What is it with these blasted motor-assisted bikes?

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Arggh!!! All of a sudden my local streets are filled with these loud 2-stroke motor-assisted abominations that kids got for christmas. I've not had a look close up, but my guess is that they are completely unmuffled. They're damned-well loud enough. Dawn 'till bl__dy dusk!

Are air rifles still illegal?

[Kevnool (Kev)]

fortunately these things have not really taken off out here.
As there are only two in town here itself and they never come past my place.
But you can hear them and as you say there are no baffles on the things.

A tablespoon of sugar in the tank when there not around will quiet them down .

Air rifle at your own disgression....

Cheers Kev.

[renormalised (Carl)]

I know what you mean Chris. They're a nuisance, and so are the kids riding them.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

We had a plague of them about 10 years ago here, very annoying. Don't know about other states but in Vic they lowered the minimum engine size of motorbikes to make them illegal a while back which took many of them off the road.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

When my eldest son first started work when he was 15, we had his push bike converted. It cost a bomb too. It wasn't a "toy" it was his mode of transport.
But I know your situation there, and you have my full sympathy.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Awful things. And the ones I've seen look underbraked for the speed they can do. I'd not be surprised if they are illegal, firstly because of the noise but also because, as I understand it, in NSW the motor cannot output >200W which I would have thought isn't that much.

BTW if I ever got back on a treddle it may be electric assisted but that's a different kettle of fish.

[acropolite (Phil)]

Mostly chinese imports, cheap and nasty would be my guess.

Their parents should be responsible enough to take them somewhere out of town.

Lodge a complaint with the local police, they'll confiscate the bikes if they catch the offenders, tearing round on unregistered, uninsured bikes by an unlicenced rider is covered by hooning laws I believe.

[skysurfer]

Interesting.

Here in Holland 2 stroke mopeds are rather common. Under 50cc (and riding at most 40km/h) they are legal but usually they are boosted to 80 km/h.
For automobiles there are a strict emission regulations, but not for the belching and noisy 2 stroke mopeds.

[Ric]

I wouldn't worry too much Chris.

I've noticed these things die at a rapid rate through lack of maintenance knowledge.

You have a small motor probably running an oil/petrol mix that revs to about 10,000 rpm carrying a lot weight. My guess is that the piston will burn or melt within a few weeks and take the barrel with it.

Being a cheap import parts wont be available and to convert all the parts to something reliable will cost probably about three time what the whole bike is worth.

I reckon your area will will quiet within the month.

[Kal (Andrew)]

^^^ What Ric said

Had a spate of them in my area about a year ago hearing them every day. After a month or two they died down and I haven't heard any for the better half of last year.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

So I can safely rely on cheap Chinese manufacturing tolerances and materials. Excellent... Nowhere near all Chinese-manufactured goods fall into this category, but these machines certainly do.

[Kevnool (Kev)]

Hang in there Chris.
Another couple of months to go for peace.
Thank goodness they aint made in Aust or the noise would never stop

Cheers kev

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Glad I live out here in the country because I have never even heard of these things.

Most kids out here ride full size Trail Bikes all around the streets and the bush from Dawn till Dusk (and sometimes well into the night).
I think if a kid out here rode one of the things you mention they would get picked on for not riding a 'Proper' bike.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Don't worry Ken - it'll just take time, and you'll have them too. I have them in Cooma as well. You can hear the damned things miles away up the river.

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

I checked them out in Qld last winter and they become illegal here sometime in the new year. They were pretty woefully made so probably wouldn't last long anyway.
Won't fit on a girl's bike either.

I have an old whipper snipper motor that will work better!

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Don't worry Ken - it'll just take time, and you'll have them too. I have them in Cooma as well. You can hear the damned things miles away up the river.

Nah, I doubt it Chris.
Even the little Primary School kiddies here ride 100cc+ Trail Bikes.
It's a 'peer' thing.
If a kid here rode a motorised bicycle he would be labelled a pansy!

But all these trail bikes get verrry annoying too. After school on school days, and all weekend! But it's always been like it. It's not something new in the last year or two.

If the ones you are talking about are anything like the ones in this photo, then no, they won't gain any popularity around here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43114920@N05/3974656312/

[taminga16 (Greg)]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Arggh!!! All of a sudden my local streets are filled with these loud 2-stroke motor-assisted abominations that kids got for christmas. I've not had a look close up, but my guess is that they are completely unmuffled. They're damned-well loud enough. Dawn 'till bl__dy dusk!

Are air rifles still illegal?

Hi Chris,
Check on legallity of these vehicles from the local Police and if it is that they are illegal have them act on it, I doubt that you would be the only Cooma resident that finds them offensive.
Good luck.
Greg.

[DeeTee (Deb)]

Dammit. Now I have to think of something else for you next Xmas, Chris.