Laws on bike size - touching the ground?

[Ezekiel]

A munchkin friend of mine asked me "isn't it illegal to ride a bike that you can't touch both feet to the ground at once on?"

I've never heard of a law like that, but thought I'd better double check. Anything anyone knows about regarding this?

[arnoha]

Originally posted by Ezekiel
A munchkin friend of mine asked me "isn't it illegal to ride a bike that you can't touch both feet to the ground at once on?"

I've never heard of a law like that, but thought I'd better double check. Anything anyone knows about regarding this?


In the vehicle code:


27801. A person shall not drive a two-wheel motorcycle that is
equipped with either of the following:
(a) A seat so positioned that the driver, when sitting astride the
seat, cannot reach the ground with his or her feet.
(b) Handlebars so positioned that the hands of the driver, when
upon the grips, are more than six inches above his or her shoulder
height when sitting astride the seat.

[arnoha]

Also interesting:

27800. It is unlawful for a driver of a motorcycle or a motorized
bicycle to carry any other person thereon, except on a seat securely
fastened to the machine at the rear of the driver and provided with
footrests, or in a sidecar attached to a motorcycle and designed for
the purpose of carrying a passenger. Every passenger on a motorcycle
or a motorized bicycle shall keep his feet on the footrests while
such vehicle is in motion.

Didn't know that...I'm not quite sure how not to violate that.

<EDIT>

Oops...refers only to passengers!

[Ezekiel]

Very interesting! Thanks much Arnoha!

[Trogdor]

Originally posted by arnoha
In the vehicle code:


27801.
(b) Handlebars so positioned that the hands of the driver, when
upon the grips, are more than six inches above his or her shoulder
height when sitting astride the seat.

This is actually a recent change. This year, I think. Handlebars used to be limited to shoulder height. Now it is 6" above. WTF? Shoulder height isn't high enough? What kind of pull does the Hells Angels lobby have to get that changed?

[Sidewalk]

So according to the VC, my wife is not allowed to ride about 90% of all the available sport bikes. Well, that is fucked.

I don't see an officers ever writting her for that, but still. My wife is a very competent rider, but being only 5' tall doesn't do much for riding options.

[Dragon]

So my passenger cant wrap her legs around my head? :laughing

[Razel]

Originally posted by Dragon
So my passenger cant wrap her legs around my head? :laughing No.
27800. It is unlawful for a driver of a motorcycle or a motorized bicycle to carry any other person thereon, except on a seat securely fastened to the machine at the rear of the driver...
Unless she has some real loooooong legs. :teeth

[Leonard]

Originally posted by arnoha
In the vehicle code:


27801. A person shall not drive a two-wheel motorcycle that is
equipped with either of the following:
(a) A seat so positioned that the driver, when sitting astride the seat, cannot reach the ground with his or her feet.

I can reach the ground with my feet. Some times I reach with my left foot and some times with my right. This law doesn't seem to be clear about that.

[Brash47]

Ok, lets look at how a traffic judge would look at this...since they have all that high falutin college education stuff.

27801. A person shall not drive a two-wheel motorcycle that is
equipped with either of the following:
(a) A seat so positioned that the driver, when sitting astride the seat, cannot reach the ground with his or her feet.

Everthing there looks fine for just about anyone on the planet...until that judge looks at that word...."feet."

If it said foot, then there would be no question at all, at least one foot....because its the singular form. Feet on the other hand, well that judge may just take that to mean both feet, as it is in the plural form. So the judge may take the vehicle code to read both feet at the same time.

In general, you're not going to be bothered by a cop for not having both feet on the ground at one time. Just don't sit at a light looking like you can't balance the bike with just that one foot on the ground. If you are having a hard time keeping the bike up with that one foot, you may get scrutenized and get the ticket.

brash

[chrono-X]

That's some good stuff....i've seen some asian chicks 5'2 ride on non-lowered cbr600rrs...must be strong legs...hmmm...sexxxy

[phoenixrising]

I can get both feet down on the tiger, but not flat...A Kensington LEO once told me he pulled me over for only putting ONE foot down at a stop...he did let me off, but it seems to be a gray area???

[arnoha]

Originally posted by phoenixrising
I can get both feet down on the tiger, but not flat...A Kensington LEO once told me he pulled me over for only putting ONE foot down at a stop...he did let me off, but it seems to be a gray area???

That's odd...watch any of the motorcops...they usually only put one foot down!

[BigCorySBFMC707]

Originally posted by phoenixrising
I can get both feet down on the tiger, but not flat...A Kensington LEO once told me he pulled me over for only putting ONE foot down at a stop...he did let me off, but it seems to be a gray area??? Well I am 6'1" so I can obviously put both feet down, but dont always choose to, I didnt know I was breaking the law. Next thing someone is gonna say that it is illegal to do wheelies on the bay bridge too. What is the world coming to? lmao

[Trogdor]

Originally posted by phoenixrising
I can get both feet down on the tiger, but not flat...A Kensington LEO once told me he pulled me over for only putting ONE foot down at a stop...he did let me off, but it seems to be a gray area???

These are unrelated. There is no requirement to put a foot down at a stop. The only requirement is to come to a complete stop. I frequently do it without putting either foot down.

The requirement this thread is talking about is that you need to be able to put both feet on the ground.