Buddy a motor driven cycle?

[okiejack]

What is the brake horsepower of the Buddy 125?

The National Highway Transportation Administration has the following definition (lifted from their website):

1. How does NHTSA define a Motorcycle?


NHTSA defines the term “motorcycle,� for the purpose of the statute and regulations it administers, as “a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with ground� (49 CFR 571.3).


NHTSA defines the term “motor driven cycle� as a motorcycle with a motor that produces 5-brake horsepower or less. A motor driven cycle is exempted from certain requirements of the FMVSS that apply to motorcycles.


NHTSA does not define the terms “motor scooter,� “moped,� “pocket bike,� “mini-chopper,� “mini-ninja,� or any other terms of this nature that may be used for the purpose of marketing motorcycles and motor driven cycles. Those terms therefore have no relevance to the classification of a vehicle for the purpose of determining which FMVSS would apply to it. Note that States are free to regulate the use of such vehicles and may use their own terms when describing vehicle types for the purpose of their regulations.

[DeadPatroit]

As a rule, a bone stock 50cc scoot is exempt from the motorcycle license fal da rah. I believe the buddy is in excess.. that is the 125 of 9.75 bhp.If you are getting a buddy 50.. you dont need the motorcycle endorsement, at least not in Michigan. The 125, although not highway legal( i think michigan requires at least 250cc) requires a morotcycle endorsement.

[jess]

In California, they're all motorcycles. Doesn't matter what the engine size is.

[okiejack]

The term "motor driven cycle" is important in Oklahoma because the speed limit is 35 mph for such vehicles (the legal term in OK includes a hyphen between motor and driven). Oklahoma defines a motor-driven cycle as a three wheel or less vehicle which is powered by a combustible engine size of 35cc or greater but less than 150cc. In other words, the speed limit for a Buddy (50 and 125) would be 35 mph.

Most streets in Oklahoma City, other than neighborhood streets is 40 - 45 mph. Driving a Buddy at a speed less than average traffic makes more it dangerous rather than less.

Another example of the intelligence of law makers.

[xkennx]

The term "motor driven cycle" is important in Oklahoma because the speed limit is 35 mph for such vehicles (the legal term in OK includes a hyphen between motor and driven). Oklahoma defines a motor-driven cycle as a three wheel or less vehicle which is powered by a combustible engine size of 35cc or greater but less than 150cc. In other words, the speed limit for a Buddy (50 and 125) would be 35 mph.

Try calling the scooter dealers below. Not to sound rude but on legal questions its always best to talk to a dealer or the DMV and not a public forum. "User so and so on a message board said I could do it" doesnt hold up to well to a police officer when you get pulled over.

Atomic Brown
4415 North Western Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
(405) 605-3789

Tulsa Scooters
3024 E. 15th St.
Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 74-SCOOT

Cimarron Valley Cycles
106 W. Elm St.
Stillwater, OK 74074
(405) 372-0100

[okiejack]

Hi xkennx,

Thanks for the reply ... and I don't consider you rude.

The original question was quite simple. What is the break horsepower of the Buddy 125. That is hardly a legal question.

For legal questions, I never go to a dealer but check out the Oklahoma Statutes (if in Oklahoma) or contact a lawyer. The Oklahoma statutes can be found on:

http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/s ... pe=LIBRARY

It has a great search function.

Also, I checked with one of the dealers on your list who was not aware of the speed limit for under 150cc bikes.

[jess]

The original question was quite simple. What is the break horsepower of the Buddy 125. That is hardly a legal question.

9.75 bhp

[okiejack]

Many thanks Jess