My Specialized
- Thread starter Kinskeys
- Start date
silverbear
The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Pictures are too small to see the bike very well. Any hassles about riding it in D.C.? I used to live not too far from there when I was much younger... whole lot of nutty drivers in D.C. Be careful and welcome to the forum.
SB
SB
KCvale
Well-Known Member
Beautiful bike, well done except for the drive side tensioner.
Kinskeys, you don't need one! You have a tensioner on your derailer side, take that chunk of metal and plastic off and size you chain bud ;-}
Is it a 2010 Giant? Front shocks and seat shock are awesome, I know from experience, and those are some nice trainner bags, it almost like a cargo hauler.
Kinskeys, you don't need one! You have a tensioner on your derailer side, take that chunk of metal and plastic off and size you chain bud ;-}
Is it a 2010 Giant? Front shocks and seat shock are awesome, I know from experience, and those are some nice trainner bags, it almost like a cargo hauler.
Thanks, it's a 06' Specialized Crossroad. It's my 2nd built and I have try to not use the tensioner, but it won't work. I took off a full link and put in a half link without the tensioner and can't get the chain on, so I put the full link back on with the tensioner and it's been working for 2 months now.
Hey,
I also live in DC and just finished up my own build. It's the Gary Fisher Marlin on the Mountain Bike page. I've talked to a lot of different police officers around the city about the legality of what I have. Not surprisingly, everyone seems to have a different opinion. No issues (tickets) so far. I figure as long as I obey traffic laws no problem. The issue I face is that anything with an engine in DC needs to be registered.
Upon trying to register the bike, the DMV laughed at me because I brought them a bike. However after further review of the "non-traditional motorized vehicle chart" (upon my own request) they said take the engine off and stop being so creative. Apparently you cannot register a motorized bicycle without a title. Having built the bike myself, there obviously is no title. I have also spoken with a friend who is a prosecutor for motor vehicle violations, and she made it seem as though no registration was required.
Is it a bike, motorized bicycle, scooter, moped, or motorcycle? In some way, it fits in every category. Whatever it is called, it sure is a blast to ride.
The laws are extremely gray...
I also live in DC and just finished up my own build. It's the Gary Fisher Marlin on the Mountain Bike page. I've talked to a lot of different police officers around the city about the legality of what I have. Not surprisingly, everyone seems to have a different opinion. No issues (tickets) so far. I figure as long as I obey traffic laws no problem. The issue I face is that anything with an engine in DC needs to be registered.
Upon trying to register the bike, the DMV laughed at me because I brought them a bike. However after further review of the "non-traditional motorized vehicle chart" (upon my own request) they said take the engine off and stop being so creative. Apparently you cannot register a motorized bicycle without a title. Having built the bike myself, there obviously is no title. I have also spoken with a friend who is a prosecutor for motor vehicle violations, and she made it seem as though no registration was required.
Is it a bike, motorized bicycle, scooter, moped, or motorcycle? In some way, it fits in every category. Whatever it is called, it sure is a blast to ride.
The laws are extremely gray...
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silverbear
The Boy Who Never Grew Up
As a kind of 'insurance policy' in case you run into a total jerk cop who gives you a ticket for operating an illegal whatever, I would suggest documenting every effort you have made to register, investigate the laws and be in compliance with whatever is required for you to use a mode of transportation which is environmentally friendly and is legal in most parts of the country (so I would tell the judge) citing the requirements of adjoing states... (Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia) and that apparently the legislature has not seen fit to clarify the legality or illegality of a motorized bicycle. Also point out how safe your bicycle is with lights, etc. your helmet (assuming you use one) and how otherwise you are a safe rider. And be respectful. I think in a situation like that where there is nothing blatantly saying it is illegal a judge will rule in your favor. Most try to be fair within the limitations of the law. Or at least I want to think so.
SB