Here is my deal- my son had a china kit on a bike when I was over there last spring. I thought it was fantastic. His neighbor bought it from him- rides it around North Tonawanda. I told Matt it wasn't legal and he said, the mayor hasn't been bothered. Of course, I said- he's the mayor. Matt said, Dad, he is the mayor of the street - we call him the mayor- Not the mayor of the town.....
Anyway, I joined this site last fall after doing a search.
I made an e-bike out of scooter parts. and experimented with a gas/electric drive on it. I understand electric is now legal in NY. I am finishing up another bike with gas/electric drive (hybred). This will be legal but toally covert!
So if it were me, and I wanted a gas bike and no hassle, I would buy a defunct moped and take the tags off it and my bike would become a moped with those tags and I would register it. Otherwise, you need to be real undercover.- no exposed gas parts- my opinion. There are a couple of guys on these forums in NY who ride gas bikes.