Modern Vespa

I know I seen it on here somewhere but are you or are you not required to wear a helmet on a 50cc Vespa if you over 19 in Virginia.

If you do, does it have to be a full DOT helmet with a visor as well?

What happens if you trailer the Vespa to different states?

Thanks

According to my helmet law cheat sheet, It is required for all riders in Virginia to wear a helmet. However, the sheet does not state if a 50cc is considered a motorcycle.

Actually it's 49.4 cc.

There is a lot of loose ends by the law most states say it can't go any faster than 30 yet Vespa states 39 mph. I don't see the H.P. any where in the Vespa specs.

Also, what makes it a Moped - should it not have pedals to be a Moped?

I think if you trailer it, you have to wear your helmet while doing so! (sorry, I'm a smart ass) (Wear your helmet!)

you have to do what that state law says. just wear the helmet, they're really not that bad. really!

In South Carolina anything 50cc or under is a "Moped" regardless of the presence or absence of pedals. All you need to do is tack a moped liscense plate on it and you're off. You don't even need a driver's liscense.....you can even have your liscense revoked for DUI or anything else and still drive a "Moped"

We don't have any helmet laws here either.

Go states' rights!

Hi,

Whether it is, or is not, the Law, why wouldn't you wear one? Don't you like yourself? VA state law is indefinite regarding Helmet use, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to ride without one.

So far as the definition of a Moped, the attached link shows how the state defines one - http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-100 In it, it states that "Moped" means every vehicle that travels on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground that has (i) a seat that is no less than 24 inches in height, measured from the middle of the seat perpendicular to the ground and (ii) a gasoline, electric, or hybrid motor that displaces less than 50 cubic centimeters. For purposes of Chapter 8 (§ 46.2-800 et seq.) of this title, a moped shall be a vehicle while operated on a highway.

As it is a vehicle when operated on State Highways, the state may take the view that a Helmet is required, or it may not. It's ambiguous meaning that a cop could possibly cite you and you'd have to defend your action in court, or they may not. But, again, I have to go back to it's definitely the smart thing to do...

Happy Motoring!... Jim

That's interesting. In NC you still have to posess a valid class C drivers license to operate any motor vehicle on the road. However, 99% of the population believe that you do not have to be licensed at all for anything <50cc. DMV doesn't enforce the law on that matter either. So there are a lot of court appointed scooter riders (thanks David H) on the road illegally.

You do have to posess an M endorsement to ride anything >50cc.

I thought SC was one of those states that had funky helmet laws. You know, have to wear one under certain circumstances and not under others. So is there no helmet law at all south of the border?

The only circumstance is that if you're under 21 you are required to wear a helmet with reflectors on both sides. So I misspoke when I said "no helmet laws" what I meant was "no helmet laws that affect me".

Of course none of this prevents kids in my neighborhood doing stupid things sans helmets on the mini motorcycles.

VA law is a similar to MD law in this regard. Strictly speaking, a LX50 might legally be considered a moped in VA since it is less than 50cc. However, since it is capable of exceeding 35 MPH it could instead be considered a motorcycle. Full DOT/Snell/similar helmets and eye protection is required for motorcycle riders in VA.

VA 46.2-100- "Motorcycle" means every motor vehicle designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground and is capable of traveling at speeds in excess of 35 miles per hour.

So to avoid any hassles or arguments with a police officer over the finer points of VA motor vehicle law, wear a helmet.

Thanks for the great answers - it's not that I don't want to wear a helmet but sometimes just running a park or some remote back roads its nice to have the freedom.

Thanks Again!

My friend was born with kidney disease. It was a matter of time before he needed a transplant. As he was getting closer to the time, the doctor advised him that if he couldn't find a relative with a match, that he might be better off to move to a state without helmet laws as they had many more organs available for transplant and usually young organs.

I appreciate the freedom to do what you want, and that applies to wearing a helmet as well. Personally I've been in a bad car accident. I also didn't know it was going to happen. I was just driving to work, not 5 minutes after dropping my kids off at school.

You never know when you're going to win the accident lottery. Just riding to the store or around the block doesn't give you immunity to the yacker in the SUV not watching.

Wear a helmet or become an organ donor.

Doug

Words of wisdom . . .

Thanks

Oh, so that's why my little brother made fun of my Vespa. Little does he know it's a 150, not a 50.

Ok what's the deal with that - I was thinking of trading in my LX50 on a 150 and go buy a LX 50 decal for the rear trunk area and keep my speed arond 30-35 what do you think?

Oh, I wasn't sneaking around. It was all by email; I live in Minnesota, he's in SC. I think he thinks all scooters are 50cc because of their reputation of being DUI vehicles down there.

Roger that . . . I mean what are the chances of a guy getting caught if he has a 150 engine verses a 50. If anything, I'm thinking of putting a 80 cc cyl kit on mine. It's not so much I want to go faster, its just dangerious doing 15-25 mph up a hill on a main road.

For the most part, a 50 cc scooter is just about the most dangerous vehicles you can get on if you try to travel on a main road even for a short period of time.

50cc scooters aren't really designed to go on main roads. They're designed to meet state laws for being an un-motorcycle.

Well I don't know of too many places you can go without crossing or riding on main roads even for a short period of time. So this is something that one has to consider if you buy a 50 cc.

Regardless of how you look at it the 20 mph thing is a problem, that is unless you're going to ride it in your own back yard.

Not sure about other states, but in Minnesota 50cc scoots are restricted to 30 mph, anyway. If I were going uphill on one, I'd stay to the right, as if I were riding a bicycle.

If I lived in a hilly area (it's pretty flat here), or I wasn't in the city ( you can drive just about anywhere going 30-35 mph), I wouldn't buy a 50cc scoot.

A lot of people say not to bother with a 50cc scoot, that you'll grow out of it and want to go faster. For me, it's just that 150cc scoots are more versatile--better on hills, much easier to carry a passenger, can keep up with 40-45 mph traffic on intermediate roads, etc.

Why is it better to sustain a brain injury on a remote back road? I'd think that if you're not wearing a helmet, you'd want to be where the ambulance can get to you as efficiently as possible.

Well - I've had my Tomas 49cc bike since 1994 never used a helmet - for the most part, a 50 cc is really no more dangerious than a pedal bike since they go around 15-25 mph. I recently traded the Tomas on a 50 LX which I like because there is two of us and the Vespa is more comfortable.

I have a MP3 but I still love the my 50cc machines for riding around state parks, campgounds and places like Annopolis etc.