Interpretation ID: aiam2581
Assistant Manager
Safety and Legislation Department
U.S. Suzuki Motor Corporation
13767 Freeway Drive
Santa Fe Springs
California 90670;
Dear mr. Petler: This is in reply to your letter of May 6, 1977, asking whether it i permissible to label motorcycle tachometers with the symbol 'r/min' instead of 'RPM.'; Paragraph S5.2.3 of Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 123 *Motorcycl Controls and Displays* requires that motorcycle tachometers be identified by the letters 'R.P.M.' at a minimum, and provides that 'appropriate words may be spelled in full.' This means that the required identification must be either 'R.P.M.' or 'revolutions per minute.' S5/2/3 would not allow substitution of 'r/min' as the only identification of a tachometer. However, we have no legal objection to your furnishing that symbol as an additional means of identification of 'R.P.M.' if you so wish.; Yours truly, Frank Berndt, Acting Chief Counsel