can i find a calif. street legal moter 4 my bike?

[roadmaster]

so i was asked if id like to get a motor kit for one of my bikes for christmas, and i imediatly began looking around for the who, whats and where to find a nice little gas powered moterkit for my cruiser and found a sweet deal on a 49cc (and an 80cc) 2stroke moters that come in a great kit and get like 150 to 200+ MPG, but the catch... will not ship to california residents! :x :roll:

so i go down to the CHP to get a copy of laws as pertains to motercycles (over 150cc), moter-driven cycles (under 150cc), mopeds and moterized bicycles (elect powered, under 1000w, under 2 gross hp and max speed of 25mph), and i guess if im looking for a gas powered, under 80cc moter-driven cycle. you need a motercycle endorsement on your license to operate a motercycle and moped, but was very vauge about moterized bicycles and moter-driven cycles except to say you cannot operate them on any "highway" wo/proper lic and reg. bottom line is that im trying to put an affordable moterkit on my bike and do not want to get a m1 or m2 on my license and get insurense and register it with the DMV.

any ideas of where i can find a legal in california moterkit for my cruiser? i have seen a few of the 49cc 2stroke kits out there and with the gas tank where the horntank would be on my cruiser would look so cool, and with gas milage to put a prius to shame. id prefer gas powered 2stroke or 4stroke, as i think california is an unholy ground for the 2stroke moter :roll: , but im not ruling out electrical powered either as long as it has a descent range and its gonna be either legal, unnoticable or both. id appreciate and help as this has me frustrated and disapointed. thanks.

 

[old school 64]

Thinking I saw a couple on Craigslist not too long ago..might try the local car shows, been seeing alot of bicycle stuff there lately..just a thought..have seen a couple motorized bikes running around Manteca..

 

[stretch]

i dunno.. motorized bikes are a funny thing. they have to be registered as a scooter if the engine is like, 70 cc or under, or something like that. so then it has to have turn signals, mirrors, headlight, taillight,front and rear brakes, and all kinds of extra junk. but i think most times its too light to be technically considered a scooter, so they cant be registered.

 

[deorman]

Here in VA, they have to be under 49cc and not exceed 30mph on public streets, or they must be DOT compliant.

 

[OCD]

I believe Grubee now sells a smog legal (even in Cali ?) 4 stroke motor kit. The usual advantage with 4 strokes apart from less polution is less vibration, less noise and less maintanence. Most jurisdictions in Canada/US are ok with them as long as you are under 50cc and have operating pedals. We have had some controversy up here with cops saying they are low speed motorcycles (which in legal terms wouldn't have pedals) so it is a 'motor assisted bicycle', which is your loophole for now. :mrgreen:

 

[DougC]

Different states have different motorized bicycle laws, but I think the main snag here is the Cali emissions laws.
If you know anyone who lives out of state, you could order it to their address and then you could go pick it up from them.

(the credit-card company may call you first before proceeding with the charge, because they often do that if an item is ordered to a different delivery address than the cardholder's own on file)
~

 

[deorman]

I'm actually going to sell a 25cc Golden Eagle kit that was CARB cool a couple of years ago, but it needs wide stays for the drive ring, and it doesn't look cool like the frame mount jobs. http://www.bikeengines.com/orderpage.htm They usually mount to the axle, but mine is drilled for drop out fender mount.

 

[roadmaster]

yeah, i've thought about having my mother in law have them send it to her address in kentucky and then she could send it out here to me in california. ironically enough, just 30 miles north of my house ( in oregon) i wouldnt have this problem. go figure. :roll: maybe i'll just have her send me a new springer fork and a set of rims instead.

 

[deorman]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21862 Just engrave 49cc on the side. :lol:

 

[zoso]

I don't have a clue about legality, but I know Mike S sells motor kits here in Sac. He'd probably be happy to ship one your way.

Link to his profile page: memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2513

 

[Bigcam59]

In NJ there is no legal bolt on bike motor. If it wasn't a moped to begin with you are out of luck.

 

[ChadB]

I know there are alot of old 2 stroke Vespas and Lambrettas running around in California, and those folks don't seem to have any trouble getting replacement 2 stroke engines shipped to them.

 

[AussieJester]

Better get in quick as the 49cc HT motors (Happy Time) you see on bicycles FAILED to pas USA EPA emissions standards and are NOT being imported
into the USA as of 2010. Wont be long after this they will be made ilegal to use on public roads...Go with a 4 stroke kit or Electric. Your states max
output is 750watt ...

KiM

EDIT: If you want to find more specialised info on electric bicycles visit http://endless-sphere.com/forums/ for ICE powered http://motoredbikes.com is the place to be.

 

[AussieJester]

http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21862 Just engrave 49cc on the side. :lol:

You will get in more trouble if your caught for this than riding it in the first place.

KiM

 

[deorman]

I was just being a wisecracker.

 

[theVULTURE]

Mike S. at Vintage Bike Supply sells a 50cc and/or a 70cc two stroke kit that bolts up to your cruiser.
I know the guy that he's getting the kits from, and either Mike or his supplier can install the kit for the extra cash.
With a M2 endorsement on your license (written test) you can ride in the bike lane with a helmet on, during daylight hours, with the wind at your back, with your shoes tied, with your jacket zipped up, through a herd of zebra, in a snow flurry :roll:

call Mike S. to pick it up on Dec 13th at the Bikes to Bricks Toy Run!
two birds, one stone! AND I'll buy you a beer! :mrgreen:

 

[roadmaster]

thanks for all the good advice and information. decided to go with an xbox 360 and halo package instead. asked a few cops and they said for the most part, if its got a motor it will need a license, at least for gas. he even admitted it depends on what officer pulls you over, but with 3 law enforcement jurisdictions in my town (siskiyou co sheriffs, CHP, and yreka police dept.), why take the chance ... for now.