This is Really Great news Art. Could you provide any copies, information, or links about where to find out what the law is. It sounds like your wife is a great help to the cause, and any information sharing will benefit the whole of this confused state. Thanks / Buck
Im Going Legal in PA
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I would love to ride my MB but dont want to go thru all the hassle with registratio etc. My bike is a friction drive. Runs great and looks great. 34 mph on the flat anytime. Engine is a hf 52cc off a water pump. Nice wide seat, lights, mirror, speedometer. Everyone that sees it thinks it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Over $500 stuck in it. You can have it for $300 anytime. [email protected] Pat
Don't give up and sell your bike just because people say it "can't" be registered. Many people from this forum in PA have gotten their bikes registered. Some by meeting the requirements in subchapter J, and getting the enhanced inspection with form MV426B. And some have used VIN plates/Titles from other old, junked mopeds for registering that way, so it is possible. Many people told me that it was not possible, but I proved them wrong.
Ok, so what is the easiest way to go about getting reg. JB if you have all your bikes reg. you should have it down pat but now. Using old junk moped reg's is out of the question. That is a felony offence. Automatic court, high fine and possiably jail time plus court cost, lawywer fees, etc. Could be **** espensive. I would like to build another bike but that is on hold for sure. JB, could you give me a step by step procedure. I know you went thru a lot of hassle anyway thanks. Pat
Denali
Check out my posts on page 10,&13.
Yodabob legal in PA
YouTube - motorized bike street legal in PA
Check out my posts on page 10,&13.
Yodabob legal in PA
YouTube - motorized bike street legal in PA
Hey, I read thru most of this forum on getting my mb legal I just have a couple of quick questions.
How do you wire so your blinkers to make them blink? Any special relay? Or connections?
I do have a (ARC light and motion) head light which is brigther the those Dot head lights; do I really have to get a dot approved light? If so ok, urgh..
As for the inspection shall I wait to install the 36 sprocket so it will only do 25 or less?
Well it sounds like I'm in store for a lot of fun wit getting this done hope I don't get too frustated on this endeaver...
How do you wire so your blinkers to make them blink? Any special relay? Or connections?
I do have a (ARC light and motion) head light which is brigther the those Dot head lights; do I really have to get a dot approved light? If so ok, urgh..
As for the inspection shall I wait to install the 36 sprocket so it will only do 25 or less?
Well it sounds like I'm in store for a lot of fun wit getting this done hope I don't get too frustated on this endeaver...
Hi Krazykooter, I noticed you're from West Chester, me too. Anyway, on the positive side of the wiring, before the switch for left or right, put a thing called a thermal load flasher, or get the electronic type because of the vibration from the engine. I had the thermal type and it worked fine, but recently changed to the electronic type because I changed to LED bulbs. You can get them at any autoparts store, like pepboys, autozone, etc, even tractor supply. If you plan on getting it inspected, yes all lights must be DOT or SAE (it will be etched in the lense if it is), but once the inspection is done, you can change it back to however you want, because mopeds are exempt from annual inspection. I know of a shop in West Chester that can do the inspection in order to get your bike registered and legal. If it were me, I would wait to put the smaller sprocket on it after inspection so it won't go very fast like you said.
I just finished my first build (and sold it, actually - figured I would build one to learn the ropes before I build one for me to keep. Made $50 on the deal, too, so I can't complain.)
I talked to a local police chief who retired last year from the force but still works in law enforcement. He is adamant that anything under 50cc is legal with no registration, inspection, or title. Not even a driver's license is required. Apparently they had a couple people in town who used to ride them (Whizzers, I think). One rode the bike because he had lost his license to a DUI. The other just generally cruised around being an idiot. I guess they have him a hard time about the stupid stuff he did, but didn't see anything wrong with him simply riding the bike.
He copied me out a few pages from the law books which lead us around the same old circle we've already been around in the first 21 pages of this thread. He said not to call Penndot - first, they will give you a different answer every time, and second, they always have a feeling that you're trying to sneak something by them, so they tend to just say "no" if they're not sure.
He said that the police department actually had a letter on file from the Attorney General's office clarifying what was required of motorized pedalcycles (absolutely nothing). They had written for clarification when they had a problem with a local store (Country Junction - the World's Largest General Store {until it burned down}) selling little electric scooters to kids and telling them that they were perfectly legal to ride on the road. The letter from the Attorney General stated that the only vehicle that could be ridden without license, title, or registration was a motorized pedalcycle. He wasn't sure if they still had a copy of the letter on file, though. Maybe someone should write/call the Attorney General's office for clarification.
He was totally convinced, even adamant, that these bikes (under 50cc...cough..cough) are perfectly legal. I've posted a pdf of the documents that he has given me. As I get more from him, I will post them here as well.
EDIT: I can't post anything over 19.2 kb here. If I can find another place to host it, I'll post a link. Otherwise, email me at foeller32(at)yahoo(dot)com and I'll email a copy back to you.
Good Luck!
I talked to a local police chief who retired last year from the force but still works in law enforcement. He is adamant that anything under 50cc is legal with no registration, inspection, or title. Not even a driver's license is required. Apparently they had a couple people in town who used to ride them (Whizzers, I think). One rode the bike because he had lost his license to a DUI. The other just generally cruised around being an idiot. I guess they have him a hard time about the stupid stuff he did, but didn't see anything wrong with him simply riding the bike.
He copied me out a few pages from the law books which lead us around the same old circle we've already been around in the first 21 pages of this thread. He said not to call Penndot - first, they will give you a different answer every time, and second, they always have a feeling that you're trying to sneak something by them, so they tend to just say "no" if they're not sure.
He said that the police department actually had a letter on file from the Attorney General's office clarifying what was required of motorized pedalcycles (absolutely nothing). They had written for clarification when they had a problem with a local store (Country Junction - the World's Largest General Store {until it burned down}) selling little electric scooters to kids and telling them that they were perfectly legal to ride on the road. The letter from the Attorney General stated that the only vehicle that could be ridden without license, title, or registration was a motorized pedalcycle. He wasn't sure if they still had a copy of the letter on file, though. Maybe someone should write/call the Attorney General's office for clarification.
He was totally convinced, even adamant, that these bikes (under 50cc...cough..cough) are perfectly legal. I've posted a pdf of the documents that he has given me. As I get more from him, I will post them here as well.
EDIT: I can't post anything over 19.2 kb here. If I can find another place to host it, I'll post a link. Otherwise, email me at foeller32(at)yahoo(dot)com and I'll email a copy back to you.
Good Luck!
i know anythign here in east tn UNDER 50 ccs is legal sans registration. or DL. i lost my DL due to medical. have since traded my moto for a NICE scott road bike. ( worth ten times my trek lol) and ordered a 66. although ILLEGAL in the eyes of the law, looks identical to the 50, and ive got the receipts for the 50 i had so. unless they tear it down, and measure it. im good. i get along with 99% of the LEOS here. ( former co workers helps , and family too ) the 66 looks close enough in size to the 50 that on looks alone it would pass
I have a 1949 Whizzer & got antique vintage title & plates for it. They came today.
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PA laws on motorized bikes are out of hand! i ride mine around anyway at my own risk. people should be happy to see more bikes and less cars. i put a cheep 2 stroke on my bike to save money. this wonderful stat would like me to go through all that registration for what? i mod and rebuild my bike all the time. it would be crazy to re do all the registration every time it was done. motorized bikes should just be overlooked by the law.
I am ready to build and go legal but I see a snag with the max 1 1/2 brake horsepower. Every detail has to be sent in to the state. I want to use the huasheng 49cc but the specs say 2 horsepower or 1.4 kw which is 1.87 horsepower. I also would like to know how you guys told the state it would only go 25mph? I think I read that the huasheng is 5.86 to 1. From there I need to know the ezm stock ratio and which back sprocket to use " Or tell them I am using" that would limit the speed to 25mph. Print the math and send that in too. Thanks Jim
just lie to them. rendell lies to us all the time. do you think he feels bad? get a 66cc and call it a 49. whats the chance they will take your head off and check.. remove all the specs off the motor. and lie lie lie!.. BTW- mine is not legal, and never will be.
It's the specs writen on the paper work I'm worried about. It says 1.4 kw. If they can't calculate metric, I'm good to go. I still have to explain the ratio's, rpm, mathmatics to come up with 25mph. Can anyone help me with that?
Urm... messed up BHP & SHP, in my previous post - got 'em reversed lol 
Anyway...
All manufacturers... "round up" power specifications. Some retailers "round up" a bit more. So... generally speaking, if it's 2hp claimed it could well meet the 1&1/2 max brake horsepower they require... but, w/o documentation (like from a dynamometer - chk local motorcycle shops) they may not buy yer explanation.
1&1/2 BHP is a bit low... still as far as I'm aware there's been no reliable & independent testing of a stock motor on a dynamometer. As it's a given that manufacturer data is "ideal" at best (even Honda, Yahama etc.), and retailers are prone to a touch more exaggeration - there's a possibility that an advertised "2HP" engine is actually quite a bit less. A full 1/2hp? *shrug*
If there's a chance you can be completely legal w/o question for the cost of a Dyno run why not give it a shot? If it turns out to be way over - heck, you've got a sweet motor lol
Anyway...All manufacturers... "round up" power specifications. Some retailers "round up" a bit more. So... generally speaking, if it's 2hp claimed it could well meet the 1&1/2 max brake horsepower they require... but, w/o documentation (like from a dynamometer - chk local motorcycle shops) they may not buy yer explanation.
1&1/2 BHP is a bit low... still as far as I'm aware there's been no reliable & independent testing of a stock motor on a dynamometer. As it's a given that manufacturer data is "ideal" at best (even Honda, Yahama etc.), and retailers are prone to a touch more exaggeration - there's a possibility that an advertised "2HP" engine is actually quite a bit less. A full 1/2hp? *shrug*
If there's a chance you can be completely legal w/o question for the cost of a Dyno run why not give it a shot? If it turns out to be way over - heck, you've got a sweet motor lol
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Yea - that's true too, if the DMV will only except original manufacturer's specs then no matter the dyno, even the truth wont work
I would gladly pay for a dyno run but that is rearwheel horsepower. I searched the net for the difference between bhp and hp and get all kinds of answers. I'm going to try my luck. I just need a ezm guy to chime in here with some ratios to give the state. I am a CDL holder so I have to be legal, I don't want to give them DOT cops any more revenue then they get now.