Pocket bikes are miniature motorcycles - powered, for the most part-and gas engines, oil tools like chainsaws, grass or other small motorized Whackers - and they look just like the real thing.
The snazziest models cost thousands and are made in Italy, but those that run from the cargo container to sell $ 200 to $ 500. They come from China, among others, and getting caught by the eager young people and in some casesnot-so-young.
On Broadtek LLC, a company in South San Francisco, which imports, with the small bikes are stacked in boxes in storage to the ceiling of a large and quickly out the door to eager customers.
A Walnut Creek, says Eric Rahin, owner of Sonic Scooterz, sells them in bulk - "from college students, people in their late 50s, he is basically a toy, something fun .."
Manufacturers say the bikes must beonly for closed, private roads or anywhere else where there is no rule of public transport and, above all, no big cars or trucks to run into her. Many buyers follow that advice.
But now you can see some of these new pocket bikes zinging in and out of parking lots, up and down residential streets and from time to time in the side of a car. And therein lies the problem.
"It 's very difficult for a driver (a car) to see one on those bikes, because of theirlow altitude, "said police Lt. Kitt Crenshaw of San Francisco." We had several incidents in recent weeks, and the people went to hospital. "
The pocket bike has a top speed of 35 km per hour, but enhanced to drive faster. They have evolved from small, but highly sophisticated racing bikes that campaign on European circuits and drivers are sometimes used as training tools for the Grand Prix motorcycle.
The bikes are faithful imitations of popular normal-sizedStreet motorcycles, the marketing reasons, are faithful imitations of pure race machines for disc brakes, handlebars, chain, throttle twist grip and electronic ignition.
The small wheels weigh about 50 pounds, are a foot and a half high and a machine can easily be put in the trunk. They are tiny engines - 47cc or 49cc displacement, less than 1:20 on the size of a large motorcycle. And they are attractive.
"It 's a little something' fun to drive"said Matt Damon, a trader of 21 years in a pet shop pet Martinez. "There is a lot cheaper than a 6,000 or $ 7,000 great bike $. For years I've been riding different types of motorcycles, but it's more like the small bikes are a fun thing, instead of just transportation. It is easier to maintain and burn less gas. "
But Damon admitted: "I thought it was a walk down the street and got pulled over the officer was very nice to read, but I have a ticket ..."
PoliceDepartments in the Bay Area in California and elsewhere were hard for small wheels, they say a serious accident waiting to happen. No police agency could with information on all deaths from Pocket bike crashes, but the police from public roads before the inevitable happens.
"Their numbers began to increase," said Milpitas Police Officer Jay Johnson, who has been assigned by his department to examine the phenomenon andultimately write about it for the weekly Milpitas Post. "Most of the complaints we get is that the driver can see or will be a group of them ran, or running stop signs."
For a while, 'but until Johnson started on the subject, and the California Highway Patrol sent a note to clarify what is and is not legal about the bikes seemed to be confusion in the foreground.
In fact, it should be. On many bikes, there is a stickerdirectly on the gas tank, that these things do not match, says, "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard".
After consulting a number of vehicles along with the vehicle code of the State and the Department of Motor said the CHP, which bicycles do not meet the standards for a number of California requires all vehicles registered for - the story is the best example provision that "the amount (to be lights) 22-54 inches."
Technical problems aside, there is the question of securityThe concerns of the authorities.
"We are concerned about these things mixing with traffic," said CHP spokesman Steve Kohler. "When you think about what is little difficult to see if it is mixed with cars, trucks and buses. Driver did not even see full-size motorcycles. There is no way to go, these things can be seen."
Or, as David Edwards, editor in chief of Cycle World magazine and a man who puts about 20,000 miles a year running, said: "If you're out in townTraffic, it is a greater risk than a full-size bike. But I only have (a little ') of gas, so do not go too far. And I'm strong as hell, so at least people listen, if you do not see coming. "
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