Moped 50 km/h blanket speed limit

[Badjelly]

I mentioned this here

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...36&postcount=3

but it didn't attract any attention. Perhaps some of the people who frequent the Scooters forum might be interested.

Various changes have been proposed to the Land Tansport (Road User) Rule 2004, see here:

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/consultation...ent/index.html

In addition to compulsory headlight use, there's this one:

It is proposed that a person must not operate a vehicle
registered as a moped at a speed exceeding 50km/h.

By law, mopeds are not supposed to be able to exceed 50 km/h. But it's not illegal to actually exceed 50 km/h, provided you don't exceed the general speed limit for the road in question. It is proposed to eliminate this anomaly.

Submissions close 16 October.

[Dargor]

Yea, i think that sounds stupid. I dont like how they talk about a persons skill just because of the vechile the choose to ride.

[Willdat?]

Would be hard to justify why you should be allowed to do more than 50 km/h?

[sunhuntin]

id rather see a rule stating mopeds must be able to easily get to and maintain a min speed of 50k. that way they could stay with the flow of traffic and be able to ride in line with other vehicles as opposed to the cycle lane where theres a real chance they could be hit. many of the scoots i see struggle to get over 40k

[Flatcap]

many of the scoots i see struggle to get over 40k

Until one takes the restrictor cone out of the exhaust

[sunhuntin]

wish more of them would do that... they look so silly leaning soooo far forward but not actually going any faster.

[ManDownUnder]

Yea, i think that sounds stupid. I dont like how they talk about a persons skill just because of the vechile the choose to ride.

I understand - but consider the reverse situation - you can ride a moped with a car license. By implication a number of moped riders have not demonstrated their skill levels on two wheels so the question of skill raised is valid.

It's not fair or reasonable to blanket restrict people though. I'd suggest those not holding a motorcycle license (Restricted or Full) be limited to 50.

[Flatcap]

I understand - but consider the reverse situation - you can ride a moped with a car license. By implication a number of moped riders have not demonstrated their skill levels on two wheels so the question of skill raised is valid.

It's not fair or reasonable to blanket restrict people though. I'd suggest those not holding a motorcycle license (Restricted or Full) be limited to 50.

It's not really a blanket restriction on people though, it's a restriction on a class of vehicle.

Those with any form of motorcycle license can choose between a motorcycle or a moped - if a moped is chosen, then the restriction applies. It will essentially be a decision between speed vs cheap rego / no WOF.

[Del Fuego]

Just more backward thinking on behalf of our government. The fact is a restricted "moped" is a joke... and dangerous at that. Yes you can ride it on a car license... a car goes faster than 50. I have no problem about limiting the speed but any vehicle should be able to maintain the speed of traffic within an urban area including up hill. Unfortunately the restrictions are far from perfect.

A derestricted 50cc 2T has a top speed around the high 60's and will still get up a hill without too much hassle... but apparently allowing a derestricted machine is too logical.

[Ixion]

Not at all. Derestricted machines are allowed. You just have to have the proper licence.

Personally I see no problem with the proposal.

The exemption allowing car drivers to ride a 50cc is of very debateable logic (after all, by that token why should not someone with only a class 6L licence be allowed to drive a 1000cc car ?). But , accepting that it is, the rationale is that the mopde class is of such limited performance that a rider, provided they be familiar with the road rules (ie have some licence) is unlikely to get into trouble. The argument is dubious but there is some merit in it.

It is for this reason that a moped is, by law, supposed to be incapable of exceeding 50kph. In simple words if you have a moped that exceeds 50kph you are (a) breaking the law anyway; and (b) like as not endangering yourself and others.

You argue that someone on a car licence should be permitted to ride an "unrestricted" two wheeler. If that be accepted , then where is the limit? Why should anyone be required to have a class 6 licence? Actaully when I was young that was the case- a car licence holder could have a motor cycle licence for the asking. That was changed for very good reasons. Those reasons still hold

Rather than allowing the "motorbike without a motorbike licence" concept to spread, I would argue that it should be abolished. Want to ride on two wheels? Get a two wheeler licence. (And yes, extend that to pedal power too)

[xwhatsit]

Ixion's quite right -- you're welcome to have an unrestricted 50cc scooter, but as it will then fall outside the moped definition, you should then register it as a motorcycle (like any other scooter) and deal with having to have a proper motorcycle license, WoF, higher rego etc.

50kph is a little low though, it's a rare Auckland driver who'll do anything less than 55kph (mostly seems to be closer to 60kph) in a 50kph limit. Would be a shame to get a nasty fine and points for breach of license condition for simply keeping up with traffic flow. Perhaps a 60kph limit would be more suitable?

[Ixion]

I think the cops would allow the same 10kph tolerance. So effectively you would be OK to 60kph

[xwhatsit]

I think the cops would allow the same 10kph tolerance. So effectively you would be OK to 60kph

But yeah but nah but yeah but...

if you do get zapped, you're looking at mucho pain.


I like the moped class. It's so free of regulation, I hope they keep it up. The way I've looked at the regs, I could almost build my own frame and bodywork and chuck an old C50 (or, even better, a manual clutch 4-speed SS50 motor) in there and I could register it as a moped.

Imagine that. I could ride an Xwhatsit XW50-R

[davereid]

But yeah but nah but yeah but...

if you do get zapped, you're looking at mucho pain.


I like the moped class. It's so free of regulation, I hope they keep it up. The way I've looked at the regs, I could almost build my own frame and bodywork and chuck an old C50 (or, even better, a manual clutch 4-speed SS50 motor) in there and I could register it as a moped.

Imagine that. I could ride an Xwhatsit XW50-R

I completely agree !

Its neat to have a class of vehicle thats not overwhelmed with regulations, rules and expensive accounts from the queen.

Long live the Moped !

[Willdat?]

You can register basically ANYTHING as a moped, I had a chinese goped rip off registered, just took the application form in, no inspection, no nothing. Had bike lights front and rear and a hooter as a horn, bmx front brakes modded to fit, 37km/h on 4 inch wheels was damn scary!
Was a bit of a bugger when it seized at 30km/h or so with the rear wheel locked up, I even managed to get respect from Harley riders, who pulled over o see if they could help get me going again!