In WA (where we are located) mb's are not legal unless liscensed under the RCW codes governing Motor Driven Cycles. Lighting is specified in detail for the speed limit classes you wish to fall under. <20mph, <35mph and >35 are the speed classes and the faster you want to go the more light you are required to have. No mention of gears is present in the RCW's.
All the police (State and city alike) that I've questioned are giving me the same answer in consideration of legality. If it's < 50cc and it has pedals it's a bicycle. Still no mention of gears. We have people in Seattle riding mopeds around w/o plates/tabs.
I personally encourage people to ride responsibly, obey bicycle traffic laws, and wear/use proper safety equipment. My feeling is that if we behave as the best bicyclists do that there will be no real issues. The police in Seattle hardly even notice us.
FireBelly Cycles offers mb products for the end user to install at their discretion and risk! It is, as always, up to the individual to know their rights and responsibilities concerning the laws of their municipalities.
Furthermore I do not know of any obligation to sidestep or "get past" any laws concerning mb's other than to let people know that as final assembler of an mb using our components they assume all risk and responsibility.