USA - Consumer advocates and government officials urge parents to check their holiday shopping lists twice, warning that "pocket bikes" may be more naughty than nice.
The elf-sized motorcycles, hot sellers in recent months, are sure to top gift lists this December. But the bikes get a frosty reception from critics, who say they're illegal and pose serious threats to rider safety.
If officials sound a bit like Ralphie's mom in "A Christmas Story" -- she was right when she predicted Ralphie would shoot himself with the BB gun, by the way -- they say they have good reason.
"People shouldn't be buying these things," said Oxnard Police Cmdr. Tom Chronister. "They're not toys."
Standing just 2 to 3 feet off the ground, pocket bikes can reach speeds up to 50 mph. But they can't be registered as legal vehicles and may not be used on public property. Most bikes don't meet government safety standards, and drivers have a hard time seeing riders.
For those reasons alone, officials say, the bikes are a poor gift choice for children and teens who face grown-up consequences if they're caught riding one on a public road.
Jay Leiderman, a Ventura County public defender, said the pocket-bike craze that picked up steam this summer led to a sharp increase in the number of children answering to traffic violations in court.
Though numbers are elusive, Leiderman said, he figures several kids show up in traffic court each week. Children as young as 8 have walked out with convictions for driving an illegal vehicle, he said. Some kids pay a fine, others are ordered to perform community service.
"My goal is to see zero of these under any trees this Christmas," Leiderman said. "I don't want to see these kids suffer these kinds of consequences in court."
That all sounds a little Grinch-ish to 12-year-old Dylan McClure, who rarely rides the yellow pocket bike he got for his elementary school commencement. A few months before Dylan started seventh grade at Sinaloa Junior High School in Simi Valley, he was warned by a police officer to keep his bike off the neighborhood streets.
Dylan said he understands that police want to keep kids safe, but he wonders if they remember what it was like to get a new toy when they were young.
"It's kind of like a toy that way," he said. "We just want to ride it around and have fun. I don't see what's so wrong with that."
A consumer advocacy group recently found plenty wrong with pocket bikes. Not quite stocking stuffer-priced, the bikes cost anywhere from $250 for a knockoff to $3,000 for a top-grade model, according to the December issue of Consumer Reports.
The magazine found that the seats of pocket bikes are less than 2 feet off the ground, making it difficult for motorists to see riders. The bikes also got poor marks for braking, handling and safety features. The magazine estimates that 2,345 riders were treated last year at hospital emergency rooms for cuts, bruises and broken bones from falls.
Publicity about the pocket bikes' shortcomings may have chilled their popularity, according to officials. Brian Woolley, an Oxnard motorcycle officer, said he's seen a drop in the number of pocket bikes on the road.
"Word's getting out now that we're not standing for them," he said.
But pocket-bike industry watchers say sales remain strong, though no organization tracks such figures.
Brok McAllister, who heads a motorcycle racing organization in Northern California, said pocket bikes, once used for training riders, cost as much as $1,200 a decade ago. Now, interested buyers can pick one up for a couple of hundred dollars at an auto parts store.
"And I don't see any end in sight," he said, "as long as they continue to get cheaper and easier to get."
It's Your Responsibility To Get PB'S A Sport And Not A Misunderstanding
Make Sure You Ride As A Group Or Organization At The Track Or Lot!
Also Look At The MSNBC News On PBP's Home Page And E-Mail Them Hey Who Knows Your Bike Might Just Be On International News If They Show The Site!
bottom line is for me i could give a rats a$$ about how much the tv and parents want to bash the pb. i was at the track last night w/ the group i ride with, my race team, and a few people from this very site. and basically we all had a blast, and are starting a league. so really they can keep on bashing while i keep on riding hahahahaha .
its funny cause way more kids are hurt/killed each year on pedal bikes. The story says over 2,000 injuries. What about the 50k + injuries from bicycles? But you don't see a rush to outlaw those because they are non-motorized and generally considered harmless. Thats just one instance and i could name off a thousand easy. Its just one more thing for this conservative run country, by no one under the age of 55, to complain about when we have much worse things going on. Theres a lot worse that could be going on, and its all about how you word it. You can make anything seem bad. For instance, Theres a commercial on tv, and i know you all have seen it, it says "1 out of 5 drivers in an accident tested positive for marijuana, its more harmful then we all thought." However if you just reword it you get this: If 1 out of 5 test positive for marijuana, that would mean 4 out of 5 are sober, whose causing more accidents here?
well said. they dont realize wow 2000 people. how about ban bikes, rollerblading, not to mention the MULTIPLE thousands of ppl who die fron DRIVING CARS. people are becoming to scared about everything. its soo *** imo. sure ppl shouldnt ride them on the streets but 2000 is nothing compared to what josh said about bikes
THINGS THESE DAYS ARE GETTING OUT OF HAND!. Today is nothing like what it was 20 years ago. when young kids could ride theyre mini-bikes up and down the streets while the police officers watched in Joy. But Today Its a whole diferent story. i Guess the people who run the local goverments just dont want Kids to have fun anymore. "They want us all to Grow up and be lawyers".
i've read stories like this many times already and seen it on the local news even more. They even chowwed a grown man ridding in front of an moving SUV to demonstarte their point that the bikes are dangerous, but that does not justiy them from keeping parents from buying the PB's as present. Parents who buy the bikes as presents must tell their kids where to ride and where not to, if they cant do that than they shouldnt buy the bike to start with.
For all of you saying screw the cops, they suck, blah blah..grow up..it's time you realized without cops we'd all be screwed, and they aren't out to "make you not have fun" so let's all grow up and stop bashing cops, they are not the ones making laws. If you want to do something, get off your rear and become part of the government, make a law, then start talking. Until then just shut it..cause your not helping
I think the story was right on they should not end up in kids hands to ride on the street they only should be used in a controled environment either a race track or a parking lot under adult supervision with the proper saftey equipment
yes they could of said something about the kids that ride them at race tracks but most parents have no idea what they are buying the kids these days!!!!!!!!!
Every time I Tune My Bike In The Shop, I Just Cant Wait To Go And Test Run It But Where? Well The Street! So It Is Understandable The Safety Hazards Of It But What Doesnt Have A Safety Hazard? I Beleive Its Ok For Me To Test Run My Bike After A Tuning And Not Have To Worry About The Po Po's! So I Run It Anyway Because When Its Time At The Track Its Time To Race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice try at avoiding the language blocks on the site. You totally prove my point below.
PB's dont need on the streets with underage people. Sorry if that offends some. I love my pb, and with *** approved equip I ride on the street from time to time during the day at reasonable hours.
Kids I'm sorry but y'all are the ones making the negative image for PB's and yourself. I wanted to strangle the kid that drove down the road in front of me the other day on a goped. He had about a 15 car line up behind he slow butt. Some on beeped and he turned and flipped them off. Kids dont need on the road. The maturity for the most part isnt there. See above quote.
I'm tired of all the whining about cops too. Grow up. OK, lets get rid of cops, the military, government, laws and everything and see how many kids rule the world.
PBP needs to make a rule about no cop bashing or something. Delete the post, Warn & ban. Granted people are entitled to thier opinion, but posts like that arent conducive to the good of the forum.
Who really cares about the dangers that pocketbikes pose when used on the streets? Who really cares about the growth of pocketbike racing in the US?
The press cries foul about the mass-marketing of pocketbikes, the lack of proper safety information by the manufactures, distributors and resellers and the potental hazard to young children. I could not argree more with their stance. However, I am confused why they repeatedly fail to mention, how parents can find out about organized racing, the proper gear to wear and the responsible use of these bikes? Eventhough a small group of pocketbike racing enthusiasts have spent countless hours with reporters promoting education on safe and responsible use, our voices are not being heard.
On the other side, we have a large pocketbike community that is as guilty as the media for other reasons;not responding. If we want to be heard, we have to respond and respond in numbers. If you did not send an email to NBC Nightly News, do it now. If you "Really Care" about getting the word out about pocketbike racing, do it now.
I would like to see the entire PBP membership to email NBC Nightly News today! Here is the link to make your voice heard. We have provided a form letter and it will only take a second:
The Washington Post reporter who promised to write an article about safe use of pocketbikes and who interviewed several of us, never mentioned our website or any way parents could find out more information on racing. I sure would like the East Coast racers to sent the editor an email about this as well.....stay tunned.
Keeping it safe and on the track is the best thing to do. Its hard for kids to find a safe place to ride but I understand how they may feel. Kids just wanna have fun. Its up to the parents to take these kids off the streets and put them in a safe & legal riding area. If the press focused more on informing people how and where to ride it would most likely wipe out the mass of kids on the road.
Heck since skateparks been popping up in some ares maybe they will make a public pocketbike park one day. =)
My son is a responsible ten year old who loves his pocketbike and races it regularly. He and I are members of the Capitol Area Pocketbike Racing Association - CAPRA. FYI CAPRA spends countless hours working with legitimate journalistic sources and teaching safety to riders, especially kids. CAPRA provides an outlet for young and old to enjoy mini-motorcycling on CLOSED COURSES. You folks as usual, gave very negative press on pocketbikes even though many of us talked with your "leads it bleeds"; National Enquirer caliber reporter ..and I use that term reporter very loosely. The piece you did was revolting; unbalanced; sensationalistic, low grade-trash journalism. My son is ten and yes he always rides on a closed course with full leathers and all safety gear. What do I tell him sell the motorcycle son the Nightly News is trying to run the industry out of the country? Caroline Mayer did a interview with me from the WA Post last month. She too was given lots of positive info; history on how the sport started in the early eighties in Italy, safety statistics (which are better than Basketball for God sakes) and she too wrote a sell the bike don't buy them article. Here's the deal folks - minimotorcycles are designed and meant for use only on a closed course something we are trying very hard to promote and your trash unbalance piece undoes everything we try to do. Pocketbike clubs are all over the country and they will continue to grow in popularity, so why not give these kids a place to find out how to be safe? Here’s a challenge do a decent balanced spot on racing minimoto's. Come watch my son and other kids have fun on a race track. You know ....an outlet for kids to get them off the street what an novel concept.
You failed miserably to give these kids a place to go do something they are going to do anyway. How many kids were told you will shoot your eye out with a bb gun? Now how many did? Do us a favor tomorrow get up and for God sakes don't start your car... it has gas in it you know, it might kill you.
Who really cares about the dangers that pocketbikes pose when used on the streets? Who really cares about the growth of pocketbike racing in the US?
The press cries foul about the mass-marketing of pocketbikes, the lack of proper safety information by the manufactures, distributors and resellers and the potental hazard to young children. I could not argree more with their stance. However, I am confused why they repeatedly fail to mention, how parents can find out about organized racing, the proper gear to wear and the responsible use of these bikes? Eventhough a small group of pocketbike racing enthusiasts have spent countless hours with reporters promoting education on safe and responsible use, our voices are not being heard.
On the other side, we have a large pocketbike community that is as guilty as the media for other reasons;not responding. If we want to be heard, we have to respond and respond in numbers. If you did not send an email to NBC Nightly News, do it now. If you "Really Care" about getting the word out about pocketbike racing, do it now.
I would like to see the entire PBP membership to email NBC Nightly News today! Here is the link to make your voice heard. We have provided a form letter and it will only take a second:
The Washington Post reporter who promised to write an article about safe use of pocketbikes and who interviewed several of us, never mentioned our website or any way parents could find out more information on racing. I sure would like the East Coast racers to sent the editor an email about this as well.....stay tunned.
You know guys, it does really come down to resellers of the bikes, the low price of the Cags is what is driving this down, any moron can now buy a pocket bike. As a retailer (I sell retail in a store and not on the net) I have sold 100s of pocket bikes, I have refused to sell almost as many because the potential owners just could not understand. I make everyone who purchases a pocket bike sign agreeing to not ride on the street (for what it is worth anyway) We started a club here and we get as many as 60 riders out on track days locally, that is as good a turnout as some national events because of the promoting of safety and proper usage of the machine that myself, Brian of Clarkston, and Troy at the Trade Center have been doing. If sellers of pocket bikes gave a crap and promoted racing and organized track dates like we did this would not be a problem but rather the fastest growing motorsport in the country.
I live in australia and we have had countless t.v reports on the subject of riding them on the road. Not long ago a man was badly injured RIDING IN THE CITY when he colided with a taxi. I think we should be able to ride the bikes on pathways and parks. The main problem is that the bikes will not be insured by anyone, so if for instance if u were to hit a pothole and stack. You could sue the government, that is why they can't be ridden. I used to causuly ride my bike in a pathways before the new law came in (1.1.2005) and one man must have been so against them because he actualy chase me with a camera. Thats not right, and i don't want to be flamed for alley riding because it wasn't illegal 4 days ago. Just because one guy injured himself the govenment has done this, after all in Italy you can ride anything under 50cc at any age why do all these westernised nations have to be so uptight after all us taxpayers own the roads ,litraly.
Last edited by badboy_cdhac : 01-04-2005 at 12:53 AM.
You know guys, it does really come down to resellers of the bikes, ....... If sellers of pocket bikes gave a crap and promoted racing and organized track dates like we did this would not be a problem but rather the fastest growing motorsport in the country.
Bart the legitimate ones all do. It is precisely these low-cost, high-sales volume, high-profit potential with small investment types of bikes that have attracted the hundreds of illegitimate sellers.
From Pep Boys, to kids on their home computer, every greedy SOB out to make a buck has jumped on the sellers bandwagon. And not one of them gives a **** about the sport. And as long as they have willing buyers there's no reason for them to.
Ultimately it's only the buying public that will change things, not the sellers. And it certainly doesn't help when the mass media encourages ignorant thinking.
That was a great Post RubbersideDown. Hopefully many others will follow your lead and send a similar post to NBC.
Wow, I had no idea there were people besides me in the Ventura county that actually ride pocketbikes. I swear, I've been working on PB's for a year now, and not once, have I seen kids or adults ride on PB's here. I've seen some sold on the business streets, but haven't seen any of these people actually ride on the street or go to the track. Aynone in Ventura county wanting to ride, hit me up and I'll tell you what places I ride at...
Which is the point of my post...ride your bikes at the TRACK, not on the streets! If there are people in Ventura county that are riding their pocketbikes on the street, FYI, there's a track only an hour away, RIALTO. ******** holds races there, and even FOUR of your own STAFF members (minimotopilot, zero4, myself, and sd_minimoto) ride there regularly. Its a lot safer to ride at the track than it is to ride on the street. Its a controlled environment, meaning, without the proper gear, you won't be allowed to run your bike, which is to be expected and embraced, considering safety should be your first priority.
Remember to ride responsibly guys. We're all here to have fun, but if you see some idiot riding their bikes on the streets, let them know the great aspects of racing on a track and how much safer it is. I used to be one of those idiots riding on the street. When I got my first taste of racing, there's no way I'm going back to riding on the streets. The purpose of these bikes is to be ridden on a track...bottom line.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bbishopg
This Is A Must Read
Tiny motorcycles called unsafe
Bikes are illegal on public streets and may not be visible from cars
USA - Consumer advocates and government officials urge parents to check their holiday shopping lists twice, warning that "pocket bikes" may be more naughty than nice.
The elf-sized motorcycles, hot sellers in recent months, are sure to top gift lists this December. But the bikes get a frosty reception from critics, who say they're illegal and pose serious threats to rider safety.
If officials sound a bit like Ralphie's mom in "A Christmas Story" -- she was right when she predicted Ralphie would shoot himself with the BB gun, by the way -- they say they have good reason.
"People shouldn't be buying these things," said Oxnard Police Cmdr. Tom Chronister. "They're not toys."
Standing just 2 to 3 feet off the ground, pocket bikes can reach speeds up to 50 mph. But they can't be registered as legal vehicles and may not be used on public property. Most bikes don't meet government safety standards, and drivers have a hard time seeing riders.
For those reasons alone, officials say, the bikes are a poor gift choice for children and teens who face grown-up consequences if they're caught riding one on a public road.
Jay Leiderman, a Ventura County public defender, said the pocket-bike craze that picked up steam this summer led to a sharp increase in the number of children answering to traffic violations in court.
Though numbers are elusive, Leiderman said, he figures several kids show up in traffic court each week. Children as young as 8 have walked out with convictions for driving an illegal vehicle, he said. Some kids pay a fine, others are ordered to perform community service.
"My goal is to see zero of these under any trees this Christmas," Leiderman said. "I don't want to see these kids suffer these kinds of consequences in court."
That all sounds a little Grinch-ish to 12-year-old Dylan McClure, who rarely rides the yellow pocket bike he got for his elementary school commencement. A few months before Dylan started seventh grade at Sinaloa Junior High School in Simi Valley, he was warned by a police officer to keep his bike off the neighborhood streets.
Dylan said he understands that police want to keep kids safe, but he wonders if they remember what it was like to get a new toy when they were young.
"It's kind of like a toy that way," he said. "We just want to ride it around and have fun. I don't see what's so wrong with that."
A consumer advocacy group recently found plenty wrong with pocket bikes. Not quite stocking stuffer-priced, the bikes cost anywhere from $250 for a knockoff to $3,000 for a top-grade model, according to the December issue of Consumer Reports.
The magazine found that the seats of pocket bikes are less than 2 feet off the ground, making it difficult for motorists to see riders. The bikes also got poor marks for braking, handling and safety features. The magazine estimates that 2,345 riders were treated last year at hospital emergency rooms for cuts, bruises and broken bones from falls.
Publicity about the pocket bikes' shortcomings may have chilled their popularity, according to officials. Brian Woolley, an Oxnard motorcycle officer, said he's seen a drop in the number of pocket bikes on the road.
"Word's getting out now that we're not standing for them," he said.
But pocket-bike industry watchers say sales remain strong, though no organization tracks such figures.
Brok McAllister, who heads a motorcycle racing organization in Northern California, said pocket bikes, once used for training riders, cost as much as $1,200 a decade ago. Now, interested buyers can pick one up for a couple of hundred dollars at an auto parts store.
"And I don't see any end in sight," he said, "as long as they continue to get cheaper and easier to get."
It's Your Responsibility To Get PB'S A Sport And Not A Misunderstanding
Make Sure You Ride As A Group Or Organization At The Track Or Lot!
Also Look At The MSNBC News On PBP's Home Page And E-Mail Them Hey Who Knows Your Bike Might Just Be On International News If They Show The Site!
MSNBC Skandal (My Opinion) 
.
Tune To Be Busted! 
