[rifle1111]

Hi; An opinion and advice sought about a repair order that my son received today. We were both riding our bikes I was on 2009 Ninja 650R and my son on Ninja ZX-6R, enjoying the friendly competition before he heads to college. When he misjudged his fuel and his gas ran out. I told him OK, just stay put and I will get some gas. It took me about 20-25 minutes to get it. In the same time a cop on motorcycle stops, and asks my son what is the issue ? He told him that he ran out of gas. Instead of helping him with gas this cop starts to check on his motorcycle, brakes, lights , even tire pressure , looks like he did not like my son, who is a mild mannered boy of Asian Indian origin. My son had made two revision to the bike, he had changed tail lights with new " Fender eliminator type " kit. In the end cop says this is illegal, he has to give him a ticket for it and he has to restore it back to original and have it certified by a cop or a mechanic.
During this time, I was away, or I would have lost my cool. Any way that messed up his and mine evening, destroyed his last weekend before college. No wonder people don't like cops.
But my question is " Has this happened to anyone else ? " This product was bought over internet, it did not say it was illegal.
BTW we live in socialist state of Maryland. And is there anyway to fight the tyranny of state ? Will the company who sold it to us help in any way ?
Thanks. And warning to other riders in state of MARYLAND. Be very careful before any modification.

 

[donovan]

I think most people realize that many of these kits are not legal. The boundaries of legality vary from state to state. It is very unfortunate that this happened to you guys while you were out. I know lots of guys that get away with lots more on their bikes. New Hampshire is a haven for illegal bike mods and no one cares. It's as if the whole Harley crowd is in one giant, ongoing competition of who can have the world's record for most illegal, loud, annoying exhaust. No one says $hit about it. It all comes down to the locale, but it sounds like that particular LEO was in a bad mood.

 

[berencam]

Hi; An opinion and advice sought about a repair order that my son received today. We were both riding our bikes I was on 2009 Ninja 650R and my son on Ninja ZX-6R, enjoying the friendly competition before he heads to college. When he misjudged his fuel and his gas ran out. I told him OK, just stay put and I will get some gas. It took me about 20-25 minutes to get it. In the same time a cop on motorcycle stops, and asks my son what is the issue ? He told him that he ran out of gas. Instead of helping him with gas this cop starts to check on his motorcycle, brakes, lights , even tire pressure , looks like he did not like my son, who is a mild mannered boy of Asian Indian origin. My son had made two revision to the bike, he had changed tail lights with new " Fender eliminator type " kit. In the end cop says this is illegal, he has to give him a ticket for it and he has to restore it back to original and have it certified by a cop or a mechanic.
During this time, I was away, or I would have lost my cool. Any way that messed up his and mine evening, destroyed his last weekend before college. No wonder people don't like cops.
But my question is " Has this happened to anyone else ? " This product was bought over internet, it did not say it was illegal.
BTW we live in socialist state of Maryland. And is there anyway to fight the tyranny of state ? Will the company who sold it to us help in any way ?
Thanks. And warning to other riders in state of MARYLAND. Be very careful before any modification.

Most states require that it is legible from 50 feet. and lit at night. If you rode in the day, just take a picture of the rear of your bike and take it the prosecutor. I just got tagged for the same thing. he told me "i cant read your license plate that why i pulled you over" I told him "thats odd, i can read it just fine" he replied "dont argue with me" To which i replied "Oh sir im not argueing with you, merely stating fact. If in fact i wanted to argue with you i would have instead said your wrong you can read it" he didnt appreciate that. Anyway back on subject, i took a picture of my current license plate display to the prosecutor, and he dismissed charges. Hope that helps...

 

[Green Rocket]

sorry that happened, but yes, I've found that the vast majority of folks who modify their bike (or car) have no idea that most of those modifications are illegal. They are so eager to customize their machines, to personalize them, that they don't bother to read their state's vehicle codes.

Most localities require side reflectors on the rear fender, which those aftermarket kits do not usually have. And I won't get into how illegal it is to modify a bike's exhaust, but there are plenty of warnings about that in the owners manual.

Cops are under a lot of pressure from tax payers who are tired of those few bad apple bikers who are running around with open pipes, racing, and doing things that make all bikers look bad.

 

[rider650r]

Cops are under a lot of pressure from tax payers who are tired of those few bad apple bikers who are running around with open pipes.

Thats every Harley on the road.

 

[Ayu]

Thats every Harley on the road.

I wouldn't say every Harley but I was stopped at a light yesterday behind a harley rider and the noise was painful when he rev his engine. I had earplugs on and the vibration from his revving still penetrate into my skull causing a deep pain. Light turns green, off we go and I could still feel the vibration of his exhaust for a quarter mile until I passed him.

Simply painfully annoying...I can understand why non biker would hate the excessive loud noise. I often wonder how quickly these riders must lose his/her hearing with this type of excessive exhaust notes.

 

[Lucid]

A cop somewhere has a lot of fixing to do on his own civilian vehicle =) traceroute:?

 

[steveinsandiego]

Thats every Harley on the road.

now, now. today i saw and "heard" what looked like a new standard softail with stock pipes. sounded ok to me. louder than my stock vulcan, betchya.

municipalities in california are just beginning to look askance at modified motorcycles. that's one good reason i keep my bikes stock-outta-the-box.

 

[BRP]

Your son was not operating the bike correct?
He was out of gas, parked.
You might want to check with a lawyer, but I don't think the ticket will stand
up in court. Had he been riding, and pulled over, is a different story.

 

[unL33T]

Many modifications are illegal.

My manual actually says that even just changing out the muffler is "tampering with an emissions control device" and is highly illegal but everyone does it anyway.

Another thing a lot of people don't think about is that certain modifications can void your insurance policy as well which could mean that if you do a mod, don't tell your insurance company, and get in an accident where you are at fault and you kill someone, you could be on the hook for all the costs yourself. Unless that part of insurance is also different in the US.

I was told by State Farm that even lowering the bike to make it more comfortable would make my bike uninsurable with them and if I were to perform the mod without telling them and got into a major collision, any claim against me would not be taken care of by insurance and I'd be on the hook myself. Exhausts they said were ok but would be a hint that they should look for more extensive modification.

 

[rifle1111]

Many modifications are illegal.

My manual actually says that even just changing out the muffler is "tampering with an emissions control device" and is highly illegal but everyone does it anyway.

Another thing a lot of people don't think about is that certain modifications can void your insurance policy as well which could mean that if you do a mod, don't tell your insurance company, and get in an accident where you are at fault and you kill someone, you could be on the hook for all the costs yourself. Unless that part of insurance is also different in the US.

I was told by State Farm that even lowering the bike to make it more comfortable would make my bike uninsurable with them and if I were to perform the mod without telling them and got into a major collision, any claim against me would not be taken care of by insurance and I'd be on the hook myself. Exhausts they said were ok but would be a hint that they should look for more extensive modification.

Thanks for the information. Then what is one to do, then what about modifications on truck, changing from OEM parts to generic parts, or lot of people change their cars, mirrors, glass etc. Is that not covered also ?

 

[rifle1111]

Your son was not operating the bike correct?
He was out of gas, parked.
You might want to check with a lawyer, but I don't think the ticket will stand
up in court. Had he been riding, and pulled over, is a different story.

Yes. You are right. I called an attorney he said ticket will go away, but my son does not want to change to stock fender, lawyer says there is no way out of it.
Deepak

 

[dudeonguitar]

Yes. You are right. I called an attorney he said ticket will go away, but my son does not want to change to stock fender, lawyer says there is no way out of it.
Deepak

He's gonna have the most expensive fender eliminator then :killingme

 

[avenger]

ignorance is no excuse... as in just because you can buy it doesn't mean it's legal to install... You're responsible for following the vehicle code of your state... like only using DOT approved lights, mounting plates in proper locations, etc...

Here in CA the ticket would stick assuming he was stopped on the side of a public road.

 

[dudeonguitar]

ignorance is no excuse... as in just because you can buy it doesn't mean it's legal to install... You're responsible for following the vehicle code of your state... like only using DOT approved lights, mounting plates in proper locations, etc...

Here in CA the ticket would stick assuming he was stopped on the side of a public road.

I wonder (not condescendingly) are any of your mods illegal? I promise I won't tell :wink:

 

[avenger]

I wonder (not condescendingly) are any of your mods illegal? I promise I won't tell :wink:

yes they are... and I *know* they are

 

[FishGuy]

It's true that just because you can buy something doesn't make it legal to use...for example go to just about any gas station owned by foreigners and they have bongs and pipes everywhere.

 

[BRP]

Here in CA the ticket would stick assuming he was stopped on the side of a public road.

Can you provide the code to prove that?
If the key is not in the ignition, you are not operating it.
Unless you are seen operating it.
A office of the law doing a visual inspection, can issue parking tickets
based on state or municipal code infractions.

 

[DdayIsNear]

It's true that just because you can buy something doesn't make it legal to use...for example go to just about any gas station owned by foreigners and they have bongs and pipes everywhere.

you can use the bongs and pipes, it is illegal to put illegal substances in them, but burn tobacci in em and its legal

 

[unL33T]

Can you provide the code to prove that?
If the key is not in the ignition, you are not operating it.
Unless you are seen operating it.
A office of the law doing a visual inspection, can issue parking tickets
based on state or municipal code infractions.

I know around here you can be charged with drunk driving just by being anywhere near your car with the keys. Doesn't usually happen but I have heard of people being charged for it while sleeping in their cars to sleep it off.

The cops just have to prove that you had the "capability" to operate the vehicle while under the influence. So just being near it with your keys is enough.

Pretty lame if you ask me.