMVSS 123 – Controls and Displays – Motorcycles 

CMVSS 205 – Glazing Materials 

CMVSS 1106 - Noise Emissions