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Post by mike932 on Feb 17, 2015 9:43:23 GMT -6
Is it reasonable to ride a scooter long distance at 55mph on a freeway that has a speed limit of 70 mpg? Or is it too dangerous? I ask because I want to ride long distance but I love the excellent gas mileage of 150cc scooters.
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Post by dmartin95 on Feb 17, 2015 10:03:12 GMT -6
My opinion is there is no way in hell I would take a 150cc that only does 55MPH on the interstate... Wouldn't even consider it  |
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Post by adamhoyer on Feb 17, 2015 10:09:29 GMT -6
I only go on the highway in the slow lane, I can't get on the freeway in california.
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Post by mike932 on Feb 17, 2015 10:15:12 GMT -6
On the one hand, it is dangerous to ride slower than traffic. On the other hand, freeway riding is statistically the safest kind of riding because everyone is traveling in the same direction. My 125cc scooter is not allowed on freeways, but when I ride on highways (not freeways) that have 2 lanes each way, I feel pretty safe because fast moving traffic behind me can easily move to the fast lane and pass me instead of tailgating me. Also, the wide shoulder is a great escape route in case of emergency.
California requires at least 150cc to be allowed to ride on freeways, which is why I am thinking of buying a 150cc.
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Post by jct842 on Feb 17, 2015 10:47:01 GMT -6
I wouldn't even consider a 150 if I wanted to ride a 55 mph highway in ca. A 150 is happy running at 45 all day long. You can do a few things to a 150 to get some head room and up to 60 or a little faster but why? For little more than a 150 + mods you can buy a 250 and you don't have to do any thing to it but ride. The only thing a 150 has over a 250 is they have a little better low speed handling like in town at 25-35 mph speeds.
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Post by mike932 on Feb 17, 2015 10:50:13 GMT -6
I think I need to test ride a 250cc and see if I like it.
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Post by cyborg on Feb 17, 2015 11:16:06 GMT -6
I did it a few times riding exit to next exit,,, the freeway is not in the cards for a 150,,, it's illegal anyways,,, 350cc or bigger is the law in ca. The law is old and the highway patrol will look the other way if you're on a 250 because they make way more power now than when the laws were enacted,,, I see 250 scoots on the freeway often ,,, they fly
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Post by mike932 on Feb 17, 2015 11:26:23 GMT -6
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Post by jerryscript on Feb 17, 2015 13:22:10 GMT -6
That is the way I always understood it, a 150cc is a motorcycle by most state laws, and so long as it can keep up with traffic and not create a dangerous situation, is allowed on freeways. That doesn't mean it's advisable to do so, but we all have our own comfort zones, I will never take a bike over 100mph again, the one time I did I had skid-marks of the not so desirable variety!
Interesting part at the end of that page:
"Motorized Scooter
A motorized scooter is defined as any two-wheeled "device" with
A motor, handlebars, and a floorboard for standing on when riding, and
The options of having:
A driver seat which cannot interfere with the operator's ability to stand and ride.
The ability to be powered by human propulsion.
NOTE: A motorized scooter may be driven with any class driver license. A motorized scooter may not be used to take a Class M1 or M2 skills test. The motorized scooter's exhaust system must not be modified or altered."
What makes a scooter meet the definition of "The ability to be powered by human propulsion"? They are not referring to motorized bicycles, those are addressed in the preceding portions. I believe they are referring to GoPed type scooters, but the definition has a lot of wiggle room. Everyone seems to think a 50cc scooter requires a motorcycle endorsement in Cali, but that sections seems to indicate otherwise since you can stand on the floor and ride by pushing off with one foot, though it wouldn't be easy!
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Post by Bashan on Feb 17, 2015 16:22:17 GMT -6
I ride about 40 miles of my 84 mile commute to work on a four lane highway designated AL 280. There are lights and some crossroads with stop signs. The speed limit is 65 but you will get your arse run over at 65. You better be capable of 75 or don't get on this road. Now extrapolate this to the e-ways around here.....90 is not an unusual speed. So I would not get on 280 with a regular China 150 and I sure as hell would not get on the e-ways with a 150 of any kind. I did ride the Pegasus to work on 280 quite a bit but it would pop 65. I'd get on the e-way with the SYM, I never have, but I'd do it no problem.
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Post by mike932 on Feb 17, 2015 16:42:14 GMT -6
I'm leaning toward getting a 150cc in the future just so I can use the freeway "if needed". In other words, I will take side roads most of the time, but if I do a long road trip, sometimes it is very hard to avoid some freeway sections.
I'm wondering if riding behind a slow 18-wheeler on the freeway would work. Not too close of course. Cars will just go around me and the 18-wheeler. And if I can stop a lot faster than the 18-wheeler if it brakes quickly.
I just rode my longest ride ever today. 125 miles. I loved every minute. I want to do a multi-day road trip with my 125cc.
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Post by cyborg on Feb 17, 2015 16:42:58 GMT -6
Wow I stand corrected ,,,you guys are right it's 150cc now,,,I'll shut up now
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Post by mike932 on Feb 17, 2015 16:47:06 GMT -6
lol. Don't shut up. Your wisdom is helpful.
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Post by mike932 on Feb 17, 2015 17:19:57 GMT -6
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Post by jct842 on Feb 17, 2015 18:42:22 GMT -6
A couple years ago a fellow decided to take a brand new 150 from maine to keywest. He decided to take the freeways/expressways at WOT. No he did not get run over but he did kill the scooter motor some where past halfway there! Maybe a thousand miles maybe less to kill it.
In ca there are just way too many nut cases running the roads the way I hear it. When I lived in Il. the speed limit on the expressways was 55 yet if you ran 65 during rush hours you would get ran over, you needed to go 70 or what ever the line of traffic was going at, and it was bumper to bumper damn near as close to each other as a nascar race. Any one out there then on a 150 was on a suicide mission.
Looks like vegas got its share of nuts too, the mom who was shot for going to slow is dead dead dead. And the killer is still running the roads of vegas.
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