Street Legal Question?

[Adjuster]

Why are various motorcycles, motorcycle trikes, scooters, 3 wheeled scooters and the various 3 wheelers like the Can Am Spyder etc street legal but none of the typical 4 wheelers are street legal?


/

[bogieboy]

because the government thinks they aren't road worthy....LOL

[Louis Angel]

Because the government has not found a way to tax the hell out of them yet. LOL I wish sooooooooooooooooooooooo bad we could run them on the streets here. That would be awesome!!!! Would open up a entire new market! I see some ( from overseas??? ) on you tube that are wicked fast. Then again, so is the Honda CBR600rr I took for a spin!

[Adjuster]

Google appears to say its simply because of the 4th wheel. 4 wheels makes it a car and all the car DOT restrictions apply. The same restrictions don't apply to 3 wheels or less.


/

[Bruce's]

We can legally run 4 wheelers on the roads around here ,but not a dirt bike for some unknown reason .

[jct842]

My question is since a 4wheeler is verboten how do those trike\ bike kits featuring training wheels get by as a motorcycle?

4 wheels equal car with all the dot regulations! Wipers, air bags, crash standards, seat belts etc.

[Louis Angel]

I can answer that question. Because I asked our local DMV dude whom I have known my entire life that very same thing the day he tested me on the riding skills test when I got my ML.
They go by the VIN #.
Since the VIN# was originally a motorcycle, it is still licensed as such.
If it is a brand new trike, it will be a true trike. 3 wheels.
If it was a motorcycle with the added on trike kit, it is nothing more
than a modified motor cycle.
That is how they look at it.
In the same light as an insurance company would.
Hope that helps.
(This was in Tennessee, USA if that makes any difference )

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Adjuster

Why are various motorcycles, motorcycle trikes, scooters, 3 wheeled scooters and the various 3 wheelers like the Can Am Spyder etc street legal but none of the typical 4 wheelers are street legal?


/

It all depends where you live.

In the year 2009, eight states—Idaho, Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota—allowed the public to operate at least some classes of ATVs on some roadways with varying levels of restrictions (for example, states may require a certain engine size, vehicle length or weight, and presence of headlights or taillights; and may require that the operator wear a helmet).

http://www.grizzlycentral.com/forum/...tml#post101819

I would bet more states have been added to the list in the last five years.

[Weldangrind]

It also boils down to some specific municipalities. Sumas, WA, which is only a few miles from my house is a golf cart zone, and I bet they'd allow quads as well.

[SpudRider]

I knew a fellow from Montana who moved to Idaho. He told me he used to ride his Polaris ATV down Interstate 90 to commute to work. I can't verify his report, but that's what he told me.

I love Montana.

[katoranger]

I drive the Polaris Ranger at work into town and fill it up at the gas station. Welcome to Kansas.

It is common to see ATVs on the city streets following the same rules as cars.

[Weldangrind]

I saw quads on the street in Butte, Montana and West Yellowstone, Idaho, but I never saw any on the Interstate!

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

I saw quads on the street in Butte, Montana and West Yellowstone, Idaho, but I never saw any on the Interstate!

That's what he told me.

People ride ATVs down the side streets here in Spudville.