ISO 4210-8:2023

Cycles - Safety requirements for bicycles - Part 8: Pedal and drive system test methods

This document specifies pedal and drive system test methods for ISO 4210‑2.

Cycles — Exigences de sécurité pour les bicyclettes — Partie 8: Méthodes d'essai des pédales et du système de transmission

Le présent document spécifie les méthodes d'essai des pédales et du système de transmission pour l'ISO 4210-2.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 10-Jan-2023
• ICS: 43.150 - Cycles
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 149/SC 1 - Cycles and major sub-assemblies
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 149/SC 1/WG 13 - Revision of the series of ISO 4210:2014 and ISO 8098:2014
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 11-Jan-2023
• Due Date: 12-Sep-2022
• Completion Date: 11-Jan-2023

Relations

• Consolidates: ISO 37190:2025 - Guidance for practical implementation of ISO 37155 series for supervising at each life cycle phase of smart community infrastructures
• Effective Date: 06-Mar-2023
• Revises: ISO 4210-8:2014 - Cycles - Safety requirements for bicycles - Part 8: Pedal and drive system test methods
• Effective Date: 23-Apr-2020

Overview

ISO 4210-8:2023 - "Cycles - Safety requirements for bicycles - Part 8: Pedal and drive system test methods" defines standardized test methods for pedals, drive systems, drive belts and crank assemblies as part of the ISO 4210 bicycle safety series. It specifies how to perform static, impact, dynamic durability and fatigue tests that support compliance with ISO 4210-2 (safety requirements).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Pedal tests
  • Static strength test: apply a vertically downward force of 1 500 N to a pedal fixture for 5 minutes; folding and single-/two-sided pedals have specific application rules.
  • Impact test: strike the pedal with a 15 kg striker dropped from 400 mm (striker length ≥ tread length).
  • Dynamic durability: mount pedals on a rotatable shaft, run at ≤ 100 min⁻¹ for 100 000 revolutions (rotate dual-tread pedals after 50 000 revs); specified suspended masses vary by bicycle type (e.g., 80–90 kg).
• Drive system tests
  • Static strength (chain): full-assembly test with frame and transmission; apply up to 1 500 N to pedal(s); multi-speed systems require force adjustment by lowest gear ratio (Nc/Ns).
  • Belt-drive conditioning: belts are water-spray conditioned to an IPX4 equivalent (IEC 60529) for 10 minutes before testing.
• Drive belt tensile strength
  • Increase load until internal belt tension reaches 8 000 N (note: achieving this tension requires an applied load of 16 000 N).
• Crank assembly fatigue
  • Two fatigue regimes for mountain bicycles: cranks at 45° (simulates pedalling) and 30° (simulates standing descent).
  • Test forces and cycles vary by bicycle type (e.g., 1 300 N or 1 800 N for 50 000–100 000 cycles as specified in the standard).

Applications and users

• Bicycle manufacturers and component suppliers use ISO 4210-8 to validate pedal, crank and drivetrain strength and durability during product development and quality control.
• Independent test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies apply these methods to generate repeatable safety test data.
• Product designers, safety engineers and procurement teams reference the standard to ensure components meet recognized safety test procedures and to support regulatory compliance for bicycles intended for public use.

Related standards

• ISO 4210-2 (safety requirements) - ISO 4210-8 provides the test methods supporting this part.
• ISO 4210-1 (vocabulary) and ISO 4210-3:2023 (common test methods)
• IEC 60529:2001 (degrees of protection / IP Code) - referenced for belt conditioning (IPX4)

Keywords: ISO 4210-8, bicycle safety, pedal test methods, drive system test methods, crank fatigue test, drive belt tensile strength, pedal impact test, drivetrain testing.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 4210-8
Second edition
2023-01
Cycles — Safety requirements for
bicycles —
Part 8:
Pedal and drive system test methods
Cycles — Exigences de sécurité pour les bicyclettes —
Partie 8: Méthodes d'essai des pédales et du système de transmission
Reference number
© ISO 2023
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Test methods . 1
4.1 Pedal — Static strength test . . 1
4.2 Pedal — Impact test . 2
4.3 Pedal — Dynamic durability test . 3
4.4 Drive system — Static strength test . 4
4.4.1 Test method for drive system with chain. 4
4.4.2 Test method for drive system with belt . 5
4.5 Drive belt — Tensile strength test . 5
4.6 Crank assembly — Fatigue test . 5
4.6.1 General . 5
4.6.2 Test method with the cranks at 45° to the horizontal . 6
4.6.3 Test method with the cranks at 30° to the horizontal for mountain bicycles . 7
Bibliography . 9
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 149, Cycles, Subcommittee SC 1, Cycles
and major sub-assemblies, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
Technical Committee CEN/TC 333, Cycles, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation
between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 4210-8:2014), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— improvement of 4.1;
— improvement of 4.2;
— improvement of 4.5;
— improvement of 4.6.2.
A list of all parts in the ISO 4210 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
This document has been developed in response to demand throughout the world, and the aim has been
to ensure that bicycles manufactured in conformity with this document will be as safe as is practically
possible. The tests have been designed to ensure the strength and durability of individual parts as well
as of the bicycle as a whole, demanding high quality throughout and consideration of safety aspects
from the design stage onwards.
The scope has been limited to safety considerations and has specifically avoided standardization of
components.
If the bicycle should be used on public roads, national regulations apply.
v
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 4210-8:2023(E)
Cycles — Safety requirements for bicycles —
Part 8:
Pedal and drive system test methods
1 Scope
This document specifies pedal and drive system test methods for ISO 4210-2.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 4210-1, Cycles — Safety requirements for bicycles — Part 1: Vocabulary
ISO 4210-3:2023, Cycles — Safety requirements for bicycles — Part 3: Common test methods
IEC 60529:2001, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 4210-1 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
4 Test methods
4.1 Pedal — Static strength test
Screw the pedal spindle securely into a suitable rigid fixture with its axis horizontal, as shown in
Figure 1. Place a steel U-shaped loading block, dimensioned as shown in Figure 1, so that its edge is
located at 40 mm from the end of the pedal. The width of the U-shaped block shall be such that its edges
are aligned with the edges of the pedal. The loading block shall be free to rotate as shown in Figure 1 to
ensure a constant contact with the pedal.
For pedals with binding systems, the force may instead be applied to a cleat fitted onto the pedal.
Apply a vertically downward force of 1 500 N for 5 min to the centre of the U-shaped loading block, as
shown in Figure 1. Release the force and examine the pedal assembly and the spindle.
For folding pedals, chec
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