Restricted motorcycle: how to check whether A2 covers it

Under Italian rules, to check whether a restricted motorcycle is covered by A2, verify maximum power up to 35 kW, power-to-weight ratio up to 0.2 kW/kg and the power of the original version. Make sure the restriction is approved and recorded; a sales label is not enough.

Three technical checks

A2 covers motorcycles up to 35 kW, with a power-to-weight ratio no higher than 0.2 kW/kg. The motorcycle must also not derive from a version producing more than twice the maximum permitted power. So the word “restricted” does not settle the question: the original version may make the motorcycle incompatible even when its current figure is 35 kW.

Power, ratio and original output are separate facts. Do not confuse kW with engine displacement, unladen mass with gross mass, or an advertising figure with an approved value. If the motorcycle was restricted after sale, the change must be lawful and its documents must reflect the authorised configuration. A homemade or unrecorded restriction does not authorise riding with A2.

What to verify in the documents

Compare the registration certificate with the technical sheet for the exact version. Confirm the recorded kW, power-to-weight ratio and, if relevant, the output of the original configuration. Ask the seller for the modification and registration documents rather than relying on a verbal promise or a generic receipt.

For example, a 35 kW motorcycle with a ratio of 0.19 kW/kg may meet two limits but still be ineligible if it derives from a version above the permitted threshold. A model originally within the threshold may qualify only if the restriction is approved and the documents have been updated. If proof is missing or figures disagree, pause and ask the Motor Vehicle Office to check that specific vehicle.

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