registering motorized bike in springfield MA epic fail

[RadicalxEdward]

Quoting the law and showing it is two totally different things. They can't say the law has changed when its right there in their face. However going to a different DMV may get you better results. Just be aware if your bike isn't in full compliance that's all they need to turn down.

I wasn't just quoting it. The relevant section is on the registration form and I showed them that. It even says MA section 90 blah blah. I just didn't print out 10 pages from a law site that they're not going to read anyway. (and i'm sure they're not going to take the word of a forum post stating the law if they won't take it from their own forms that state the law) Their argument was that it has to be on their list of approved mopeds but there is no law (that I can find) stating that for mopeds (only for limited use motorcycles).

 

[Sidewinder Jerry]

Looking on websites I couldn't find any statutes pertaining to a moped manufacturer's list. Such as states like Texas has. Texas even states the list is updated every 90 days. There's a tread about a rider in eastern Massachusetts that registered his bike. Rayn H said he got his in Plymouth. So a different DMV may be your only hope.

 

[RadicalxEdward]

For those wondering, you can see the law about motorized bicycles, low speed vehicles and limited use vehicles here: http://www.piratecycles1.com/newmamolayes.html (This page summarizes it, You can look up the full legalese law online by searching for Massachusetts general law Chapter 90 Section 1 (it goes on for a few sections).

You can see the limited use vehicle list here: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/portals/16/docs/Limited_Use.pdf

and you can see the MA dot info on limited use vehicles here: http://www.massrmv.com/rmv/regs/luv.htm

a LUV is what the lady was considering my bike, but it's a motorized bicycle / moped according to the law. and that makes a big difference legally.

the moped registration form is here: http://www.massrmv.com/rmv/forms/20017.pdf and you can see it references MGL chapter 90 section 1

 

[Sidewinder Jerry]

It seems like the DMV worker is putting your bike in MA Ch. 90 Sec. 1 H. Which applies to LUV's. So then the question becomes: Are you under 50 cc and have an automatic transmission system (no manual clutching)? If not that may be why you're being classified as an LUV.

 

[RadicalxEdward]

It seems like the DMV worker is putting your bike in MA Ch. 90 Sec. 1 H. Which applies to LUV's. So then the question becomes: Are you under 50 cc and have an automatic transmission system (no manual clutching)? If not that may be why you're being classified as an LUV.

She didn't say anything about an automatic transmission but none of these bikes have auto transmissions. If it came up i would have just said it's single speed anyway ( i have a normal chinese 2 stroke kit). I have seen others in MA register their bikes with the same setup but most have been in eastern ma and have been able to go to multiple rmv's

I also sent an email to pirate cycles to see what their advice is.

 

[Sidewinder Jerry]

Massachusetts law: Chapter 90 Section 1 Definitions.

"Motorized bicycle'', a pedal bicycle which has a helper motor, or a non-pedal bicycle which has a motor, with a cylinder capacity not exceeding fifty cubic centimeters, an automatic transmission, and which is capable of a maximum speed of no more than thirty miles per hour.

Most states view a reduction gearbox with a centrifugal clutch as an automatic transmission. My bike has one. In fact its the only motorized bicycle in the world which shifts 5 gears automatically. You didn't mention your engine size. The rider who got a sticker in Plymouth said he had a 66 cc engine.

It's seems like the DMV you're going to knows the laws and you need to go to one like in Plymouth where they don't know the law.

 

[RadicalxEdward]

you need to go to one like in Plymouth where they don't know the law.

I think that's the key, they weren't turning me down in springfield because of a clutch, they turned me down cause they didn't know what the heck they were even dealing with. They didn't care about engine size or transmissions or anything like that. All they cared about was that it wasn't on their list (which means if I had a 1cc engine with auto transmission and it couldn't go above 1 mph they still wouldn't have registered it without a vespa vin / bill of sale) So i'm going to have to figure out how to get to a few more rmv's somehow. and maybe next time just say it's used to save them the confusion. (she also didn't understand how it wasn't possible to have a bill of sale or certificate of origin even though it was a custom built bike, and YES I HAD MY RECEIPTS for those not reading ;-)

 

[Sidewinder Jerry]

From a legal prospective if your bike is under 50 cc and has an automatic transmission but you were denied a sticker then you have an arguable case. If your bike is over 50 cc and/or manually clutched then they're going to say the DMV worker was correct in classifying it as an LUV. This is what you're going to run into. For the people who got a sticker but didn't meet the definition of a motorized bicycle, they simply got lucky that's all.

To conclude your choses are to try your luck at another DMV or build another bike under 50 cc with an automatic transmission then register it. Ask the DMV supervisor if you bring in a self built 50 cc automatic transmission motorized bicycle could you register it.

 

[Racie35]

Huge struggle..... I'd ignore registering it and argue my case if ticketed...in court where the dummies have to listen

 

[Sidewinder Jerry]

Get your problem fixed don't let it end up in court. You may lose a lot more than you can afford to. The courts have some of the best crooks in the state working for them. If your bike meets Massachusetts definition of a motorized bicycle (50 cc or less and automatic transmission), you can petition the courts if the DMV denies you a sticker.

Take this from someone who cares, don't get yourself into trouble over this. It's not worth it.