Motorcycle Laws

It came out a couple of weeks ago that the State of Oregon is considering making lane splitting Legal. Some of the rumblings I have heard are suggesting that it may be in the Portland area only, when traffic is heavy.

If you know more please post, as I will when I learn more.

There's a post up over on the SVrider.com forums regarding a possible law that may be put into place in California regarding aftermarket pipes. Violations of noise ordinances are the reason why.

http://forum.svrider.com/showthread.php?t=131339

Essentially, the law will ban ANY exhaust modifications, including aftermarket pipes of any kind. Basically all bikes that aren't running their full stock exhaust will now be illegal. While most posters, as expected, posted in strong opposition to the law, one brought up a few good counterpoints that, after thinking about, I was inclined to agree with.

He basically pointed out that motorcycle riding is a privilege, not a right. And that if we can't enjoy that privilege without disturbing others, we don't deserve it. And really, who, on the street, needs the extra 5 or so horsepower you get over the stock pipe? Odds are you won't even notice the difference on the street, and if you do it's very slight.

Got pulled over yesterday by the local constabularies and informed that my Trials bike, which was in the back of my pick-up truck at the time, requires an off road vehicle plate and registration. I informed the officers that it does not require one as it is used exclusively on private property in practice and while competing within club sanctioned Observed Motorcycle Trials events. My explanation was initially rejected and argued, then subsequently accepted and I was release with only a warning.
So, today I visited first the local Ministry of Transport and then the local Provincial Police to confirm;

Motorcycles operated in sanctioned competition events and otherwise operated on private property, qualify exempt from Ministry of Transport vehicle registration and plating.

http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=12387154

I think it may have already passed, I just cant find a good article about it. Anyways, although its probably going to be hard to enforce, I think its a good step in the right direction. I cant count how many people I see texting while I'm riding on the street.

What the subject says. Thanks

Starting this year, Oregon is phasing in state mandated motorcycle training for getting an endorsement.

This year, 21 and under must successfully complete a Team Oregon Training Course.
2011 30 and under, 2012 40 and under and 2013 50 and under. I believe in 2014 is when they mandate it for everyone to get a new endorsement, if not it's under 60 then 2015 is everyone. Renewals are grandfathered in.

Kentucky legislators were paid off by rich and stupid riders to change our previous mandatory helmet law, so we now have thousands of idiots cruising around with no helmet or a ridiculous cereal bowl helmet with no energy absorbing foam liner, no jacket, no gloves, and no boots- they think they are so cool while they slowly destroy their hearing. Some call them future organ donors. I got this from a web site:

"Helmets decrease the severity of head injuries, the likelihood of death, and the overall cost of medical care. They are designed to cushion and protect riders' heads from the impact of a crash. Just like safety belts in cars, helmets cannot provide total protection against head injury or death, but they do reduce the incidence of both. NHTSA estimates that motorcycle helmets reduce the likelihood of a crash fatality by 37 percent. Norvell and Cummings found a 39 percent reduction in the risk of death after adjusting for age, gender, and seat position.

I don't know everything, but this is what I have learned so far. You need to have a DOT approved helmet at all times. Have your lights on. You must wear one of those reflective strip thingys when you ride at night (obligatory). No 250cc or less bikes on toll paying freeways. No lane sharing. No farting when going two-up, (no, I just made that up).

Well, its kind of the same as other places, I think. There is a website of the "united bikers" or "bikers galore" or something like that that posts all the recent legislation of motorcycle laws and changes they've made to old ones.

That's about it:

yugen852

I've been doing some reading.

I guess in UK, they have a graduated system for motorcycle licenses.

You start with a 50cc bike when you're young, move up to 125 and then 250, etc as I understand it.

Personally, I think a system like this would be ideal here, too.

The way things are now, in Ohio, anyone can go to the BMV, pay under $50, take a written test on motorcycle laws, get a temporary motorcycle endorsement and be on the road with a 1400cc bike if they wanted (just not on highways or at night.) How is that safe?

The main issue is people feeling their right to choose is being stomped on. But let's remember, driving is a privilege, not a right. And that's fine with me -- I don't want a habitual DUI driver blowing the red light while I'm going through on a green.

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009%20%...
Yet another bill to take away our rights... as riders and this time as parents!