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Post by Paladin on Jul 9, 2013 22:16:40 GMT -5
The speed limit on the interstate in FL is 60-65MPH, on the highway 50MPH. You need to be able to have a sustained speed of 50MPH or more on the interstate, and 40MPH on the highway.... The 150cc is about the smallest bike I'd get on the interstate. On the Interstates, legally, the posted speed limit is the maximum. And the trucks are generally driving at the limit. Big touring motorcycles do the speed limit or a bit less. Most cars only do about 5 mph over. And once in a while you see a car that cares more about money than time and they are driving 55-60 mph. When I took my bike on a trailer to El Paso I was driving 60 mph -- and I had no problem, people had no problem passing me, legally, safely. Minimum speed on the Interstates, when posted, is 45 mph. If a 150 cannot do 45mph it needs to be repaired. My LX150 did over 61 mph average over a 40 mile run on the freeway. Quite safely, I do watch my mirrors to make sure people are passing instead of ramming. Riding the Interstates is safe on a 150. That you, and most people, are uncomfortable doing unless you are doing over the speed limit does not mean that I am uncomfortable doing the same. That a Chinese under 150cc trike cannot do 50+ mph and is "unsafe" on the Interstate it does not mean that my 150+cc 60-65 mph Vespa is also "unsafe" on the Interstate. |
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Post by Paladin on Jul 9, 2013 22:59:35 GMT -5
From the Nebraska MVA handbook (don't know about all the states)  Cite? Looking at the Nebraska Legislature's website re: Vehicle Code: nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/browse-chapters.php?chapter=60 I could not find the laws that the "Nebraska MVA handbook" cites. That the 14" diameter thing would be on any road, to stop pocket bikes. The minimum for a scooter on the Interstate is 10 bhp, my Vespa is 11+ bhp. |
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Post by Paladin on Jul 9, 2013 23:24:02 GMT -5
By the way I have never felt safe at any speed on a trike of any displacement those things are squirrelly suckers. Now that I can believe. Same as sidecar/scooter. I tell people that when you are riding a motorcycle the world rotates about you. It really does. When you take a curve you and the bike stay vertical, the world tilts. On a trike or hack the world stays flat. So far, I have not been forced onto three wheels. As a side track, I hate squirrels: www.dslretorts.com/Paladin/archives/002691.html |
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Post by skyrider on Jul 9, 2013 23:42:23 GMT -5
In California nothing less that a 250 is legal on freeways.
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Post by scootnwinn on Jul 10, 2013 1:35:53 GMT -5
Paladin rides his 150 in California I thought www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl655/mcycle_htm/operation.htmThe government classes anything 150 and up as a motorcycle and doesn't specifically restrict bikes less than 250cc's. Where did you hear this I know a bunch of old Vespa riders from CA who ride freeways regularly... |
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Post by domindart on Jul 10, 2013 1:41:06 GMT -5
I have yet to get on the highway... Correction, I have done it once by accident but got back off first exit. Just not comfortable at those speeds and mine tops out at 58 mph. If I did get on I would be in the far right lane  |
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Post by Paladin on Jul 10, 2013 8:15:27 GMT -5
And this is why I do not accept secondary sources, such as the California Department of Motor Vehicles. They state They are wrong. The primary source of the law is the California Legislature, those who write the law: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes.xhtmlCVC 405. A “motor-driven cycle” is any motorcycle with a motor that displaces less than 150 cubic centimeters. Less than 150cc, not 149c or less. Picky, yeah. Unless you get a picky cop who writes you up. My Vespa's bore x stroke is 62.8 x 48.6 mm = 150.5 cc -- legal. A 2013 Piaggio Fly 64.6 x 48.6 mm = 149.6 cc -- not freeway legal (at least by the specifications on the Piaggio's website.) However the new 2014 Fly has a new 3V engine that is 58 x 58.6 mm = 154.8cc and legal. Not to mention that with that square cylinder it will be a killer with overbore kit. |
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Post by jerseyboy on Jul 10, 2013 8:38:58 GMT -5
They are perfectly safe to ride anywhere,, Mine is just to slow for the interstate unless Im WOT the whole time  |
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Post by Paladin on Jul 10, 2013 18:35:07 GMT -5
They are perfectly safe to ride anywhere,, Mine is just to slow for the interstate unless Im WOT the whole time WOT sucks gasoline. I know I get 65+ mpg, I know I carry 2.1 gallons. Highway is suppose to be better than city. Went for a ride, Hawthorne 130 miles up the Grapevine to Buttonwillow. Should be fine. Nasty word, "should." Ran out of gasoline 8 miles short. Which is why I have AAA road coverage. Might have been the Grapevine -- cars break down doing up the Grapevine. |
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Post by mopedjay on Feb 17, 2014 8:44:58 GMT -5
i used to ride my riva 125 on i95 i93 i495 at 70mph i have ridden it from where i lived north of boston to brooklyn ny all interstate riding its no problem here in FL i ride my 250 with NH moped tag on i95 and fl tpk all the time and last time i actually got stopped for speeding the limit is 70 i was doing close to  but the cop couldnt figure out how to write up a ticket for a scooter registered in nh with moped tag so he just let me go what made me laugh is the fact that my tag says moped he didnt put 2 and 2 together mopeds are not supposed to be on the highway never mind going about also fl moped law says it must have pedals cops aint very bright around here |
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Post by junkyarddog on Feb 20, 2014 21:58:48 GMT -5
I have found that there are some interstates which are reasonably safe to ride a small displacement bike on, but not many. I have ridden my Vino 125, Zuma 125, Kawasaki Eliminator 125, Yamaha XT225, and Honda Rebel 250 on interstate 8 from Phoenix to San Diego. Speed limit in AZ is 75, in CA it is 70. But this road is mostly deserted, what traffic there is is mostly big rigs. In most places you can see for miles. And on a scooter or motorcycle you can move over onto the shoulder if someone comes up to close behind you. It is NOT legal to ride a bike of less than 150cc on this road, but I have never been stopped. It IS legal to ride bicycles on the shoulder. I wish it were also legal to ride 50cc pedal mopeds on the shoulder as well
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Post by spandi on Feb 21, 2014 1:02:14 GMT -5
I have found that there are some interstates which are reasonably safe to ride a small displacement bike on, but not many. I have ridden my Vino 125, Zuma 125, Kawasaki Eliminator 125, Yamaha XT225, and Honda Rebel 250 on interstate 8 from Phoenix to San Diego. Speed limit in AZ is 75, in CA it is 70. But this road is mostly deserted, what traffic there is is mostly big rigs. In most places you can see for miles. And on a scooter or motorcycle you can move over onto the shoulder if someone comes up to close behind you. It is NOT legal to ride a bike of less than 150cc on this road, but I have never been stopped. It IS legal to ride bicycles on the shoulder. I wish it were also legal to ride 50cc pedal mopeds on the shoulder as well Holy cow! Over 350 miles through the southwest desert on a 125?! (hope you did this in the winter months)  |
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Post by junkyarddog on Feb 21, 2014 3:40:13 GMT -5
Oh yes. I don't do much riding here in the summer. It reaches well over 120 degrees in the sun. The only place to ride in AZ in the summer is up north in the mountains. I get up and take off early enough to get up into the mountains before the sun starts to come up. But then you are stuck up there until after dark.
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Post by imnts2 on Feb 22, 2014 13:47:52 GMT -5
Some of us are stuck with almost having to ride the I-state some. In my case to get the 8 miles from my house to Sam/s (for example ) I need to ride 5 miles of I 10 with traffic typically running 80 MPH+. I typically set my cruise at a pretty accurate 65 MPH with the Subaru and hug the right lane enjoying the radio and around 30 mpg but when I ride the scoot I feel unconformable watching the 16 wheelers bearing down on me very quickly (and darned scared by 4 Wheeler's so I tend to run closer to a real 80 MPH. Of course since I have driven a bit for a living, I tend to try to be helpful to the 16 wheelers.. I have seen far to many 4 wheelers pull onto a crowded I-State at under 60 and slowly accelerate causing a lot of taillight's to light up. Not only are they risking their lives, they are being darn arrogant in my book.
My alternative it to change the 8 mile run to over 20 miles to still end up running a lot of 55MPH busy road with most traffic running 65 or so.
And pulling off without a paved shoulder at speed is not my idea of safer around here. Lots of not perfect paving. I dropped once at just above walking speed turning onto a side road because of a handful of sand and very small gravel on the road bed. Over and over people run over motorcycles riding with lights on and wearing highway workers hazard clothing and claim they did not see the rider.
Say what you like, on a 2 wheeler I insist being able to stay with traffic, wear all the protective gear I can stand and do all I can to be visible and even look a little shaky. I really like riding but I also like getting home safely. And over 40 MPH I have about the same wind noise I have at 60- 70.. There are darned few places I feel safe on a 150 4t. A 150 with EFI and water cooled and some 150 2t are capable of staying out of the way on most state highways and short runs on the I-state. Most 250's are OK for a few miles of I states. For longer rides on the I-state I want more than an ordinary 250.
Just imho.
Cheers
be safe
lefty2
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Post by Paladin on Feb 23, 2014 0:56:00 GMT -5
.... It is NOT legal to ride a bike of less than 150cc on this road, but I have never been stopped. It IS legal to ride bicycles on the shoulder. I wish it were also legal to ride 50cc pedal mopeds on the shoulder as well What most people know is wrong. On any Freeway or Interstate a 50cc moped is legal if a bicycle is also legal.
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=21960.
21960(a) The Department of Transportation ... may prohibit or restrict the use of the freeways, expressways, or any portion thereof by pedestrians, bicycles or other nonmotorized traffic or by any person operating a motor-driven cycle, motorized bicycle, or motorized scooter....
(b) The prohibitory regulation authorized by subdivision (a) shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon any freeway or expressway and the approaches thereto.....
Hence, unless you pass the sign: or  You are legal.
In California, a motor-driven cycle is an under 150cc. In Arizona a motor-driven cycle is 5 bhp or less. It is up to you to know the definition of the motor-driven cycle and if it is legal or not on whatever highway in whatever State you are in. |
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but the cop couldnt figure out how to write up a ticket for a scooter registered in nh with moped tag so he just let me go what made me laugh is the fact that my tag says moped he didnt put 2 and 2 together mopeds are not supposed to be on the highway never mind going about 