[Need4Speed]

The popularity of pocket bikes may not be on the rise, but many towns are still taking steps to ban them because of safety concerns. Cromwell votes tonight on a pocket bike ban.

Outside of New Haven Powersports you will often hear the high pitched whine of a motorcycle engine echo off surrounding buildings.

"This is why people love toys," says a grinning Dave MacQuarrie, the owner of New Haven Powersports. The love affair MacQuarrie has with a motor is more like a marriage. He owns a motorcycle shop, has raced bikes, even has his golden retriever "Moto" addicted to bikes.

"Are you a good girl?" he asks, putting on a pair of doggie eyeglasses on Moto, who is wagging furiously, thinking she is about to go for a ride in a sidecar. "You want to go for a ride?"

Indeed, motorcycle love at first sight started for him as a child.

"That's my dad and my mom," he says, grinning even wider this time, as he points to a black and white photograph encased in a worn frame. "And there's the kid!" He's about four in the picture, leaning against his dad's Harley-Davidson.

heres the rest

 

[ShanMan14]

I think lawmakers are afraid people will start suing municipalities for not having laws against them?

 

[hondaguy]

Thats a definately possibility. But creating these laws is a nightmare because they are so popular. This would something interesting to watch, and if it does happen, more and more areas will follow suit Im sure.

 

[stevnmd]

They're already outlawed lots of places. A friend of mine who lives outside of Boston said that it seemed like every kid in his neighborhood had one and was riding them around last year. Then, the township outlawed them...

Who can blame them, actually. They are pretty dangerous on the streets. They don't go very fast. They're not terribly manuverable. They are twitchy as hell and someone can easily contribute to an accident on one.

Having said that, I've ridden my little 50cc pocket bike on the road and it was fun. Doesn't mean it's the brightest thing in the world to do though...

 

[twisty]

WOW your so wrong, They are really fast, the handle like a dream and they are loud as sin. I think your experence with them is limited. My buddie races them, I took out both and one does about 65 and the other 50. The one about is about 250 bucks does 50 and handles great even if your drunk. Just cause you ridden it once does not give a fair judgement. If we outlawed everything that was stupid, there would no motorcycles, sportcars and alot of people posts missing from our world.

The WOS guys ride PB's alot.

 

[pickle.of.doom]

I think where the problem arises twisty, is not with the fancy ones that older people are getting into, its the small auto-parts store kinds that are popping up on city streets everywhere, being ridden on streets by little kids who really don't understand how traffic works. I know i've almost taken out a few little kids who just come flyin out of nowhere on one...

 

[Gas Man]

Good Points from both Twisty and Pickle...

PB's rock!! I have one and it's awesome!! I think I need to stud the tires for the winter!!

 

[pickle.of.doom]

Yeah, its not a matter of anything needing to be outlawed, its about parents making sure their kids aren't being little jerkoff's on them!

 

[SpeedWerks.com]

Not that I'm in favor of any kind of ban or restriction against motorcycles, but I have to say that it is very hard if you're in a car or especially a truck to see someone on one of those things.

Two quick stories: a friend was on a 50cc dirt bike in the paddock at one of our race weekends. Truck didn't see him and hit him. Broken arm, lacerated spleen, blah blah blah.

and if that's not enough, we had a customer who just had his 'busa insurance repaired. Why? Because he was stopped at a light and a dump truck was behind him. Dump truck didn't see the guy for some reason and took off before the bike did. Lifted the whole back end of the 'busa up and it got stuck in the grill of the truck. Dragged our customer 1/2 a mile in his grill before he realized that people were honking and screaming at him for a reason. Not a pretty sight for the rider or the bike. Trust me.

I just think pocket bikes are so damn small, I certainly wouldn't want my child on one, but that's a decision I would make for myself. Not sure a ban is the right thing, but who knows. Just my :2cents:

 

[BusaBabe]

They are everywhere here in LA. Most people dont like them, but they are alot of fun!!! :here: :here:

 

[hondaguy]

The problem arises when it gets out of control, in an irresponsible way, like its doing now..it just ruins the whole experience for those that do it correctly and responsibly. :tt: