What is the difference between China III and China IV emission standards for motorcycles?
3 Answers
China III and China IV for motorcycles refer to emission standards, with China IV having lower emissions than China III, making it more environmentally friendly. Below is relevant information about China III and China IV: 1. China III Motorcycles: China III motorcycles are those produced in accordance with the "Limits and Measurement Methods for Motorcycle Pollutant Emissions (Test Cycle, China Stage III)" (GB14622-2007) and the "Limits and Measurement Methods for Moped Pollutant Emissions (Test Cycle, China Stage III)" (GB18176-2007) (referred to as the China III standard), approved and issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. 2. China IV Motorcycles: China IV motorcycles refer to those that comply with the national standard GB14622-2016 "Limits and Measurement Methods for Motorcycle Pollutant Emissions (China Stage IV)", referred to as the China IV emission standard. It stipulates that all motorcycles sold and registered from July 1, 2019, must meet the China IV emission standard.
Last time I changed my motorcycle, I specifically researched the differences between China III and China IV standards. The biggest difference with China IV vehicles is the mandatory replacement of carburetors with electronic fuel injection systems, which directly cuts carbon monoxide emissions in half. Last year at the dealership, I saw a China III stock bike that was over 2,000 yuan cheaper but didn't dare to buy it, since China III bikes can't even be registered now. China IV bikes also have an additional catalytic converter inside the exhaust pipe, shaped like a honeycomb to filter exhaust gases. The most noticeable difference is that the dashboard will display an extra fault code warning when the warning light comes on, because they're equipped with OBD diagnostic interfaces. Honestly, you can't really feel much difference when riding—it's mainly an environmental upgrade. But it's true that China IV bikes do fetch a bit more when reselling second-hand.
A decade of motorcycle experience summarized: The transition from China III to China IV standards is equivalent to a major generational upgrade. The core change lies in the addition of an electronic fuel injection control module, where throttle cables are replaced by electronic signal transmission. Last week, while helping a fellow rider inspect a used motorcycle, I noticed that the 2008 China III model's exhaust pipe was still empty, whereas China IV models are packed with three-way catalytic converters. Most crucially, China IV standards include anti-theft protocols, with the ECU bound to the key. Last year, my cousin bought a cheap China III bike, only to fail the annual emissions test three times this year, causing a lot of hassle. A reminder to everyone: China IV bikes must use 95-octane fuel or higher. If an older bike running on 92-octane fuel lights up the fault indicator, don't push it—stop riding immediately.
