If you've Read the entire thread you know that FireBelly Cycles encourages responsibility, safety and freedom of choice! Oh and we're opposed to huge tea taxes too!
Please also feel free to read any and every post and thread I've written since day one. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. I've been continually honest, respectful and kind to everyone on the forum.
It's time, however, to call out the "righteous". To expose dissonance; give the gift of cognizance
So, does that mean we won't be seeing any EZ motorbike motor/transmission kits in Washington on unregistered Moped/Motor Driven Cycles? Or in CA where the motor exceeds said HP limit? Does your WA rep register all his mb's w/ DOL. 'Cause the laws here are pretty clearly spelled out!
Don't forget, everyone, to inform all of the >50cc kit owners what irresponsible lawbreakers they are!
As I understand it, state, county and city laws trump the Feds in this category!
RCW 46.04.304
"Moped" means a motorized device designed to travel with not more than three sixteen-inch or larger diameter wheels in contact with the ground, having fully operative pedals for propulsion by human power, and an electric or a liquid fuel motor with a cylinder displacement not exceeding fifty cubic centimeters which produces no more than two gross brake horsepower (developed by a prime mover, as measured by a brake applied to the driving shaft) that is capable of propelling the device at not more than thirty miles per hour on level ground.
Authors note: has been amended to include the smaller wheels of a scooter that qualifies. Also note defined by displacement, BHP and top speed (no mention of automatic or gears).
RCW 46.04.332
"Motor-driven cycle" means every motorcycle, including every motor scooter, with a motor that produces not to exceed five brake horsepower (developed by a prime mover, as measured by a brake applied to the driving shaft). A motor-driven cycle does not include a moped, a power wheelchair, a motorized foot scooter, or an electric personal assistive mobility device.
RCW 46.04.169
"Electric-assisted bicycle" means a bicycle with two or three wheels, a saddle, fully operative pedals for human propulsion, and an electric motor. The electric-assisted bicycle's electric motor must have a power output of no more than one thousand watts, be incapable of propelling the device at a speed of more than twenty miles per hour on level ground, and be incapable of further increasing the speed of the device when human power alone is used to propel the device beyond twenty miles per hour.
RCW 46.04.330
"Motorcycle" means a motor vehicle designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, on which the driver rides astride the motor unit or power train and is designed to be steered with a handle bar, but excluding a farm tractor, a power wheelchair, an electric personal assistive mobility device, and a moped.
RCW 46.04.071
"Bicycle" means every device propelled solely by human power upon which a person or persons may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is sixteen inches or more in diameter, or three wheels, any one of which is more than twenty inches in diameter.
RCW 46.37.522
Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall have its head lamps and tail lamps lighted whenever such vehicle is in motion upon a highway.
RCW 46.37.523
(1) Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with at least one lamp which shall comply with the requirements and limitations of this section.
(2) Every head lamp upon every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall be located at a height of not more than fifty-four inches nor less than twenty-four inches to be measured as set forth in RCW 46.37.030(2).
(3) Every motorcycle other than a motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with multiple-beam road-lighting equipment.
(4) Such equipment shall:
(a) Reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least three hundred feet ahead when the uppermost distribution of light is selected;
(b) Reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least one hundred fifty feet ahead when the lowermost distribution of light is selected, and on a straight, level road under any condition of loading none of the high intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching driver.
RCW 46.37.524
The head lamp or head lamps upon every motor-driven cycle may be of the single-beam or multiple-beam type but in either event shall comply with the requirements and limitations as follows:
(1) Every such head lamp or head lamps on a motor-driven cycle shall be of a sufficient intensity to reveal a person or a vehicle at a distance of not less than one hundred feet when the motor-driven cycle is operated at any speed less than twenty-five miles per hour and at a distance of not less than two hundred feet when the motor-driven cycle is operated at a speed of twenty-five or more miles per hour, and at a distance of not less than three hundred feet when the motor-driven cycle is operated at a speed of thirty-five or more miles per hour;
(2) In the event the motor-driven cycle is equipped with a multiple-beam head lamp or head lamps the upper beam shall meet the minimum requirements set forth above and shall not exceed the limitations set forth in RCW 46.37.220(1), and the lowermost beam shall meet the requirements applicable to a lowermost distribution of light as set forth in RCW 46.37.220;
(3) In the event the motor-driven cycle is equipped with a single-beam lamp or lamps, such lamp or lamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is loaded none of the high-intensity portion of light, at a distance of twenty-five feet ahead, shall project higher than the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes.
RCW 46.37.525
(1) Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall have at least one tail lamp which shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two nor less than fifteen inches.
(2) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear. Any tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.
(3) Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall carry on the rear, either as part of the tail lamp or separately, at least one red reflector meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.060.
(4) Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with at least one stop lamp meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.070.
RCW 46.37.527
Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle must comply with the provisions of RCW 46.37.351, except that:
(1) Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles need not be equipped with parking brakes;
(2) The wheel of a sidecar attached to a motorcycle or to a motor-driven cycle, and the front wheel of a motor-driven cycle need not be equipped with brakes, if such motorcycle or motor-driven cycle is otherwise capable of complying with the braking performance requirements of RCW 46.37.528 and 46.37.529;
(3) Motorcycles shall be equipped with brakes operating on both the front and rear wheels unless the vehicle was originally manufactured without both front and rear brakes: PROVIDED, That a front brake shall not be required on any motorcycle over twenty-five years old which was originally manufactured without a front brake and which has been restored to its original condition and is being ridden to or from or otherwise in conjunction with an antique or classic motorcycle contest, show or other such assemblage: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no front brake shall be required on any motorcycle manufactured prior to January 1, 1931.
RCW 46.37.528
Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle, at all times and under all conditions of loading, upon application of the service brake, shall be capable of:
(1) Developing a braking force that is not less than forty-three and one-half percent of its gross weight;
(2) Decelerating to a stop from not more than twenty miles per hour at not less than fourteen feet per second per second; and
(3) Stopping from a speed of twenty miles per hour in not more than thirty feet, such distance to be measured from the point at which movement of the service brake pedal or control begins.
Tests for deceleration and stopping distance shall be made on a substantially level (not to exceed plus or minus one percent grade), dry, smooth, hard surface that is free from loose material.
But, as I stated previously, the police here have no interest in pulling us over or enforcing the RCW's. And have common enough sense to recognize the difference between a bicycle and a motorcycle shift kit or not. They might be equally insulted for someone to try and convince them that a derailer shift kit magically transforms an MB into an M/C. I'm sure however that they will indeed gain interest if you ride past them exceeding the speed limit or riding recklessly etc.
