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Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: Emtkopan on September 01, 2016, 12:35:36 AM

Title: Helmet laws
Post by: Emtkopan on September 01, 2016, 12:35:36 AM
Someone just posed an interesting question. Many states with helmet laws states that if the vehicle is 49cc or less then a helmet is not required. Since Zeros are technically 0cc, what's the answer? I'm wearing one regardless just food for thought.
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: skoleskibe on September 01, 2016, 12:38:29 AM
The answer is only idiots drive without.


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Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: JaimeC on September 01, 2016, 01:36:36 AM
That actually IS a very interesting legal quandary.

But I second the opinion that "Anyone who refuses to wear a helmet doesn't have anything worth protecting anyway."
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: DPsSRnSD on September 01, 2016, 01:38:41 AM
Someone just posed an interesting question. Many states with helmet laws states that if the vehicle is 49cc or less then a helmet is not required. Since Zeros are technically 0cc, what's the answer? I'm wearing one regardless just food for thought.

In California, all electric bicycle riders have to wear a helmet. But since Zeros don't have pedals . . .

In a perfect world, Zeros would have pedals so I could get some exercise to and from work. But then, in a perfect world, I'd still be commuting by bicycle. Would the world be beyond perfect if I could be fit without exercise and wealthy without work?
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: clay.leihy on September 01, 2016, 01:45:06 AM
In some states, under 50cc is a motorized bicycle and it would depend on their bicycle helmet law. Funny, here in Denver, I get crap for not wearing a bicycle helmet, but most don't wear them on motorcycles. (I always do.) And it seems that on bicycles here, those with the most gear - helmet, clip ons, spandex - ride the most recklessly.

Clay
DoD #2160,6
2015 FX ZF6.5  😁

Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: Emtkopan on September 01, 2016, 02:56:45 AM
I have to wonder how long this loophole will last until states start changing their wording. Maybe ICE below 49cc and all eletric or hybrid
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: quixotic on September 01, 2016, 07:19:10 PM
My insurance agent says that my 2013 S has 900 cc's.
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: Richard230 on September 01, 2016, 09:17:16 PM
My insurance company shows the engine size on my bill as 1cc, but they have increased the liability-only premium over the past 7 years that I have owned electric motorcycles from $5 a year (!) to $87 a year - which is higher than what they are charging me for my BMW R1200RS.   :o  I guess it is just a case of whatever the market will bear.  Or maybe the premiums are raised every time they see the latest news stories about Tesla S and Boeing 787 explosions.   ::)
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: MrDude_1 on September 02, 2016, 12:48:58 AM
My insurance agent says that my 2013 S has 900 cc's.

You should get that lowered to the 250cc range...
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: domingo3 on September 02, 2016, 07:00:41 AM
My insurance company shows the engine size on my bill as 1cc, but they have increased the liability-only premium over the past 7 years that I have owned electric motorcycles from $5 a year (!) to $87 a year - which is higher than what they are charging me for my BMW R1200RS.   :o  I guess it is just a case of whatever the market will bear.  Or maybe the premiums are raised every time they see the latest news stories about Tesla S and Boeing 787 explosions.   ::)

Have you tried shopping around for insurance?  I know it's not the same bike, but I'm paying $77 a year for comprehensive on my FXS.
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: Richard230 on September 02, 2016, 08:48:02 PM
My insurance company shows the engine size on my bill as 1cc, but they have increased the liability-only premium over the past 7 years that I have owned electric motorcycles from $5 a year (!) to $87 a year - which is higher than what they are charging me for my BMW R1200RS.   :o  I guess it is just a case of whatever the market will bear.  Or maybe the premiums are raised every time they see the latest news stories about Tesla S and Boeing 787 explosions.   ::)

Have you tried shopping around for insurance?  I know it's not the same bike, but I'm paying $77 a year for comprehensive on my FXS.

I doubt I could get insurance that cheap living near San Francisco, as I do.  I have Progressive insurance and are receiving just about every discount that they offer. I have received quotes from other companies and they have all been much more expensive. I might add that, listening to traffic reports, we appear to have an average of a motorcycle accident every 30 minutes from 5 am to 7 pm of every work day, in the SF Bay Area.  I am sure that all of those accidents do nothing to lower insurance premiums. 

12 years ago I checked with another insurance company about full coverage insurance for my Yamaha FZ1 and received a quote for $3,500 a year.  That was when I decided to "self-insure" my vehicles for everything but third-party liability insurance.
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: vinceherman on September 03, 2016, 12:12:08 AM
The answer is only idiots drive without.
From the ER nurses, those wearing helmets are motorcycle riders.  Those without are organ donors.
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: Chief_Lee_Visceral on September 03, 2016, 01:49:18 AM
I always wear a full face too but I am wondering what a half shell would be like so you could leverage the silent nature to hear more. Have not gotten my DSR delivered yet.
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: DPsSRnSD on September 03, 2016, 02:13:27 AM
I always wear a full face too but I am wondering what a half shell would be like so you could leverage the silent nature to hear more. Have not gotten my DSR delivered yet.

Based on my experience mountain biking, you'll hear rustling in the bushes that scare you until you confirm it was just a robin. I starting adding noise with a bear bell so animals would cross well in front of me - and not try to dart across my wheel.

A fair amount of head injuries are to the face, I was told, so full face or modular (if not racing) is the way to go. It'd be nice if they had ear holes like football helmets, though.
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: Ranga on September 03, 2016, 02:18:33 AM
When I was getting insurance, they said there was some formula for converting kWh to cc for legal paperwork. No idea what it is though.
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: BrianTRice@gmail.com on September 03, 2016, 02:24:08 AM
When I was getting insurance, they said there was some formula for converting kWh to cc for legal paperwork. No idea what it is though.

That can't be right - it must be kW... FWIW, 1kW converts 1.34Hp. 1kWh converts to 0.03 gallons of gasoline.

Yeah, even a 2016 Zero with Power Tank has less energy than half a gallon (2l) of gasoline!
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: laramie LC4 on September 03, 2016, 05:37:05 AM
just got off the phone with GEICO asking about my policy.

they have my 2016 FXS costing more than my 2012 990 (1000cc) Rallye and i wanted to know why.

she explained it as such; even though my Zero is listed @ 250cc, the exclusivity of the bike drives up the cost. since it is so rare and they only replace damaged parts with real OEM parts, it makes it just that much harder to source. that drives up the price. agent said she said she was really surprised too when she saw the displacement disparity, then the prices.

Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: Richard230 on September 03, 2016, 06:35:15 AM
just got off the phone with GEICO asking about my policy.

they have my 2016 FXS costing more than my 2012 990 (1000cc) Rallye and i wanted to know why.

she explained it as such; even though my Zero is listed @ 250cc, the exclusivity of the bike drives up the cost. since it is so rare and they only replace damaged parts with real OEM parts, it makes it just that much harder to source. that drives up the price. agent said she said she was really surprised too when she saw the displacement disparity, then the prices.

Excuses, excuses.....   ::)
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: nevetsyad on September 06, 2016, 07:28:39 AM
Switch to Progressive, my SR is cheaper than my CBR 1000 was with them!
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: Semper Why on September 08, 2016, 10:13:57 AM
Someone just posed an interesting question. Many states with helmet laws states that if the vehicle is 49cc or less then a helmet is not required. Since Zeros are technically 0cc, what's the answer? I'm wearing one regardless just food for thought.
In Virginia, the law states any vehicle that is less than 50cc and limited to 35mph is a moped and not a motorcycle. It doesn't really matter, because moped riders & passengers have to wear helmets too.

What you don't need are things like an M class endorsement on your driver's license (or a driver's license at all for that matter), proof of insurance, property taxes, etc.
Title: Re: Helmet laws
Post by: gman669 on September 10, 2016, 03:28:08 AM
In Colorado the cutoff is 4 kw for designation between moped and motorcycle.