Oregon Law..Am I Reading This Right?

This is what I dug up on Oregon law pertaning to 'mopeds'.

"Oregon Moped Laws
Moped Defintion
a vehicle, including any bicycle equipped with a power source, other than an electric assisted bicycle or a motor assisted scooter that complies with all of the following:

Is designed to be operated on the ground upon wheels.
Has a seat or saddle for use of the rider.
Is designed to travel with not more than three wheels in contact with the ground.
Is equipped with an independent power source that Is capable of propelling the vehicle, unassisted, at a speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on a level road surface; and if the power source is a combustion engine, has a piston or rotor displacement of 35.01 to 50 cubic centimeters regardless of the number of chambers in the power source.
Is equipped with a power drive system that functions directly or automatically only and does not require clutching or shifting by the operator after the system is engaged.

To obtain registration to legally operate a moped or similar vehicle on the public roads of Oregon, the vehicle must meet federal highway safety and equipment requirements, Federal EPA requirements, and insurance requirements.

Moped Title and Registration
Mopeds must be registered in Oregon. To register a moped, owners must fill out the Application for Title and Registration. There is a fee of $30.00 for a two year period for renewals and when titling and registering used mopeds, and a $60 fee for a four-year period if the moped is new and being registered and titled for the first time. After an initial four year period, renewals revert to a two year period. If the moped does not already have an Oregon registration plate, a plate fee also is required

The standard issue plate is a yellow background with blue letters and numbers. One plate is issued and is required to be displayed on the rear of the moped. Mopeds may also have custom, disabled veteran, Ex-POW, and Ham plates.

Moped License Requirements
Any driver license or restricted license is required for anyone to operate a moped. Violation of this law is a Class B traffic violation with a maximum fine of $360. Operation by a rider under 16 years of age is a Class D traffic violation with a maximum fine of $90.A parent or legal guardian of a child younger than 16 years old who authorizes or knowingly allows a child to operate a motor-assisted scooter may be subject to a traffic citation and fine, as well.

Moped Driver's License
A moped (Restricted Class C) driver license authorizes the operation of mopeds only. To obtain one, you must apply at a DMV office and meet the following requirements:

Be an Oregon resident or domiciled in Oregon
Be at least 16 years of age
Provide proof of age, identification and residence address
Complete a Driver License/Identification Card Application
Under 18: Pass a Safe Driving Practices Knowledge Test and obtain a parent or guardian´s signature on the Driver License/Identification Card Application, unless married or an emancipated minor
Under 18: If applying for an Oregon driving privilege for the first time, you must show proof of school enrollment, completion or exemption
Pass the Moped Knowledge Test. All the information necessary to pass the knowledge test is included in the Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Operating Manua
Pass a drive test conducted by DMV
Pass a vision screening test
Pay appropriate testing and issuance fees
Not have suspended or revoked driving privileges in Oregon or any other state.
Motor-assisted Scooter Definition

is designed to be operated on the ground with not more than three wheels
has handlebars and a foot support or seat
can be propelled by human or motor
has a motor capable of propelling it no faster than 24 miles per hour on a level road
has a motor no bigger than 35 cubic centimeters or, if electric, has a power output of no more than 1,000 watts

Mini-motorcycles Laws
Mini-motorcycles, pocket bikes, or mini-choppers are not intended for use on public streets and highways. They are manufactured for off-road use.At least two traffic violations could apply for anyone found using such a vehicle on public roads.

Operation of an unsafe vehicle is a Class B traffic violation (ORS 815.020), with a fine up to $360.
Operation of a vehicle that violates equipment rules is a Class C traffic violation (ORS 815.100), with a fine up to $180.
External Resources
Oregon DMV
Oregon Moped Driver's License
Oregon DMV - Mopeds "

So if I reading this correctly, a "bicycle equipped with a power source, other than an electric assisted bicycle" the motor assisted bicycle must be 'registered' and 'titled' and 'insured".

"To obtain registration to legally operate a moped or similar vehicle on the public roads of Oregon, the vehicle must meet federal highway safety and equipment requirements, Federal EPA requirements, and insurance requirements.

The only regs I had seen for OR restricted motor cc's to 35. If that is the real deal then this is good news for the Oregonians for sure. Some $ hoops to jump through and isn't clear on the need for a vin but getting legal there doesn't sound too bad.

__________________
Mabman


"The future is already here, it is just not evenly distributed"

The way I do it is if I see an officer, I just start pedalling and plead insanity

__________________
Live life like you mean it...RIDE!!

……...Q
…...(_\g
..(_)/(_)

Anybody in Salem have one I would like to build but need a little guidance

Ok, I have spent a lot of time researching this. In Oregon if you put a motor on a bike and it is under 35cc there are no licenses or insurance required, just be over 16 wear a helmet and abide by the laws. If you ride at night a headlight and taillight are required. If you over 35cc's then it must be registered. Vin number is the serial # imprinted on the crank housing. If your license is suspended then you cannot ride one legally @ all.

I gather this is why the case on my new motor doesn't have any markings. Like... if i get pulled over, who is to say its displacement? They gonna take my motor apart and measure?
What sort of helmet am i need to wear? Bicycle or motorcycle?

I'd be much grateful if you could point me to your research sources. I've asked a couple local cops but they don't seem to know... one of them said "no you can't do that" and the other said, basically, "duh..". Wrote to the State Police but they didn't write back.

It's ridiculous i should even have to consider all this crap because i have a vehicle that gets over 100mpg. My wife and i are seriously considering ditching the cars. This should be officially encouraged in the name of National Security. Instead i'm in a twilight zone, nobody seems to know what's what if it isn't this or that.

This is my first motor and i expect it to be a lot of fun. But when the arguments come up i'd like to be right, maybe with the actual statutes in my pocket.

/rant

Thanks,
-Joe

Kinda reminds me of when my boss in Louisville, KY decided to sell Vespa scooters back in '73. Kentucky said "that's a motorcycle, you need a motorcycle license" but "no, you can't take the driving test on that because it isn't a motorcycle". He couldn't keep the scooters in stock, everyone wanted one. The mopeds he had hardly sold at all.... go figure!
Bill KU4QB

It would seem in OR the answer is simple just buy a robin subaru 33cc motor and your perfectly legal even with a suspended license. There must other motors out there to fit the bill also, honda I know makes a 35cc motor and both of these motors are bullit proof.