Planet Minis

dsrt4

I think I may be able to pull off getting my 78 z50 on the road using the 49cc law here in MO.
The bike is going to be fitted with lights blinkers and everything else from a Repro bike. I noticed the 49cc scoots have a DOT tag though. Is there a Reproduction tag around that my z's Vin could be added to?

Or did the Z50A's not have a DOT tag?

mexicanyella

Where are you in MO? Going by the 49cc law, worrying about the tag may be a waste of time. It kind of depends on the town. State law is pretty lenient, but some towns, like Troy, near where I live, have enacted ordinances prohibiting scooters and "motorized bicycles"/mopeds. In Troy's case, the word is that this was in response to a rash of sideways-hat-wearin' morons buying a bunch of those cheapass pocket bikes they were selling at Autozone for awhile, and then going out and riding on the street because they were sub-49cc and sub-30mph. Troy requires bikes to be full-licensed deals now, within its city limits. Some research of your area's laws are in order.

I went to college in Columbia in the early '90s, and rode a hardtail from our off-campus house to campus in all weather for a three or four semesters. To the Columbia cops it must have blended in with the scooters and mopeds, which were common there with all the college kids. I rode the Z all over the place at all hours and was never once stopped. I quickly learned to avoid the streets with speed limits over 35 mph, though. Scary.

I had that thing wound up, top speed--27-28mph!--on the two-lane county highway that passes our house a few weeks ago, going over to a friend's house a mile or two away to borrow a tool. I had on a helmet and sunglasses and here came a County Sheriff's Department cruiser, who never slowed down, no brake lights even. Totally ignored it. With my gray beard it's probably obvious I'm no kid...maybe he just thought, "That looks illegal but that guy's older than I am...naaaaah."


So in some towns, you might just make sure your lights work right and consider adding a mirror for safety. A K1 with battery would be good, as I'd think the lights would work better at idle and you might be able to add a horn too.

D-Day

I live in unincorporated St.Charles County and ride my '86 Z50RD on the streets all the time. The County Sheriff's have stopped me a few times, I reminded them of the Mo Motorized Bike Law and they said "okay, be safe" and went on. I'm in my late 40's, I'm sure that helps from being hassled. I have a "M" endorsed license though it's not required. The way the law is written if you operate it during daylight hours you don't need lights but are required to have operating brakes. You must use hand signals. The only thing that voids the State Law is if the local municipality has others laws governing motorized bike usage. Here's the basic State Law and a link to a more detailed list of requirements.

What are the licensing laws for motor scooters (under 50cc)?

Licensing for a scooter or moped depends on whether the vehicle meets the definition of a motorized bicycle. The Missouri statute definition of a motorized bicycle is as follows:

"Any two-wheeled or three-wheeled device having an automatic transmission and a motor with a cylinder capacity of not more than fifty (50) cubic centimeters, which produces less than three (3) gross brake horsepower, and is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour on level ground."

A motorized bicycle does not have to be registered with the Missouri Department of Revenue. However, you must have a valid driver license (though no motorcycle endorsement is required).
Missouri statute does not require a helmet to be worn when operating a motorized bicycle. Please contact your local law enforcement agencies for any county/municipal codes that deal with helmets and motorized bicycles.
Keep in mind that no motorized bicycle may be operated on any public thoroughfare located within this state that has been designated as part of the federal interstate highway system.




http://mobikefed.org/files/modot-bic...yer-8-2005.pdf

mexicanyella

Wow, St. Charles County? Where? I grew up in New Melle, and live near in Lincoln County now, about 5 miles from Hawk Point. Three of us...maybe we should organize a "work that 49cc laws ride" this year when it warms up!

D-Day

I'm near Jungermann and Hwy 94 on the edge of St.Peters. I got my Z50RD from a barn off KK north of Troy. I know right where you are......

dsrt4

I Am in South County in Oakville. I for sure want the tag if there was one supposed to be on the bike..

mexicanyella

I'll go look at my '74 frame and see, but my '71 sure doesn't have one. The MSO from my '71 said "not manufactured for public streets/roads/highways," although the bike does have a brake light and dual-beam headlight.

The softtail Z50s I've seen didn't have the brakelight or switch to activate it, so I'd say they were even less intended to be street legal as manufactured.

But I'll look at the '74 and report back...

cdoublejj

wow this is getting interesting. sounds liek you guys are out in th boonies i don't know where any of the towns you guys said are. there a few of us on st.joe. wonder what takes to insure as a motorcycle.

D-Day

Well I hate to tell you, your in the "boonies" compared to us. All three of us are in the Greater St.Louis Metro area with a population of 2.8 million compared to St.Joe's 74,000 - hehe

mexicanyella

I've never been to St. Joe; how far out is considered the "Greater Kansas City Metro Area?" Maybe we could pick some random point, midstate, and just descend on it and ride around on 50s and confuse people some weekend. See how up on 49cc motorized bicycle laws the local police are. Fun, eh?

D-Day

St.Joe is about 50miles north of KC

mexicanyella

So that's about as boonambulated as I am; we're about 55 miles NW of Ladue/Clayton, which as everyone knows, is the vibrant and stylish epicenter of all that is desirable in the St. Louis area. Ask anyone who works, lives or purchases an automobile there.

D-Day

Well your on the fringe for sure. I own a painting co. and 90% of the work we do is in that "West county corridor". Too many rich spoiled deer to run into there on a mini anyway

mexicanyella

Yeah, we run a dog-boarding kennel, which grew out of my grandpa's duck-dog-training business, and the majority of our customers are still from that same corridor (no one else can afford duck club memberships!)

Okay, okay, sorry, I'll stop derailing the thread topic, cripes, sorry. I'm headed out to the garage now. I'll look at that '74 and see what tags/stickers it has on it.

I can tell you one thing it's going to warn me about: I must not, under any circumstances, tamper with the carefully engineered stock exhaust system, which has been designed with extreme care to achieve a perfect balance between silencing, spark catching and production of 1.9 hp.

To do so is to blatantly defy the factory warranty terms!

dsrt4

ARRRRGH!!! Thread HIJACK!

Typical MuSSERRAH'ians for ya! Quit talking about what side of HWY "Farty Far" you live on..