CA. Law Info

[ioillusion]

Kind of funny how everyone sites federal law; then arrives at a conclusion that breaks the rules of a federal agency.

 

[Venice Motor Bikes]

Kind of funny how some people just have to make a simple thing harder than it has to be... (& also confuse as many people as possible while they're at it.)

 

[ioillusion]

Hey, I agree - DOT wrote the rules, not me.

 

[rockonp04]

I am registering my motorized bike. I got the form but I can't find the engine number for the form. Also where do i send the form and my money? What should I do about the engine number?

 

[bairdco]

ioillusion, quit worrying about who wrote the rules, and just play their game. i totally understand that you want to be 100% correct about everything, but in reality, we're dealing with pencil pushers, donut eaters, chips on their shoulders, tax collectors, and whatever other names we can give to people who try to stifle our fun. it's so much easier to play by their rules, since they don't even know how to play the game. why complicate it?

rockonp04, i use the bicycle serial number with an "E" in front of it for the engine number. for example, if my bike's serial number is 666999, i'd put the engine number as E666999. i also use an engraver tool to put those numbers on the motor, but you probably don't have to go that far...

oh, and read the form. it tells you where to send it. it's somewheres in sacramento, i think...

 

[Nikko]

in CA if your bike does not go above 30mph or have an automatic transmission with 2 hp or capable of being pedaled by human or have 2 or 3 wheels, if you answered no to any of those 4 questions legally it is not considered a motorized bicycle so you do not need registration.

 

[Mike B]

That's right.

It's a motorcycle and you need even more registration or it's just illegal and will be confiscated.

 

[Nikko]

yea, my bad misread, i am going to be sending in my 19 dollars to get my plates, anyone know if i need an m1 or m2 license? or just plates.

 

[Dogtown Burner]

You actually got a moped liscence for your bicycle? What part of California do you ride your bike? I live in Modesto, and before I put a motor on my bicycle, I want to make sure that I know the laws ...

I still want to be able to ride my bicycle (without the motor running) on the sidewalks, and other areas, where motorized vehicles may be prohibited.

Is there any legal problem with riding motorized bicycles when the motor is not operating? Or do the restrictions apply once you have attached the motor, even if it is not running?

I really want to have an electric motor than will push my Electra Townie faster than 20-25mph. I would like to be able to go at least 35-40mph. Although, I will not ride that fast all the time, just when I'm commuting on country roads where the speed limit is faster than 35mph.

I was reading through the California laws regarding mopeds and motorized bicycles, and it doesn't seem to be specific enough .... or is there a more thorough version of the law that gives more details?

It is NEVER legal to ride ANY bicycle on a sidewalk!!