Mini Motos/Dirt Bikes/Quads Legality

thepostman

Mods move this if you want wasnt sure were to put it here or the motor furom anyway.

I am thinking of buying a mini moto and was wondering what the legality of the things are. For instance age limit and also were would i be able to drive it? Would it have to stay on private land?
Also what type of punishment would there be if caught driving illegaly.

Thanks

bushy...

"Pocket Bikes" can be road legal afaik ,

but they have "proper" brakes,tyres etc compared to some "mini-motos" :

(eg tyres don't have "Not for road use " on them )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXM2tMR3_NU

civildefence

A minimoto has no speedometer, lights, indicators or roadlegal tyres. You'd have to have all of these things fitted and certified. These items would have to be custom made which would probably end up costing you more than a brand new real motorbike. Apart from all this, other unforeseen factors such as vehicle clearance, speed capabilities and safety features may lead to revenue not granting permission to register the vehicle (besides the reg plate would probably be bigger than the bike!)
As for age limits, they don't apply to minimotos because they can only be used on private property. If you were caught on a public road you'd be nailed to the wall for having no tax, insurance, driving a vehicle that is not registered etc etc.
Hope this helps

seanybiker

just bring it down to an industrial estate if you live near one. I used to drive down on my bike with me mate on the back with his bike under his arm. Looked funny. Never had any hassle in the estate.
I think you have to be 16 or something to buy one.

bushy...

Seen a few "pocket bikes" like I linked to with reg. plates, tax , would have had say indicators from Bandit 600 for example , real brakes etc.
Good bit bigger than a minimoto though.

Full size quads can be made road legal with a lighting kit.

Many dirt-bikes are available road-legal from the factory ( indicators, lights etc)

Hooch

thepostman wrote: »

Mods move this if you want wasnt sure were to put it here or the motor furom anyway.

I am thinking of buying a mini moto and was wondering what the legality of the things are. For instance age limit and also were would i be able to drive it? Would it have to stay on private land?
Also what type of punishment would there be if caught driving illegaly.

Thanks

As posters said it must be road legal, Tax, insurance, indicators, correct, tyres, mirrors, lights, speedo etc etc etc.

If you keep it to private property then you'll have no hassle.

seamus

Also be aware of the difference between "private property" and "public place". Driving an uninsured vehicle in a car park, industrial estate or in a private field with no fencing (for example) is an offence.

BravoMike

What catagory would a Quad come under,
1) A motorbike
or
2) An agricultural vehicle

We have one at home and are trying to make it road legal but were having problems. We have rang a number of companies and we cant insure it as we don't have a farm or "Herdage" as the insurance company called it.
Has anybody else encountered this?

Hooch

BravoMike wrote: »

What catagory would a Quad come under,
1) A motorbike
or
2) An agricultural vehicle

We have one at home and are trying to make it road legal but were having problems. We have rang a number of companies and we cant insure it as we don't have a farm or "Herdage" as the insurance company called it.
Has anybody else encountered this?

Motormike IMO. Licencing authority should be able to tell you. Dont know about insurance, sorry

thepostman

Thanks for all the replies. Wouldnt really want something that i need to make road legal just something i can mess around on probally sell it on by the end of the summer. But how do they seperate say a min moto from the likes of an electric bicycle or an electric scooter or even a normal bicycle for that matter when being used on the road? Always wondered that.

Wishbone Ash

BravoMike wrote: »

What catagory would a Quad come under,
1) A motorbike
or
2) An agricultural vehicle

We have one at home and are trying to make it road legal but were having problems. We have rang a number of companies and we cant insure it as we don't have a farm or "Herdage" as the insurance company called it.
Has anybody else encountered this?

nice guy always wrote:

Motormike IMO

A quad cannot be driven on a public road with a motorcycle licence. I presume it requires a category W or B licence.

Victor

A lot of quads can't be used on a public road as they don't have a differential.

You might get some more practical responses here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1068

drunkmonkey

seamus wrote: »

Also be aware of the difference between "private property" and "public place". Driving an uninsured vehicle in a car park, industrial estate or in a private field with no fencing (for example) is an offence.

Can you use a dirt bike in the forestry or bog, can anyone say anything, I'm not referring to nice areas more deserted places that have been decimated by machines, devoid of life...found a great spot the other night, just wondering will board na mona mind...

seamus

It doesn't matter if it's "devoid of life". If it's a public place, it's illegal.

drunkmonkey

it would be owned by board na mona I presume, where wouldn't be a public place? i.e where's a man free to do what he wants to do (within reason)

seamus

drunkmonkey wrote: »

it would be owned by board na mona I presume, where wouldn't be a public place? i.e where's a man free to do what he wants to do (within reason)

On his own private land.

Hooch

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Can you use a dirt bike in the forestry or bog, can anyone say anything, I'm not referring to nice areas more deserted places that have been decimated by machines, devoid of life...found a great spot the other night, just wondering will board na mona mind...

Im sure they will!!! Insurance would be a major issue here for them and im sure they would have you removed and/or civily sue you:D

drunkmonkey

man sued for driving bike in bog, I can already see the headlines..

seriously though, I was out in the bog the other night and it's one of the biggest speedways i've seen, bike tracks everywhere, everbody seems to be doing it, just curious was it legal.....

besides private land, which land do the general public own, there must be some "no mans land"

Victor

drunkmonkey wrote: »

it would be owned by board na mona I presume, where wouldn't be a public place? i.e where's a man free to do what he wants to do (within reason)

A mans home is (more or less) his castle. Just don't let your mother see what you did to the carpets. :pac:

seamus

drunkmonkey wrote: »

besides private land, which land do the general public own, there must be some "no mans land"

That's not really the point though. Regardless of who owns the land, if it's accessible to the general public, then it's an offence to use the vehicle there without insurance.

I imagine that any land which is not listed in the land registry as being under private ownership is by default the property of the state.

drunkmonkey

but if you've insurance for you and your bike, your fine? (in the bog)

tks Seamus

seamus

Yes. If that insurance covers off-road riding.

Most insurance policies don't.