TV1 TONITE -minibikes legality reviewed

[FROSTY:Me]

I cant quote the law verbatum but as I understand it the law restricts you to 49cc or below and is phrased to exclude bikes like the RG.
What the hey meybee you're right maybee Joe average will stay away from scooters in droves but what If Im right ---wont that be so cool for us biker types

[Ixion]

I cant quote the law verbatum but as I understand it the law restricts you to 49cc or below and is phrased to exclude bikes like the RG.
What the hey meybee you're right maybee Joe average will stay away from scooters in droves but what If Im right ---wont that be so cool for us biker types

Yeah, don't get me wrong, anything we can do to get more people on two wheels is good. That's why I argue that the gubbernmint should extend the "bike on car license" thing, so that a car license holder can take a Basic Skills Test and ride more than a moped . (even 125cc would be practical for commuting)

[FROSTY:Me]

Yeah, don't get me wrong, anything we can do to get more people on two wheels is good. That's why I argue that the gubbernmint should extend the "bike on car license" thing, so that a car license holder can take a Basic Skills Test and ride more than a moped . (even 125cc would be practical for commuting)

Um er mate --they can -but speed limited to 70km/h like any learner.
They do have road skills but also limited bike control skills.

[Ixion]

Quoting the law verbatim: (thanks google). From our good friends at LTSa.

A motor vehicle (other than a power-assisted pedal cycle) that:

1. has two wheels; and
2. either:
1. has an engine cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 ml and a maximum speed not exceeding 50 km/h; or
2. has a power source other than a piston engine and a maximum speed not exceeding 50 km/h.

So, (a) most of the mini-things are self condemnded, since they claim more than 50kph -
(b) the 70kph limit is irrelevant, cos by law they ain;t allowed to do it. If you tuned up a legal moped so it could do 70kph you'd have to reregister it as a motorbike.
(c) Top speed of 50kph is going to be pretty yuck for commuting
(d) The scooters I see zipping down Queen St are going a lot more than 50kph!

I still haven't found whether a 1L licence holder (or a 1R) can ride a moped.

[Ixion]

More googling. It would appear that you *can* ride a moped on a car learners license (1L). Don't have to have an accompanying person (couldn't anyway). Do have to display an L plate.

The LAW

says

Licence class


Motor vehicle to which licence relates
Class 1, 1L, and 1R Any motor vehicle (including any tractor) or
combination vehicle, that is not a motor cycle
that has a gross laden weight or gross combined
weight of 4500 kg or less, or, for a special-type
vehicle that is a forklift, has a gross laden
weight of 15000 kg or less

(mopeds are explicitly declared not be motorcycles (not in this regulation))

And

(a)The holder must not drive the vehicle (unless driving a motorcycle, moped, or an all-terrain vehicle) unless the holder is accompanied in the vehicle by a person who— blah blah

So, in theory at least , a 15 year old can go sit the theory test and eye test, pocket his 1L license, and go out and take off on one of those minibikes, with their claimed top speed of 100kph (for the 110 cc ones pretending to be 50cc). And - he's NOT limited to 70kph ! Or subject to the curfew. And can take passengers! Cos all of THOSE things are only for 6L

(c)In the case of a Class 6L licence,—
(i)The holder must not drive between the hours of 10 pm and 5 am; and (ii)The holder must not drive at a speed exceeding 70 km/h; and
(iii)The holder must not drive a motorcycle that has a total piston displacement exceeding 250 cm3; and
(iv)The holder must not carry another person on the motorcycle or in a sidecar attached to the motorcycle.

Which has to be one of the stupidest damn things I have seen in a fair while. I hope that one of the KB cops can tell me I'm wrong.

It MIGHT be reasonable if the intent of the law (that mopeds were only capable of 50kph) were enforced. Though even then , why is a restricted or learner motorcyclist subject to curfew, and "no passnger" limitations EVEN IF HE HAS A FULL CAR LICENSE - while the moped rider , who maybe only holds a learner car license is not! What raving lunatic was responsible for that

[Pixie]

Wayne Kohi - The mini choppers are DANGEROUS.
They are not WOF or rego'd....
they are being ridden by kids on the roads with out any protective gear.
Adults are also riding them with out any protective gear.

They cant be seen by car driver let alone a truck driver wont see then.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ok I just spoke to the TVNZ news room, and then got transferred down to the Wellington news room., as that is where the story was filmed from... the woman who did the story is gonna contact me tomorrow..
well we shall see if she does.

So where are they buying all the mini choppers from.
What shops etc...?????
Names of the shops needed.

I have no problem with idiot behaviour, it vacuums the gene pool.
I do object to the consequences being added to the motorcycle accident stats.

[skidMark]

More googling. It would appear that you *can* ride a moped on a car learners license (1L). Don't have to have an accompanying person (couldn't anyway). Do have to display an L plate.

The LAW

says


(mopeds are explicitly declared not be motorcycles (not in this regulation))

And


So, in theory at least , a 15 year old can go sit the theory test and eye test, pocket his 1L license, and go out and take off on one of those minibikes, with their claimed top speed of 100kph (for the 110 cc ones pretending to be 50cc). And - he's NOT limited to 70kph ! Or subject to the curfew. And can take passengers! Cos all of THOSE things are only for 6L


Which has to be one of the stupidest damn things I have seen in a fair while. I hope that one of the KB cops can tell me I'm wrong.

It MIGHT be reasonable if the intent of the law (that mopeds were only capable of 50kph) were enforced. Though even then , why is a restricted or learner motorcyclist subject to curfew, and "no passnger" limitations EVEN IF HE HAS A FULL CAR LICENSE - while the moped rider , who maybe only holds a learner car license is not! What raving lunatic was responsible for that

soooo what ur saying is im on my car learners and i can ride my minbike with nocurfew? .... that thought please let it be true

when i had my accident the cop interviewing me in hospital...take not a biker cop...you are riding that moped illegally you must have a full car license to ride a moped....i was like that is a load of crap...(much more politely) ....i said then why do you think all the collge students and uni students ride them...because they can ride them on thier car learners...then he sits there and goes...

ill have to check on that but im definately sure that is not the case...

THE COPS THEMSELVES EVEN A BIKER COP DO NOT KNOW THE LAWS!!!!!

[skidMark]

I have no problem with idiot behaviour, it vacuums the gene pool.
I do object to the consequences being added to the motorcycle accident stats.

was kinda the cars fault for my accident whats one more with the amount of idiots that are crashing ive followed these guys on choppers on my mini they are all over the road slalem through traffic everywhere and try and beat every bit of trafifc there is they can't ride to save themselves

[speights_bud]

Carefull what you say about real choppers. Some of us on here actually do like them and atleast one plans on building them for a living...

That makes two of us possible-chopper-to-be-builders. I'm still a little undecided

[Ixion]

soooo what ur saying is im on my car learners and i can ride my minbike with nocurfew? .... that thought please let it be true

when i had my accident the cop interviewing me in hospital...take not a biker cop...you are riding that moped illegally you must have a full car license to ride a moped....i was like that is a load of crap...(much more politely) ....i said then why do you think all the collge students and uni students ride them...because they can ride them on thier car learners...then he sits there and goes...

ill have to check on that but im definately sure that is not the case...

THE COPS THEMSELVES EVEN A BIKER COP DO NOT KNOW THE LAWS!!!!!

Well, that's what the law appears to say. There is nothing in the classes about the moped exemption being limited to full (or restricted). And if it is true that you can drive an a 1L, then the curfew definately does not apply. The absolute height of idiocy is, that it DOES apply on a 1R (restricted). So if you are riding a minibike on a car learners you have no curfew. Move up to a car restricted and you get a curfew.

It is a loophole. The writers did not put in curfew restrictions etc on 1L because they assumed that all 1L drivers would have to be accompanied by a full license holder. Which is true for cars. But they forgot about the exemption for mopeds . And that the curefw etc rules are specifically only for class 6.

So , as I read the law, yes, it is true. And what you told the cop is correct.

I don't agree with it, or approve of it. I really hope that one of our cop members can point out where I'm wrong

Also, I am not a lawyer. Do don't rely on this (or anything else on this site) as legal advice. Or tell the cops "Its true a guy on Kiwibiker said so"

And remember. Piss a cop off enough and he has ways to make you unhappy.

EDIT. Further idiocy. If riding a minibike on a 1R , you ARE subject to the curfew, unless you take a full class 1 (car) license holder as a pillion (hard I guess on a minibike). But you can take passengers if they hold a full car licence , or are your spouse or partner, or a dependant.

And a minibike being ridden on a car license is NOT subject to the 70kph limit. In theory the minibike should not be able to do more than 50kph under normal conditions . But if it does, (cos the conditions are abnormal ), then no offence is (apparently) committed. What a bloody abortion of a law,

[Lee Rusty]

the 50cc dont need WOF - the 110cc need WOF Rego and Mc Licence ot be ridden but the riders tell people they are 50's and see to get away with it.
I have seen these things with lists of faults after a weeks use.
Head light brackets break, air cleaners fall off as the motors flex with the movement of the chain, and the aircleaners hit the frame, gear linkages rub against frame and wont change gear, front sprockets crap out after a few days use, chains the same, made of soft shite steel. steering head bearings and wheel bearing crap out - thats just what I can think of off the top of my head, the lights on some are battery operated like a pushbike.
THe 110s have lights but they are not much more than bike lights.
These things are made as a TOY for KIDS in China where they play in caprparks, Here we have adolecent morons using them for transport.
THey come with stickers on the tanks that state NOT OF ROAD USE
the people selling them remove the stickers, using a loophole for mopeds
they get them registered. I know the LTSA is looking into them at the moment with a view to making them illegal on the roads.
THey should be banned - and the importers made to refund all the sales money for selling under false pretences.

The other thing LTSA has under consideration is the getting rid of the 50cc moped licence exemption - they are investigating either a specific MOPED licence or making a mc licence mandatory - if you are thinking of buying one I wouldnt

[Lee Rusty]

licence legality - Mopeds can legally be ridden on a Learner Class 1 Licence

[Gazzar]

I think that the laws around them and other small bikes need to be fixed as peaple looking at buying a bike then find out the cost of a REG for it and some stop there. [ 12 months $ 249.60 ] [ ACC levy $189.02 ]
what I would like to know is what peaple rideing mopeds/ mini choppers/ and UN REG things say to ACC when they fall off them.
As this will make our REG cost more if they say they were rideing a motorbike as to a mini chopper they do not pay anty [ACC]
We need more bikes on the road not idiots with no licence and shit bikes called choppers.

[NordieBoy]

Ixion --mate have you ever ridden the average 50cc scooter (ignoreing the hotted up gileras and the likes) -They dont need to be restricted --they only manage 70 anyhoo maybee 80
There is always gonna be a percentage of cager/semi converts telling horror stories for sure.
Im thinking christchurch/inner subberbs of auckland. wellytown -upper hutt etc and hammyhole--all fairly flat all basicly 50k driving.

Oi!

Never ignore a hotted up Gilera!

[skidMark]

i think i will shut up im senseing alot of hatred

but before i do...

my minibike is not like these stupid mini choppers which come with no lights are to small and handle ...well they just don't...where as my monkeybike is completely different it isnt so small it has all the lights horn indicators etc

so mine is exactly the same as these little hondas pal mopeds and pgo comets but a tiny bit smaller...mini choppers are designed to look cool...thats it....

so it seems everyone on small bikes is getting tared with the same brush here

because mine is actually legal and no different to a normal moped and i can guarantee people who actually need something for transport not just to show off are going to suffer because of it