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Home  News and Articles Motorcycles Are Pocket Bikes Street Legal?
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Are Pocket Bikes Street Legal? |
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Written by SeanGoodwin
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Friday, 19 June 2009 |
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The miniature stature of a pocket bike is the biggest limitation that keeps most models from being street legal. Most bikes are lacking a few key features that would qualify it to be registered to be used on public roadways, although the specifics vary from state to state.
by SeanGoodwin
The miniature stature of a pocket bike is the biggest limitation that keeps most models from being street legal. Most bikes are lacking a few key features that would qualify it to be registered to be used on public roadways, although the specifics vary from state to state.
Most models of pocket bikes, especially most cheaper models, will not come close to the minimum requirements to be considered a motor vehicle with public roadway privileges. Since many states would consider pocket bikes in the class with motorcycles, the standard requirement for a motorcycle is that the seat be at least 25 inches off the ground.
Out of the box, there would be so many violated safety regulations that an officer could easily charge you for reckless driving. If all the violations were written up, the total fine could come out to over $2,000 in some states. Of course that is usually overkill, but the point is that pocket bikes are far from street legal without some modifications.
One other big feature that most bikes don't have is the rear indicator lights for night driving. This is in addition to the lack of rearview mirrors, horns, or signal lights for turns. These are the design restrictions that keep pocket bikes hobby vehicles to be driven on private grounds and off the streets.
According to every state's driving law, any vehicle operated on the streets must have valid registration. With so many missing requirements, pocket bikes cannot be registered and therefore are not eligible to be operated on the streets. Some bikes are run the risk of violating noise pollution regulations in some neighborhoods.
Of course everything stated is based on general guidelines. There are models of pocket bikes that are larger than most mini bikes known as super bikes. These bikes come with headlights, break lights, turning signal lights, a speedometer, and a horn. And by many definitions these bikes can be street legal with minor modifications.
Firstly, these bikes would need rearview mirrors, which any bike shop would be happy to install for you. And second there are no brackets for the license plate, so just putting in some brackets for the license plate once your vehicle is registered and the bike is now street legal. It can be classified as either a motorcycle, or a homebuilt vehicle depending on the circumstances.
On the public roadways, a legally registered pocket bike will be treated much the same as a motorcycle and will require some form of insurance as well as drivers license. If the bike is categorized as a motorcycle then a special motorcycle license is required, otherwise it will be in a class with mopeds and in such case a regular driver's license will be enough.
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