| Pocket bikes are miniature motorcycles -- powered, | | | | riding different types of motorcycles, but it's more |
| for the most part, by oil- and gas-burning engines | | | | like the small bikes are a fun thing, instead of just |
| similar to those used in chain saws, weed whackers | | | | transportation. And it's easier to maintain and burns |
| or other small motorized tools -- and they look just | | | | less gas."But Damon did admit, "I took it for a ride |
| like the real thing.The snazziest models cost | | | | down the street and got pulled over. The officer was |
| thousands and are made in Italy, but the ones that | | | | kind of nice about it. But I got a ticket."Police |
| are selling by the container load run from $200 to | | | | departments in the Bay Area and elsewhere in |
| $500. They come from China, among other places, | | | | California have been cracking down on the little |
| and are getting snapped up by eager teenagers and, | | | | two-wheelers, saying they are a major accident |
| in some cases, not-so-teenagers.At Broadtek LLC, a | | | | waiting to happen. No police agency could come up |
| South San Francisco firm that imports them, the | | | | with information about any deaths caused by pocket |
| cardboard cartons containing the small bikes are | | | | bike crashes, but police want them off the public |
| stacked to the ceiling of a tall warehouse and are | | | | roads before the inevitable happens."Their numbers |
| quickly going out the door to eager customers.In | | | | are starting to increase," said Milpitas police Officer |
| Walnut Creek, Eric Rahin, owner of Sonic Scooterz, | | | | Jay Johnson, who was assigned by his department |
| says he's selling them in droves -- "from college | | | | to look into the phenomenon and ultimately write |
| students to people in their late 50s. It's basically a toy | | | | about it for the weekly Milpitas Post. "Most of the |
| to have some fun with."Manufacturers say the bikes | | | | complaints we're getting is that drivers can't see |
| are supposed to be used only on closed race tracks, | | | | them or there'll be a group of them racing, or they're |
| private roads or any other place where there are no | | | | running stop signs."For a while, though, until Johnson |
| public traffic laws and, more important, no big cars or | | | | began studying up on the subject, and the California |
| trucks to run into you. Many buyers follow that | | | | Highway Patrol sent out a memo clarifying just what |
| advice.But now you see some of these new pocket | | | | is and what is not legal about the bikes, confusion |
| bikes zinging in and out of parking lots, up and down | | | | seemed to be paramount.In fact, it shouldn't be. On |
| residential streets and, occasionally into the side of a | | | | many bikes, there's a decal right there on the gas |
| car. And therein lies the rub."It's very difficult for a | | | | tank that says these things do not conform to |
| driver (of a car) to see one on those bikes, because | | | | "federal motor vehicle safety standards."After a |
| of their low height," said San Francisco police Lt. Kitt | | | | lengthy consult with the state Vehicle Code and the |
| Crenshaw. "We've had several accidents in the last | | | | Department of Motor Vehicles, the CHP explained |
| few weeks, and people went to the hospital."The | | | | that the bikes do not meet a number of standards |
| pocket bikes have a top speed of about 35 mph, but | | | | required for all vehicles registered in California -- the |
| can be souped up to go faster. They evolved from | | | | most telling example being the stipulation that |
| tiny but highly sophisticated racing bikes that | | | | "headlamp height (be) between 22 and 54 |
| campaign on European race tracks and are | | | | inches."Technical problems aside, it's the safety issue |
| sometimes used as training vehicles for Grand Prix | | | | that concerns authorities."We're really concerned |
| motorcycle racers.The bikes are faithful imitations of | | | | about these things mixing with traffic," said CHP |
| popular normal-size street motorcycles, which, for | | | | spokesman Steve Kohler. "If you think about it, |
| marketing reasons, are faithful imitations of pure race | | | | something that small is difficult to see, when it's |
| bikes, down to the disk brakes, handlebars, chain | | | | mixed in with cars, trucks and buses. Drivers don't |
| drives, twist-grip throttles and electronic ignition.The | | | | even see full-size motorcycles. There's no way |
| little bikes weigh about 50 pounds, stand about a | | | | they're going to see these things."Or, as David |
| foot and a half high and can easily be put in the trunk | | | | Edwards, editor in chief of Cycle World Magazine and |
| of a car. They have tiny engines -- 47cc or 49cc | | | | a man who puts about 20,000 miles a year on |
| displacement, less than 1/20th the size of a big | | | | motorcycles, said: "When you get out in city traffic, |
| motorcycle. And they are enticing."It's a fun little thing | | | | you'll be at more risk than on a full-size motorcycle. |
| to ride," said Matt Damon, a 21-year-old salesman in a | | | | But they only hold (a little) gas, so you won't go too |
| Martinez pet store. "It's a whole lot cheaper than a | | | | far. And they're noisy as hell, so at least people will |
| $6,000 or $7,000 big bike. For years now, I've been | | | | hear you coming if not see you coming. |