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