What are the differences between China III and China IV motorcycles?
2 Answers
The differences between China III and China IV motorcycles are: 1. Different implementation dates: The China III standard was implemented from July 1, 2010; the China IV motorcycle emission standard was implemented on July 1, 2019. 2. Different standards: The China III standard is an environmental protection standard, mainly targeting the limit values of pollutants in motorcycle exhaust emissions. China III was formulated with reference to the European III environmental standard; the China IV standard will basically completely phase out carburetor vehicles and adopt electronic fuel injection technology. The China III and China IV standards were formulated with reference to the European III and European IV standards, but some individual standards are even stricter than the Euro III and Euro IV standards. The China IV standard mainly controls the content of harmful gases in exhaust emissions, so all China IV motorcycles use electronic fuel injection technology to reduce pollutant emissions in this way.
As an old-timer who's been riding motorcycles for over a decade, let me share some observations. The most noticeable change from China III to China IV standards is the disappearance of that thin pipe on the exhaust – now you'll definitely find an oxygen sensor on China IV bikes. It's like giving the exhaust pipe a nose, allowing the ECU to 'smell' and adjust fuel injection accordingly. Many old China III issues like black smoke during cold starts and erratic fuel consumption have significantly improved. New bike buyers should pay attention to the dashboard too – all China IV models have hidden OBD ports that'll trigger warning lights for emission failures. Though there are minor inconveniences – EFI systems hate low-quality fuel, and cleaning fuel injectors costs way more than adjusting carburetors.
