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What's the penalty for taking a non freeway legal bike on the freeway?

M

mrzuzzo

New member
Joined
Dec 9, 2013
Location
Los Gatos Hills
Moto(s)
The one outside of Starbucks
Name
Victor
We did some touring with the Grom this past weekend and, realistically, some parts of freeway are hard to avoid and don't cause any problems for the little thing.

I'm not talking about taking the Grom on the 101 or 280, but freeway parts of highway 1 which are totally doable. The Grom has no problem keeping up (and even passing) some traffic.

That said, it's not legal on the freeway, so what is the penalty for this? Just making sure it's worth the risk. There is law and there is reason. :thumbup

Here is a video of our small camping trip and as you can see the Grom does hit speeds of almost 70mph with a rider that isn't heavy and will do more with mods.

[YOUTUBE]J0InvwZxObo[/YOUTUBE]
 
In Alameda County at least, the total fine is $197 and a point on your license.

CVC 21960(a), BTW. :thumbup

You should be able to source the bail schedule for the county where you're riding.
 
Kornholio said:
In Alameda County at least, the total fine is $197 and a point on your license.

CVC 21960(a), BTW. :thumbup

You should be able to source the bail schedule for the county where you're riding.
Click to expand...

So, I'm guessing north of $500 after all the tack ons. I wonder if they'd tow it?
 
DReg350 said:
So, I'm guessing north of $500 after all the tack ons. I wonder if they'd tow it?
Click to expand...

Probably just toss it in the trunk...

I love where your head is at with this question. Nothing like a little harmless civil disobedience every now and again.
:laughing

Plus groms are awesome and I want one.
 
DReg350 said:
So, I'm guessing north of $500 after all the tack ons. I wonder if they'd tow it?
Click to expand...

No. According to the Alameda County bail schedule, $197 is the total fine including all fees and "tack-ons". The base fine is $25.

If you're licensed, I'd doubt they'd tow it...unless you give them a reason to.
 
Kornholio said:
In Alameda County at least, the total fine is $197 and a point on your license.

CVC 21960(a), BTW. :thumbup

You should be able to source the bail schedule for the county where you're riding.
Click to expand...

I've seen that CVC and realize that is the violation.

But if CHP pulls the Grom over on Highway 1 outside of Pacifica, for example, is it the same fine? I can't even find a CVC bail schedule for small traffic violations on San Mateo county's website, nor can I find out how many points are awarded.

Also, can't traffic school be done to avoid that one point?
 
Add a 150cc+ (not 149cc) big bore kit and technically fit their definition of a "motorcycle".
 
A mean ass-packing from a Honda Oddity, I'm guessing.

70mph is VERY optimistic. I'm sure it could be done, but conditions would have to be right. And any forget about going up any hill (like in Pacifica) at anywhere remotely close to even 55. I bet top speed up any Hwy 1 Pacifica hill is going to be in the 25mph range. Not sure why you'd bother.
 
byke said:
Add a 150cc+ (not 149cc) big bore kit and technically fit their definition of a "motorcycle".
Click to expand...

But then it's not CARB/EPA compliant and I will end up having even more problems if I state this to the PO.

I'm just planning to do intake/exhaust/cam/PCV to make it usable at smaller freeway speeds.
 
mrzuzzo said:
But then it's not CARB/EPA compliant and I will end up having even more problems if I state this to the PO.

I'm just planning to do intake/exhaust/cam/PCV to make it usable at smaller freeway speeds.
Click to expand...

Lolz. Any intake/exhaust/cam/PCV changes will also not make it CARB compliant.
 
Yeah, but his point is that he wouldn't make an officer aware of them. It's legit, they'd probably stick it to him for something like that if he tried to use it as an excuse. It would just be trading one bad for another.
 
I'd do the same thing. Long as you don't go on the big freeways. Looks like fun :thumbup
 
aminalmutha said:
A mean ass-packing from a Honda Oddity, I'm guessing.

70mph is VERY optimistic. I'm sure it could be done, but conditions would have to be right. And any forget about going up any hill (like in Pacifica) at anywhere remotely close to even 55. I bet top speed up any Hwy 1 Pacifica hill is going to be in the 25mph range. Not sure why you'd bother.
Click to expand...

Wife is light, if you watch the video she hits 70mph indicated which was verified by the GPS in the Garmin action cam we were using. 55 is the absolute bare minimum and in Pacifica area the Grom has no problem doing ~60mph. Not even close to 25.
 
mrzuzzo said:
But then it's not CARB/EPA compliant and I will end up having even more problems if I state this to the PO.

I'm just planning to do intake/exhaust/cam/PCV to make it usable at smaller freeway speeds.
Click to expand...

Mine has everything you listed except for the cam and it still won't do it. It has also been on the freeways and a certain bridge bike path. I didn't enjoy the freeway on it, but the bike path was pretty awesome. The Caltrans guy had no idea what he was seeing.

Just don't draw attention to yourself and you should be fine. Obviously it's still illegal, but if you're able to cruise with traffic then you should be somewhat in the clear.
 
mrzuzzo said:
Wife is light, if you watch the video she hits 70mph indicated which was verified by the GPS in the Garmin action cam we were using. 55 is the absolute bare minimum and in Pacifica area the Grom has no problem doing ~60mph. Not even close to 25.
Click to expand...

That's pretty impressive. I ran out of revs at 63 and that was downhill with a tailwind.
 
No offense, but why are you trying to make a tiny-itty-bitty peg fill up a big square hole? I am sure the Grom is a hoot for what it is intended. However ........

I had one split past me on the street. Awesome - his head was just about at my lower window level. Fack. I didn't even notice the little pit bike, until it would have been too late.
 
clutchslip said:
No offense, but why are you trying to make a tiny-itty-bitty peg fill up a big square hole? I am sure the Grom is a hoot for what it is intended. However ........

I had one split past me on the street. Awesome - his head was just about at my lower window level. Fack. I didn't even notice the little pit bike, until it would have been too late.
Click to expand...

In many metro areas, SF included, one cannot go very far in all directions without getting on an interstate.

The law is dumb and I wouldn't follow it.

I would accept the consequences if caught.
 
clutchslip said:
No offense, but why are you trying to make a tiny-itty-bitty peg fill up a big square hole? I am sure the Grom is a hoot for what it is intended. However ........

I had one split past me on the street. Awesome - his head was just about at my lower window level. Fack. I didn't even notice the little pit bike, until it would have been too late.
Click to expand...

I'm not trying to use it as a freeway bike, but sometimes it makes sense to spend 20 minutes hanging with the other cars at 60mph on the freeway rather than spend an hour trying to find a detour around it. I'm not using a Grom to split at 50+ mph on a freeway here. There is no safety issue, just a legal one.
 
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