Pocket Bikes?

[Kadie]

CALIFORNIA
The buzz is all about mini-motorcycles
Pocket bikes run illegally on city streets

Michael Taylor, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 16, 2004

They're the newest passion for wheel-crazy Californians -- tiny motorcycles called pocket bikes -- and with their raspy exhaust note, they sound like a crazed battalion of wasps coming down the street at hubcap level.

Pocket bikes are miniature motorcycles -- powered, for the most part, by oil- and gas-burning engines similar to those used in chain saws, weed whackers or other small motorized tools -- and they look just like the real thing.

The snazziest models cost thousands and are made in Italy, but the ones that are selling by the container load run from $200 to $500. They come from China, among other places, and are getting snapped up by eager teenagers and, in some cases, not-so-teenagers.

more... http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/0...


Looks like a real uncomfortable ride.

[underpants]

1. Didn't they used to have trained monkees ride those in the Circus?

I see the are on the street now

That is stupid looking and just plain stupid.

[Kadie]

Maybe someone can photoshop bushie on one. Here is another pic

found this on the web. These things are goofy.

[WillParkinson]

2. What some people won't do...

To get a throb between their legs.

[Th1onein]

3. I saw one of these yesterday on my street!

They are SO funny! We sat on the front porch and laughed and laughed....

[cmf]

4. I saw two people riding these the other day

People find the strangest things to amuse themselves.

[MadHound]

5. Hey, it is a crotch rocket for the Shriners!

How can anybody over ten even think of riding one of those comfortably?

[Lars39]

6. I saw one of these strapped to the back of a SUV.

I thought it was for a little kid!

[ElectroPrincess]

7. I'm with you ...

If not for a kid it looks very uncomfortable for someone taller than 5'. Don't ya think it may be a better call to soup-up a moped? LOL

[Lars39]

9. hehe, a moped would be just right for me.

I have a feeling this fad will fade when the riders start getting their ER bills for their scraped up faces.

[Heyo]

8. This dude...

... seems like all of his weight is on his balls alone...

don't mean to be gross but it's an obervation......

One good speed bump, that guy wont have any kids.

Heyo

[ElectroPrincess]

10. DA moped will live forever ; )

If I ever live long enough to be considered by some folks as a goofy acting "little old lady" (maybe now? lol), I'd live in a village (less urban-built up) and sport this around town. NOW this is stylin' VaaaaaRoooom! <snicker>

[Xithras]

11. Lots of people getting ticketed for these around here

Most people aren't aware that, under California law, riding one of these requires a motorcycle drivers license just like a bigger one. There is no magical "lower size limit" where traffic laws no longer apply.

The real rub is for the parents who buy these for their kids. If you've got a standard Class C and are caught riding one of these, you get one ticket for riding an unregistered vehicle, and another for riding a motorcycle without the proper endorsements. If your KID gets caught riding one of these on the street, the bike will be "towed" and the kid will be ticketed for driving without a license (with the same penalties as if you did it). There was even a case in Stockton recently where a cop caught a guy riding down the street on one of these half drunk...and nailed him for DUI.

They're interesting machines, but they're legally not toys (one of my neighbors has one that will do 50 on a long straight stretch). Personally, I fault the bike shops, because they tend to sell them as toys without ever warning people about their real legal status.

[Fear]

13. lol @ towed away!

[ElectroPrincess]

14. Thanks, I didn't know that ...

No, I didn't realize that ... thanks for the education. When I was on Active Duty in the mid 80s, we would rent these in Honolulu to see the sights. It would crack me up because they'd all have a long flag sticking up about 8 feet from the back so the cars would not smash us.

You're right that we all must be aware to comply with the laws of the state/city/local zone we're in before tooling around in these beauties.

On edit: I believe you claim these license laws (motorcycle licenses) applies to both mopeds and these new widdle pocket bikes.

[Xithras]

15. CHP treats them as motorcycles, not mopeds

I don't know who made that call or why, but these things require an M1 endorsement (full motorcycle license) instead of the more lenient M2 (moped). I have heard that enforcement of this varies across the state, but there was a news article on the local TV news recently where they mentioned that the CHP HQ in Sacramento had advised law enforcement statewide that these things qualify as motorcycles, and that they should be treated as such.

One of the most common reasons for being stopped (besides the fact that none of them are street legal and have plates) is that the riders also notoriously ignore the states motocycle helmet laws. Helmets are REQUIRED for all motorcycle and moped riders in California, and very, very few pocket bike owners bother to put one on.

If you get popped riding one of these on the public street, you can really get nailed financially if the cop feels like writing you up for everything.

[Fear]

12. SMART - pocket cars ;)

http://www.smart.com

Seen these mc's driving one time, they're pretty neat, but as said by someone else,SO freaking uncomfortable......

These are pretty neat actually

[Xithras]

16. Coming to the US in 2006...with an SUV

I'm pretty happy that we'll be getting these in the US soon (I'll be buying one), but I was dissappointed to hear that Smart had caved to American market pressure and is designing an SUV.

[Fear]

17. yeah well, I think they'll be a little late in 2006 / no more gasoline

left anywayz

Damn SUV's....

[ForrestGump]

18. Idiots ride them on the sidewalks around here, with no helmets

I've seen other idiots rtiding them in traffic sans helmet -- CA is one of the sane states that mandates helmet use.

Americans too often see 'real' motorcycles as toys (c.f. the serious transport that they are in many other countries) and these pocketbikes are even more toy-like. Nothing wrong with the bikes -- they've been raced for some time now -- but, as usual, people are morons.