O.K. to ride in Colorado

[good vibrations]

This is straight from the DMV site
Low-Power Scooter information effective October 1, 2009

The following is effective October 1, 2009:

•Creates a definition for Low-power Scooter 42-1-102(48.5)
◦Self-propelled vehicle designed primarily for use on the roadways with not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, no manual clutch, and either of the following:
■A cylinder capacity not exceeding fifty cubic centimeters if powered by internal combustion; or
■A wattage not exceeding four thousand four hundred seventy six if powered by electricity.
[COLOR="Yellow[COLOR="Red"]"]◦Low-power scooter shall not include a toy vehicle, bicycle, electrical assisted bicycle, wheelchair, or any device designed to assist mobility-impaired people who use pedestrian rights-of-way[/COLOR].[/COLOR]•Creates a definition for Electrical Assisted Bicycle 42-1-102(28.5)
◦Vehicle having two tandem wheels or two parallel wheels and one forward wheel, fully operable pedals, an electric motor not exceeding 750 watts of power and a top motor powered speed of 20 mph.
•Creates a definition for Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device (Segway) 42-1-102(28.7)
◦Self-balancing, nontandem two-wheeled device, designed to transport only one person, that is powered solely by an electric propulsion system producing an average power output of no more than 750 watts.
•Modifies the definition of toy vehicle to eliminate the wheel diameter and to exclude off-highway vehicles or snowmobiles 42-1-102(103.5).
•Modifies the definition of vehicle to include an electrical assisted bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device 42-1-102(112).
•Clarifies the definition of motorcycle to specify that it does not include low-power scooter 42-1-102(55).
•Clarifies the definition of motor vehicle to specify that it does not include low-power scooter 42-1-102(58).
•Deletes the definition of motor-driven cycle 42-1-102(56).
•Deletes the definition of motorscooter and motorbicycle 42-1-102(59)(a) and motorized bicycle 42-1-102(59)(b).
•Requires the operator of a low-power scooter to possess a valid driver's license.
•Requires a low-power scooter to be registered by the Department of Revenue. Registration will be evidenced by a decal issued by the state office that is valid for three years.


The following is effective July 1, 2010:

•Requires the low-power scooter owners to have insurance upon registration and pay the motorist insurance identification fee.
•Allows Motor Vehicle Dealers or Used Motor Vehicle Dealers to act as an authorized agent of the department for the purposes of registering low-power scooters.
•Requires the owner of a low-power scooter to have complying insurance to operate the low-power scooter.
Note the deleation of the def. of motor bicycle and motorized bicycle. There hasn't been an addition of definition of MB's in the 2010 laws. Ride on!

 

[noco]

woohoo... so the only part i violate is that 20mph rule or is that only regarding electric bikes...im not a lawyer im a mechanic....but the court doesnt recognize ignorance as an excuse whats your interpretation of that line....

now the 50cc rule what are they gonna do measure my bore and stroke....its a 2 stroke so teching it like they used to do to me at the races is not an option....the amount of air that would come out of my plug hole would not be the full displacement due to porting so as long as the emissions sticker is missing i can always lie

kinda bummed that i gotta go get that sticker from the sheriff's office and insurance...who offers this type of insurance anyway??? oh screw it im gonna ride the way i have been....this law is only to collect more money anyways....i wonder what the poloticians that made this law got from the insurance company lobbyist

 

[good vibrations]

What this says to me is that there are no current laws on our bikes here. In 2009 when they had a definition of an MB, I think it would have fallen into the low-power scooter catagory but since they are no longer defined as such, we're just bicycles, nothing more. I wanted to make sure that I highlighted that above as well. It's in the red. As long as you keep the pedals on it, it's still a bicycle, motor or not. No reg., no insurance. Like I tell everyone, just ride sensibly and this won't have to change=)

 

[2door]

"Like I tell everyone, just ride sensibly and this won't have to change" Quote: Good Vibrations.

The key words here are "ride sensibly". There are darn few cops out there who want to mess with a guy toolin' along at 18 to 25 mph, muffler in place and obeying the traffic rules. Have lights, a horn, maybe wear a helmet and try not to antagonize people by riding up and down the same street over and over. Be considerate of others on the trails. I usually shut off my engine and pedal past walkers and especially if there are kids with them. Ride sensibly, don't bring negative attention to yourself and even if they want to enforce the laws you'll have less chance of bad encounters with 'The Man'.
I was cruisin' through my neighborhood last weekend, came around a curve in the street and came upon two Jefferson County sheriffs and a State Trooper who had two kids pulled over who had been terrorizing the bike trails on motorized scooters. All three cops turned at the sound of my bike, smiled and returned my wave as I passed at a discrete 15 mph.
Like Good Vibrations said; "ride sensibly". It's just common sense.
Tom

 

[good vibrations]

Also, I might suggest laminating a copy of this and carry it with and do like I do and check the dmv site now and then for changes. Had I not thought of looking there last night when I couldn't sleep, I'd of never known about the definition deleation.

 

[yamahonkawazuki]

Also, I might suggest laminating a copy of this and carry it with and do like I do and check the dmv site now and then for changes. Had I not thought of looking there last night when I couldn't sleep, I'd of never known about the definition deleation.

Well said. i do this with teh TN DMV in case i am " hassled by the man, or woman" many places i cannot plread on family ties lol, and the cop may not be FULLY aware of laws, might not be trying to be an arse, BUT may be enforcing hte law upon his or her interpretation ( even if mistaken)

 

[noco]

ok isee you highlighted in red...now it does not say gas assisted bicyles just electric....where do i fall in with 2 strokers and 4 strokes???im uneasy about this...help me out

 

[good vibrations]

Same as a regular bicycle, There is no longer an actual definition for a motorized bike in the law. They deleted the definition and through oversite or whatever( I'm not gonna complain)they didn't put anything back on the books in 2010 for our MB's. Therefore, the only regulations that apply to us are those for just bicycles. I didn't highlight it but where it says that the def. has been deleted is towards the bottom of the page. Don't be scared=)

 

[noco]

whooo hooo.....this is great....thanks for helping me with the lawyer mumbo jumbo around in circles crap that they make intending on confusing people like me....hahaha.....now do i still have to register as an exercise bike like before or am i just better off lying about the motor's size???or are we out of there picture all together???

cause technically we have been supposed to register at the sherriff's office if over 50cc...its a $5.25 sticker that we put on the bike as an exercise bike....its stupid but true....has that changed too....can i put a 5.7L on this thing and as long as it has peddles im ok????did we really fall through the cracks that good....this is awesome

 

[good vibrations]

This is what I mean, you do not have to register your bike as anything at all. doesn't matter what motor size is on it. If you feel you need to register your bike at all, just register it as a regular bicycle and DO NOT mention that there's a motor on it. At least here in the metro you don't have cops hassling people about unregistered bicycles, unless it's stolen=) Again there is no longer ANY law that applies to us so no registration, no insurance, period. You could put an eight cylinder on there and it wouldn't make a difference. You got pedals, you got bicycle, that's it.

 

[2door]

Does that mean I can finally ride this thing...legally? Too cool...
Tom

 

[noco]

thanks good vibrations this is excellant info.....good pic 2door ill race ya

 

[mdlee1958]

I guess I'm covered under the part that is highlighted in red since I'm a double amp I can always claim that my MB is nothing more than an over-glorified power chair.....LOL.

 

[noco]

so 2 door tell me how you made that picture....its pretty funny....is it photo shopped....the rear frame tubes look like they are part of the bike....obviously that motor isnt on it since the rear wheel is still round....great pic

 

[2door]

noco,
Photoshop makes anything possible. You're only limited by your imagination.
The engine was one we used to run in a 9 second alcohol Austin roadster. The bike is my wifes old mountain bike. A little cut and paste with Photoshop and you have a Chevy powered MB.
Tom

 

[noco]

9 seconds....thats a fast car!!!nice photo work.....thanks for the reply....matt

 

[Cabinfever1977]

Colorado = any license/50cc and under/30mph max/peddals required

 

[stan3dfx]

Thank you for asking about the law.
I am picking one up tomorrow and I thought I would dig around a little.

google two things.....
moped laws in colorado
and
motorized bicycle laws in colorado
the top selections on both should be looked at to get a clear understanding of the laws.

Motorized bicycle is now under moped so there are some rules!
hope this helps

Colorado Moped Laws
Moped Definition

A motorized bicycle is a vehicle with two or three wheels that has an automatic transmission, a cylinder capacity less than 50c.c., and cannot excede 30mph on a level surface. Vehicles not fitting the definition of a moped are classified as motorcycles
Moped Registration

Every moped needs to be registered with its stamped identification number. They need to be registered with the State Department of Revenue for a fee of $5.00, and the registration lasts for three years. The decal received upon registration must be placed in a conspicuous place on the frame of the moped. No license plate is required for mopeds.
Moped Licensing Information

Operator's of moped's must possess a valid minor or standard driver's license. Mopeds are allowed to be operated in any bike lanes if the operator has a valid driver's license.
Other Moped Laws

Any moped operated on a public road where moped travel is permitted must abide by all normal traffic rules. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
# Proof of Insurance
# Forward facing light visible from 500 feet away
# Rear facing reflector or lamp. A reflector must be visible from as far as 300 feet away. A lamp must be visible from 500 feet away
# Must have a horn or audio device that can be heard from 100 feet away
# An affixed brake that would skid if used on a dry surface

Mopeds are always subject to local laws and ordinances where they are being operated

 

[thatsdax]

What I own and ride is a Motor Assisted bicycle and is still a bicycle under federal law since there is no Colorado law for Motor Assisted bicycles. The only CRS that I can find is for Mopeds, Scooters, Motorcycles, and Motorized bikes and nothing for the Class of Motor Assisted bicycles. The post above is leaving out a lot. IF you go to the CRS for motorized bikes, they post examples and these examples are Goped, and others like it. Those happen to be less than 50cc, they have 2 wheels, and the only mode of propulsion is that of the motor. And that is why they wrote the new CRS to outlaw all the Gopeds, Pocket bikes, and others like them at the time were unregulated now regulated. But not applicable to motor Assisted Bicycles. When a State does not have its own laws for motor assited bicycles , then by default the Federal law for Motor Assited bicycles applies and that is that if they are less than 50cc, has pedals and motor is used to assist in pedalling of the bicycle and does not exceed 30mph on level ground under power, then it is still a bicycle. That is my read, and I am sticking to it. Enjoy the ride...

 

[lightningstoreI70]

What I own and ride is a Motor Assisted bicycle and is still a bicycle under federal law since there is no Colorado law for Motor Assisted bicycles. The only CRS that I can find is for Mopeds, Scooters, Motorcycles, and Motorized bikes and nothing for the Class of Motor Assisted bicycles. The post above is leaving out a lot. IF you go to the CRS for motorized bikes, they post examples and these examples are Goped, and others like it. Those happen to be less than 50cc, they have 2 wheels, and the only mode of propulsion is that of the motor. And that is why they wrote the new CRS to outlaw all the Gopeds, Pocket bikes, and others like them at the time were unregulated now regulated. But not applicable to motor Assisted Bicycles. When a State does not have its own laws for motor assited bicycles , then by default the Federal law for Motor Assited bicycles applies and that is that if they are less than 50cc, has pedals and motor is used to assist in pedalling of the bicycle and does not exceed 30mph on level ground under power, then it is still a bicycle. That is my read, and I am sticking to it. Enjoy the ride...

You are mistaking what you have with a low speed electric bicycle. Under 16 CFR Part 1512
it covers the low speed electric bicycle and Colorado has just come in line with that law on the books. Here is the complete law under Federal Public Law http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr03/low.html

What you have can be either considered a Low Powered Scooter or a Motorcycle depending on the CC of the engine.