Pocket Bikes

Note: foldedspace.org died recently, and is gradually being reconstructed. This entry has moved. Its new URL is http://www.foldedspace.org/weblog/2004/06/pocket_bikes.html. The 254 comments from before the move can be found here.

This afternoon’s hotly debated topic here at Custom Box Service is the rising popularity of those miniature motorcycles, Pocket Rockets (or Pocket Bikes). Actually, debate isn’t the right word. We all hate them.

For those of you who haven’t seen these trendy “vehicles”, pocket rockets are miniature motorcycles capable of high speeds, but which are not, for the most part, street legal.

They’re annoying.

Here’s the text of a recent Time Magazine article about them:

the following text is from a 28 June 2004 article by Terry McCarthy

The next big thing out of California is 18 in. high, weighs about 50 lbs. and is capable of traveling up to 70 m.p.h. Meet the pocket bike, a scaled-down motorcycle that is selling faster than low-carb hot cakes across the Golden State — and causing nightmares for traffic police.

First popularized in Europe as specialized race motorbikes, pocket bikes are being sold as toys in Wal-Mart and Toys “R” Us as well as in motorcycle stores. Most are made in China and cost between $200 and $400, although souped-up versions can run more than $1,000. They are powered by either two-stroke gas engines or electric motors that can be recharged by plugging into a wall socket. To ride them, you have to squat down with your legs only inches from the ground.

“Today’s kids want the coolest, fastest ride-on toys,” says Carlton Calvin, president of Razor USA, which sells the Razor Pocket Rocket bike ($230). “The play pattern of racing and the freedom of transportation never go out of style.”

The Razor Pocket Rocket is an electric model that reaches 15 m.p.h., and the company specifies that its bikes are designed for controlled environments like go-kart tracks and are not for use on public streets or sidewalks. But websites of other pocket-bike sellers boast “no registration or insurance required in most states,” and some show promotional videos of people riding the bikes on public streets.

As sales take off, law-enforcement agencies are beginning to crack down, warning that pocket bikes are not safe to ride on the street. “They are so small, you can’t see them behind parked cars or in traffic,” says Sergeant Bob Rieboldt of the Los Angeles police department.

In California, pocket bikes are illegal on public roads, according to Rieboldt, because they are motor vehicles that require registration. But the department of motor vehicles will not register them because most do not pass safety regulations governing headlight height from the ground, taillights, brake lights, horns and so on. The California Highway Patrol has issued a statewide special alert about pocket bikes. Of course in some quarters, that will only add to the appeal.

Jeff hasn’t seen many of these little monsters, but they’re ubiquitous in our new neighborhood. Oak Grove must be a hot spot for them or something. The riders seem aware that they’re not street legal, so they don’t ride down the busy avenues. Instead, they zip up and down the lesser traveled streets, such as the one next to our new home. Or, they ride along the edge of the busy roads, in the bike lanes. This is just as illegal as riding on the street, dudes!

Tony complains that they things are so small that they’re impossible for him to see when he’s riding around in his jumbo-sized SUV. He’s afraid he’s going to hit somebody.

Me, I just think they’re noisy and annoying.

Last week, before we were finally moved in and sleeping at the new house, I stopped by for a moment to check on the floor refinishing project. While I was there, some guy was buzzing up and down our street on a pocket bike. An old man came out and asked him to stop. The rider bristled, got off the bike, called the old man a bastard. The exchange grew heated. Neighbors gathered round as the two faced off. It was a little scary, actually. I hope we haven’t moved into a neighborhood of hoodlums!

Other web links about pocket rockets:

(Another noisy thing in our neighborhood: the kids next door have a trampoline, which is great. They like to use it starting at 10 p.m. and running to midnight, which is not so great. It’s a little annoying, yes, but I actually don’t mind that much because it’s good wholesome fun, and they’re obviously having a good time. (I can tell by their screams of delight.))

Pre-Crash Comments

On 30 June 2004 (04:06 PM),
Tiffany said:

I have not seen any of the Pocket Rockets, but we have a lot of motorized scooters that are pretty loud. The scooters are not street legal either. It really all boils down to parents that are spoiling their kids with expensive toys with no regard to the laws.

At least the trampoline kids are getting some exercise.

On 30 June 2004 (04:40 PM),
Dave said:

Tiffany beat me to the punch on those damnable motorized scooters. If experience is any guide, they’re only capable of operation between the hours of 6 pm and 1 am. Normally I wouldn’t care if someone wanted to risk their life riding an unsafe vehicle since i think of that as just another form of Darwinism sort of like riding a motorcycle, but they are really loud and high pitched. Annoyingly so. Tell those kids to get a job now that school’s out!

On 01 July 2004 (10:57 AM),
Denise said:

Welcome to the big city, J.D. and Kris…or at least Milwaukie.

The only thing I have to say about Pocket Rockets is it is a sad reflection on what a consumerist society the US has become.

On 01 July 2004 (11:36 AM),
Lisa said:

We’re hearing a lot of the motorized scooters too, and they are LOUD! I suppose pocket bikes are a matter of time. They are really cute, though.

I’m a big fan of road rules for public safety. It would be terrifying to be responsible for the death of someone, and I wouldn’t feel much better knowing that they were riding something illegal to express their individuality. Arrest ’em all!

On the subject of weird confrontations, I overheard a store person and a shopper arguing about whether an area marked with white lines was a parking space. I can’t believe the shopper thought it was–perhaps she should be banned from the road along with the pocket bikes.

On 01 July 2004 (03:49 PM),
Johnny said:

I remember the first time I saw a guy riding one of those pocket bikes. I thought he’d ripped off some kid’s toy. Then I wondered why he was bothering to wear a helmet. Then, as he took off at Mach 1, I wondered how he maintained his knees sitting like that.

On 06 July 2004 (01:40 AM),
Thanh said:

What’s wrong with people and kids having a bit of fun? It’s a cheap product ($200-400 for the Chinese bikes depending on where you buy it) which is about the cost of 2 Xboxes or 2 Playstation 2. Yes, I agree it’s pretty unsafe if the rider isn’t wearing any gear. Yes they’re a bit noisy, but riding them in the daytime shouldn’t be a problem. How come people take the time to complain about the noise of a pocket bike when I see all these wanna-be Hells Angels in the suburbs with their Harleys and Choppers making more noise than semis down the freeway? And BTW, the legality of pocket bikes riding in the bike lane (at least in California) is a gray-area. Motorized scooters are allowed to be in the bike lane here (16yrs+ with helmet) and technically the pocket bikes CAN be classified as a motorized scooter-look it up in the CA Vehicle Code book. It’s gonna take a court case (or a more concrete law) to settle it. As for SUV drivers being unable to see pocket bike riders, gimme a break. I have yet to see a SUV driver being able to see anything but themselves on the road. So kids jumping up and down on a trampoline well into the night is considered good wholesome fun whereas people riding pocket bikes are just asses? Cmon people! Not every rider is an ass, most of us just wanna have some fun. All of us realize that if we piss off enough people, no one going to be riding.

On 08 July 2004 (03:00 PM),
Shawn said:

I agree with Thanh, although I don’t have a Pocket bike, I have seen them and wondered what it would be like to ride one. Then we decided that you really can’t see them in a bigger car so it would be slightly unsafe to ride. As for others, if you want to ride an unsafe vehicle through the street… go for it. On the noise issue, I think first you should address the “lowriders” with 22″ subwoofers in the back setting off car alarms before you complain about a high pitched buzzing that is gone in a few moments.

On 08 July 2004 (05:50 PM),
Johnny said:

The difference between the high pitched scooters/ pocket bikes and the lowriders is that it’s much harder to get a bead on the scooters and pocket bikes because they’re so much smaller. You need much better aiming skills.

On 12 July 2004 (06:54 AM),
Kim said:

My husband and I go camping several times a month with our children and these little bikes have become very well known. My kids love them and I must say they are very cute. I do worry about how safe they are, but then I do feel that it is up to the parents to watch their children at all times and be very strict with the rules and how to use them. I don’t mind them at all as long as I know that kids follow the rules of the road and they respect other people and cars around them. It’s the big “KIDS” out there that ruin it for the little ones with their foul mouths and can’t seem to follow the rules. I say it’s a great, fun little toy and my boys eyes light up each time they see them. I think we will buy one for our son to enjoy while camping, but only to he played with where he can’t bother anyone, or get in anyones way. Just remember, toys have changed tons in the years sense we were little, and we all knows how it feels to see something we really want to have and how much it means to us when we get it. Kids are only kids for a short time, so I say there is nothing wrong with a little fun.

On 14 July 2004 (10:46 AM),
Stacey said:

What is the difference between a car with a broken muffler or a loud pocket bike? nothing, so if you want to complain about pocket bikes, then you should complain about every car that drives by your house with a broken muffler. Pocket bikes are legal if the rider has a driver’s license, and if a person is riding by your house and you dont like it there is nothing you can do because a street is government property. I dont understand why everytime a new toy comes out that is meant for enjoyment, uptight people have to go and ruin it. If a person is going to ride a pocket bike irresponcibly and get hurt, then let them, why should you care if you don’t like pocket bikes. And just to top it off, I think YOU are annoying. =o) peace.

On 14 July 2004 (12:08 PM),
Jahari said:

I don’t know why pocket bikes have to be illegal on sidewalks. Because if you think about it, you could stop or go around the pedestrians. I mean kids need a way to get to school if they can’t drive or have their parents drive them. I know people ride the bus, but not all kids like to ride that. I mean if I wore a helmet then it should be fine, right? And why do you have to be 16? I mean when your 16 you can have a car and no one is going to pass up a car for a motor bike. I mean you should make the age 13 and older. A 16 year old can get hurt just as easily as a 13 year old can. Plus, you don’t have to ride pocket bikes in the street you could ride them in the bike lane. NE way. PEACE YALL!

On 14 July 2004 (12:25 PM),
J.D. said:

Okay, though I disagree with most of you, I’m not arguing because I recognize you have valid points. However, this is dumb:

I don’t know why pocket bikes have to be illegal on sidewalks.

Pocket bikes are illegal on sidewalks for the same reason motorcycles or automobiles are illegal on sidewalks. They’re too big, and they go too fast, and they can easily hurt a pedestrian or, worse, be hurt by an automobile.

Remember: in most places, bicycles are illegal on sidewalks, too. You might not think it’s true, but it is. (It’s not a law that is often enforced.) There are reasons for this.

Riding a pocket bike on a sidewalk is dangerous.

On 17 July 2004 (03:15 AM),
terry said:

hello everyone, i dont know what all the fuss is about, pocketbikes should be aloud the same privilages as a bicycle. motorized scooters are all over the place, and they are not illegal. if they are not then i dont see why pocketbikes are not legal, its the same dang thing. the noise? hell what about the import cars like honda and acura, most of the mufflers on them sound like a bunch of pissed off bees in a tin can. as of right now pocketbikes are not legal on the streets or in the bike lanes, buy you can ride them all day long on private property or in a designated area. we should at least be aloud to to ride them in the bike lanes. im 22 yrs old, i bought one for fun and transportation (my work is about a mile away from where i live) and these bikes will travel about 20-30 miles on a tank of gas. ok ill stop talking now, take care all!!!

On 17 July 2004 (06:47 PM),
Z. said:

I don’t get it. If “pocket bike” riders want to be on the public streets, then buy a 50cc street legal scooter! Then, you won’t have to worry about being pulled over by a cop and getting it confiscated.

If you bought a pocket bike for fun AND transportation, then you should have thought about how viable it would be as transportation, considering that it was always in a gray area and could be outlawed at anytime.

I’m speaking from the perspective of a small-bike lover. My first bike was a little Yamaha 50cc Champ cycle. It was like a moped, but had no pedals and was a motor-driven cycle. By design, it was a street-legal bike and it got me from home to work in downtown SF for 2 years. My 2nd bike was a Yamaha RX-50… a small street cruiser that went up to 52 mph… legally, on public streets.

I’m on my 3rd little bike, a 125cc Suzuki GN 125. It’s fun, it’s practical, it’s cheap to run, it helps my back, it gets me to those hard-to-park parts of town, and I can drive it on any non-freeway public street without getting paranoid about a cop seeing me go by.

So… want to drive on the streets? Forget the pocket bikes- go for a real bike. Then you can stop sweating and getting peeved at the new pocket bike laws. Getting a drivers license and paying insurance on a street legal little bike is a good lesson in adult-responsibility for young people.

My Suzuki will STILL be on the streets after all those pocket bikes are in police custody!

On 18 July 2004 (08:19 PM),
Larry NC said:

Alright here is the truth about life, the sunshine causes cancer(death), the resturaunts we all eat at have secondhand smoke thick in the air canacer, heart trouma, disease (death), eating store bought foods have preservatives and added chemicals poision (death slowly), the freeways are clogged with cars exhaust gasses, Poisions (death), people driving the biggest vehicles they can find? your helping the poisioning of the earth. by the way we all breath the air out there guess what yeah it causes death too. I drive bikes 600cc and 47cc pocket rockets. with all this bad news people still need something to complain about. stop targeting some-one else or some new toy, look at yourself and ask why are you so worried about that. my son cant get kidnapped on a pocket rocket going to his friends house. but it is easy to grab a child walking, isnt it hard to stop 125pounds going 30m.p.h… Oh yeah when he goes down the road people hear him and notice him. When a child gets missing most of the time no one saw anything, bottom line yes they bother people, yes people like them, yes they are dangerous, yes being alive in today is also dangerous too right. every one praise GOD we can be diferent and complain.. let kids have fun and grow up their way, give guidence and pray for us all..
by the way if you think a weed eater engine is loud you should hear me ride my big bike ha ha ha that is loud!!!

On 19 July 2004 (03:46 PM),
Pocket Bike Hater said:

My problem with pocket bikes is that they are extremely loud. For that very reason, they should be banned. Sure modded cars and motorcycles are loud too but they often pass by quickly and the noise stops. However, kids with pocket bikes go around and around and around the neighborhood creating a nuisance. You people who defend pocket bikes are probably the disrespectful type with no regard for others. Police should cite and impound pocket bikes ridden on the street or sidewalk.

On 19 July 2004 (06:55 PM),
Jim in OC said:

I HAVE AN ELECTRIC RAZOR POCKET ROCKET AND IT IS SO QUIET YOU CAN’T HEAR IT COMING. IT ONLY GOES 12MPH MAX. SO DON’T GROUP THE NOISY GAS BIKES WITH THE ELECTIC. EASE UP!

On 19 July 2004 (06:55 PM),
Jim in OC said:

I HAVE AN ELECTRIC RAZOR POCKET ROCKET AND IT IS SO QUIET YOU CAN’T HEAR IT COMING. IT ONLY GOES 12MPH MAX. SO DON’T GROUP THE NOISY GAS BIKES WITH THE ELECTIC. EASE UP!

On 20 July 2004 (03:31 PM),
Z. said:

It’s not the noise… it’s the irresponsibility of how pocket bikes are driven and used by irresponsible kids. After dark with no lights… with baby brother sitting on the gas tank while pre-teen bro “drives”, no helmets, whizzing across the road unexpectedly without any signal or warning, etc. They act like just because they don’t need a driver’s license, then they can play on PUBLIC roadways in any way they want to. Our police dept wasn’t sure how to deal with it until some kid on a pocket bike got smacked by a SUV while the kid was driving recklessly. Then the bikes got outlawed on city streets.

I don’t follow the “S*** happens” philosophy or take a cavalier attitude that “life is dangerous anyway because of pollution and food chemicals, so let kids have their fun (riding pocket bikes)”. The conclusion (let them ride pocket bikes) has NOTHING to do with the premise, nor can the premise justify it. You’d think the safety of one’s kid is important enought NOT to simply let them endanger it even more (voluntarily) in addition to the involuntary dangers of living in today’s world.

Personally, I wouldn’t want to nurse my kid through a horrifying accident with an SUV. And I wouldn’t want to be an SUV owner either. After all, the kid’s head being exactly in line with an SUV bumper is a scary thing.

There’s reasons why any four-wheeled go-cart is NOT on our public roadways. And I think the same reasons are valid for pocket bikes. Kids who “want it” and are anxious to putt-putt around town need to wait til they’re old enough to get a license for their first bona-fide motor vehicle. And adults… just GET a real bike and all of your complaints and worries about pocket-bike legality becomes a moot point.

On 23 July 2004 (12:58 AM),
MrPocket said:

I agree that pocket bikes should be made illegal on highways or streets where vehicles normally pass. But NOT on bike lanes and parks. I agree that these bikes should be confiscated and driver cited BUT ONLY IF
1. the owner caused harm to someone or to a property AND
2. if it is run at night time.

If he injures himself then there is no one else to blame but the rider for being irresponsible. Besides, there are also a lot of responsible pocket bike drivers why stop them from having fun?

You all complain too much!!! Noise? yeah right. there are new mufflers coming out for these bikes that can easily suppress the noise. If that rule is imposed then that is fine by me.

dangerous? what about roller blades, stunt bikes and skateboards. Can you imagine what kids do to play 20 or 30 years ago?? they get into even more dangerous activities than bikes but most of them are still alive today and even stronger and healthier.

Would you rather have your kids stay inside your house get bored and be stuck with their TVs, playstation, xbox and worse, think about doing drugs or watch porn? Riding is a good exercise and helps people socialize and meet other people.

I am an adult. Why do I like pocket bikes? Simple, it’s the fun of having to drive a miniature replica of the real thing in a smaller scale. What could be more fun than that?!?

Don’t you notice that there are so many laws now that it makes life so much boring and complicated at the same time.

On 23 July 2004 (04:32 PM),
PocketMaster said:

They should make pocket bikes legal. I mean……..how come a person with full blast on their radio at night doesnt get pulled over but a pocket bike that makes half the noise gets pulled over. It’s ridiculous! Everyone should be able to ride it, but only if they have a helmet. That’s very fair.

On 23 July 2004 (05:54 PM),
Dave said:

A) People with their radios on full blast at night should get pulled over.

B) Because one individual breaks the law with no apparent consequences is neither an excuse nor an invitation for multiple people to follow suit.

C) The distinction between skateboards, rollerblades, and stunt bikes versus pocket bikes is 1) that pocket bike riders want equal space on the road with full sized vehicles, an activity that is inherently dangerous to the rider of the bike (pocket bike v. automobile = roadkill), the fact that pocket bike riders generally seem ignorant of this obvious fact leads me to question their rationality generally, 2) there are no rules governing the construction, roadworthiness, lighting, emissions, insurance for or safety requirements for pocket bikes. As such they are inherently unpredictable on the road and therefore dangerous to pedestrians and motorists.

D) The argument that they’re only hurting themselves if they’re irresponsible is logical if you assume that everyone is a rational actor at all times (and therefore incapable of irresponsible actions) and that there is never any other person involved in any given mishap. The only way that holds true is if they’re alone in a gigantic bowl. In the meantime if the pocket bike rider’s irresponsibility means that I mow him over while he’s screwing around on the road where they shouldn’t be I want their insurance to pay for taking their head sized dent out of my bumper and for cleaning their carcass out of my suspension.

On 24 July 2004 (12:35 PM),
civicsport1 said:

I just got one of these pocketbikes sent to me from Cali. its a blast, I bought it to race my 14 year old neighbor. I am 31. I ride a 2003 kawa ninja zx6r and have a valid motorcycle liscense. We wear the proper riding gear and we stay off the main rodes in our area, simply becuase of lack of knowledge of laws surounding thse little bikes. to get to the point. lawmakers should review: 1. their own childhood and notice that they did some crazy stuff when they were “kids” and relax 2. make laws to govern these bikes, I.E. designated areas to ride (bike lanes, parking lots non-state maintained streets or roads with certian speed limits). they should not just arbatrarly sit back and ban them all together and outlaw them. this is America not the old soviet union. how far are laws going to go to protect us from ourselves. I mean we do have free will and are responsible for making descisions for ourselves. If I chose not to be smart and ride down the freeway, I deserve what I get. the person who hits me does not though and thats why I am in favor of rules to govern their use. As for the noise problem. I reciently had the cops called on me for noise, and get this it was 3 pm on a saturday.. not 11 pm on a monday night!! hey I will respect my neighbor and try to avoid buzzing by their house but as a person with a modified civic, I tell you my car makes much more noise out of the intake (not even to mention my exhaust) the my pocketbike does. I am hoping that people will take action and write their law maker to let them know how some of us feel, and urge them to make this a safe “rideable” hobby. thanks for listening to me.
be safe out there
E

On 24 July 2004 (05:37 PM),
dowingba said:

lawmakers should review: 1. their own childhood and notice that they did some crazy stuff when they were “kids” and relax…

Remind me to kill myself when laws start being governed by a bunch of kids’ desire to do “crazy stuff”…

On 24 July 2004 (08:52 PM),
Z. said:

How’s about this compromise, then? Some common sense ideas…

1) Pocket bikes can be legalized in bicycle lanes and in places where normal traffic does not go.

2) Since bicycle lanes are on the side of regular streets, pocket bikes are expected to obey stop signs and signals and give right-of-way to larger vehicles moving in the cross-traffic. Pocket bikes are not allowed to enter main traffic to get into a left turn lane. They must “walk” the bike across the street like a bicycle rider does.

3) Since pocket bikes have no lights, they cannot be driven after dark.

4) Any picket bike rider is required to wear a helmet and may not have any passengers (e.g. baby brother) on the bike.

5) Parents are expected to have adequate medical insurance for their children who ride pocket bikes BECAUSE (and here’s the doozy:)

LEGAL MOTOR VEHICLES WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS WITH POCKET BIKES ON PUBLIC ROADS! (This is in case Johnny on his new bike “forgets” that he’s supposed to be in a bicycle lane, forgets to stay off main roads, and forgets to stop at stop signs, etc.)

I keep hearing these claims that people riding pocket bikes are doing it out of their own free will, and if they get hurt, it’s their fault. Oh come on! Get real! We KNOW it won’t work that way! Mommy and Daddy will try and sue the pants off the car driver who hit poor Johnny. The car driver who didn’t see Johnny ends up with higher insurance rates and a strike against them on their driving record, because some people kept clamoring for bikes that do not meet legal safety requirements to be on the road, or on the side of roads.

So… let’s see pocket bike riders and their parents agree to these provisions and accepting ALL consequences for their actions!

(shakes head) I still don’t see any reason for an adult wanting to ride those things on public roads. There’s street-legal 50cc scooters or 1980’s-era cool little street bikes (Yamaha YSR-50, RX-50) that you can buy. And you’d be ENTITLED to a lane.

In fact, yesterday, I had a pleasant conversation with a guy on a scooter. “50cc or 80cc?” He said he was on a 50cc, and it takes some 55 minutes to visit his Mom, 25 miles away. His scooter maxxed at 42mph, and he said he’d LOVE an 80cc- so he can go 50 mph easily. Then, he was interested in whether my little 125cc was freeway legal, and how fast it would realistically go. Then we traded tips on routes to get from San Francisco to San Mateo without getting on a freeway.

Pocket Bike dudes and dudettes… while you folks are hollering to get your bikes legalized on roads (huge uphill battle), we street-legal bike and scooter owners don’t even have to deal with your problems. We KNOW our bikes are street legal and won’t get hassled by cops unless we’re driving like idiots. I agree that driving little bikes around town CAN be a safe, fun hobby and a great way to socialize with other bike owners. The difference is getting something that can be registered. Even in California, my insurance rates are $75/yr and registration is $75/yr. It don’t break the bank.

On 26 July 2004 (03:28 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Ok people, you are right pocket bikes are a tad unsafe, but they are meant for fun, and if you want to complain about something why not complain about things that are really important? Like 12 year old kids smoking weed, and carrying knives. They do make silencers for the bikes, and I do have one, i live in one of the nicest neighborhoods ive seen, with a bunch of uptight people and they love it. So before you go trying to ban the things, think of otherways to solve your problem, like silencing them, or putting speed limits on them. They are meant for fun and you people are ruining that.

On 26 July 2004 (03:34 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Oh, and another thing, my pocket bikes does have lights, turn signals, brake lights, ext…. So as long as im not on a main road, i dont see the problem. you people are just too uptight for your own good, and should maybe stay inside, cause you cant complain about everything in life that you dont like. Id like to be a millionaire, but thats not happening so deal with what your delt.

On 26 July 2004 (04:29 PM),
Dave said:

Well, I live in a decent neighborhood too. I personally like to go around shooting my 9mm at trees in the neighborhood. I never shoot at people or houses. I also like to shoot straight up in the air, where it’s obviously not going to hurt anyone. I have all the proper safety equipment, goggles, hearing protection, etc. and I have a safety on my gun, so I’m safe. I don’t shoot across busy streets or anything, either, I shoot lengthwise down the street along the side where there aren’t any cars. And when I’m shooting straight up into the air if I’m standing under the bullet when it comes down that’s just my own darn fault and I’m prepared for the consequences of that.

I like to do this because it’s fun. Sure, it’s lots of noise, but it’s no noisier than those people with the booming sub-woofers in the back of their little Dodge Neons and I can get a silencer if I want to, so that’s not a problem. People are constantly complaining about me shooting in the neighborhood, claiming that it’s risky and dangerous. But I always shoot with the right equipment and I’m just trying to have fun. So all you people who are trying to shut down my shooting fun just need to go inside and learn to deal with it. And as soon as my 4 year old neighbor can hold my Beretta .32 Tomcat, I’m going to teach her how to shoot at trees and up in the air too.

On 26 July 2004 (07:16 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Well, now lets see, is there a difference between a person riding a weedeater engine in the street, or a person using a gun shooting it down the street? Hmmmmm… well now thats a hard one. Guns kill millions of people a year, ive never heard of even 10 people dying on a pocket bike. Oh and why your shooting down the street and in the air, remember them bullets come down, and kill people miles away, i doubt people even a block away can hear my bike. So yes i do belive that comparing a gun to a weedeater engine, is a little stupid and moronic. Nice try though idiot.

On 26 July 2004 (07:19 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Oh, and while im thinking about it, I dont think pocket bikes should be legal on the streets, main streets that is. I should be able to ride it on the residental streets, thats why i can, that is legal, and someone way above you thinks so. Thats also why guns are illegal Dave, because someone that has the power to decide though so.

On 26 July 2004 (07:31 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Civicsport1, I agree with you, I have also asked my neighbors and they all say its ok, but if one were to say No, I would simply not ride it by their house. By the way, you should be a public speaker, you group your words very nicely.

On 26 July 2004 (07:49 PM),
Dave said:

Heavy sigh.

I love it when I need to explain the argument. Let’s have you all start by looking up the definition of Reductio ad absurdum.

If, however, you truly believe that your actions occur in a vacuum and that you are the alpha and the omega of all your actions and all of their possible ramifications, then the argument will never make much sense to you, I fear.

On 26 July 2004 (09:16 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Dave,

I understand the argument. Its just that you cant have these things without looking at both sides first. Now if we “pocket bike riders” are willing to work with you on this issue why cant other people work with us answer me that?

On 26 July 2004 (09:21 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Dave, I meant you cant have these things banned without looking at both sides first.

On 27 July 2004 (12:33 PM),
David Taylor said:

Maybe they should stop making SUVs instead of telling people that these wonderful new transportation devices need to stay off the road. They don’t use alot of gas and take much less material to make. Redesigning our methods of moving around is more logical than trying to tell us that what we have is not suitable for adult society. Its more suitable than most vehicles out there. Hydrogen fuel cell pocket bikes for everyone! Say yes to Earth and no to gas gussling tanks (SUVs)!

On 27 July 2004 (01:13 PM),
Johnny said:

Yeah, let’s get rid of the SUV! I’m all for it. The SUV is dead, long live the Buick Roadmaster stationwagon!!

On 27 July 2004 (01:55 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Well Dadvid, not a bad idea. Lets do away with Suv’s. They do use alot of gas and you cant see me too well on my fuel saving bike. So keep bikes and not suvs. What do you have to say about that shooting dave?

On 27 July 2004 (02:47 PM),
Dave said:

Not a bad trade off, I suppose. Big, obnoxious, inefficient belching beasts for small, irritating, noisy beasts. With the added bonus that pocket bikes, being smaller than SUV’s, will offer more sporting challenge to hit. Might even have to break out the trusty ol’ 12-gauge.

Yes, I think I could live with that.

On 27 July 2004 (03:23 PM),
Lynn said:

I think that pocket bikes should be banned if only because of their obvious effect on the grammar and spelling of the rider. Not to mention the fact that they render the rider unable to understand the use of an “analogy” to illustrate a point.

Also, as a licensed insurance agent, I can pretty much guarantee that there is no way that a law could be written to negate the liability of an automobile operator when an accident occurs involving a pocket bike.

Finally, the idea of looking at something from both sides needs to involve a healthy shot of both objectivity and reality, or it just won’t work. Comparing pot-smoking to pocket bike-riding is like comparing apples and oranges. Alas, I may be treading on thin ice with the introduction of yet another analogy.

On 27 July 2004 (03:51 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Oh so Lynn,
You disagree when i compared pocket bikes and weed, but agreed with mike about comparing a 9mm to a pocket bike. Well now that sure is funny. Either way I can tell you now that pocket bikes are and will never be banned totally. Maybe frome busy streets and big cities but never from everywhere. So no matter how much we argue whether or not they should be banned, I have already won. So I think that you should just move on to a more important topic, maybe one that you could have a chance on winning and changing, as far as pocket bikes go, you will never win. Ever.

On 27 July 2004 (03:54 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Oh and as far as my grammar goes, it has nothing to with the argument, I simply mis type or dont realize how to spell it. I think that you know that you have lost this battle, and are stooping as low to make fun of my grammar. Either way it doesnt hurt my feelings, and I will always ride my pocket bike, Legal or Not.

On 27 July 2004 (04:06 PM),
Lynn said:

sarcasm

n : witty language used to convey insults or scorn; “he used sarcasm to upset his opponent”; “irony is wasted on the stupid”; “Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own”–Johathan Swift [syn: irony, satire, caustic remark]
via

On 27 July 2004 (05:47 PM),
chic said:

I think this site is really gay all i think it is for is a bunch of gay people to sit down and complain about this and that. why the hell wont you just get a life.

On 27 July 2004 (08:56 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Chic, good thinking In fact some of us have lives but others are trying to tear down pieces of it because they think that they have to have their way. Oh Lynn if you fuckin talk to me like im stupid again, I will shut down your computer, you got that? Think im kidding, try me. I know how to do alot more than ride a pocket bike.

On 28 July 2004 (08:14 AM),
Jeff said:

Thanks Pocket Rider. I needed a good laugh. Please, shut my computer down – I want to see this.

On 28 July 2004 (11:26 AM),
Hoodlum said:

I saw this show and they were showing pocket rockets and they looked awesome. If you don’t like them shutup and get out of the peoples way that actually have some fun in life.

On 28 July 2004 (01:28 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Now Dave and Lynn, I didnt ask you not to respond. I want to hear your arguments, just dont act like im a complete moron. I would like to hear why these things should get banned. And while were talking, lets try to stay on topic here huh?

On 28 July 2004 (02:41 PM),
Dave said:

I refuse to negotiate with terrorists. It’s part of my subscription agreement with 2600.

On 28 July 2004 (03:41 PM),
Matty said:

IM BUILDING A POCKET ROCKET ANF I NEED SOME HELP ON GETTTING IT TO HALL A$$… if any one has a motor for sale or any tips that can help me on my way i would be greatful.

Thank you Matty

On 28 July 2004 (09:51 PM),
Pocket Rocket said:

Matty, I can give you a couple hints on that. Oh and Dave, im glad i could shut you up. and im not a terrorist, in fact im in the Navy. If you must know. Davey, ill give you my e-mail later. Then you can give my yours, and ill give you some hints. Oh, and for all you pocket rocket haters, Fuck you, and glad to get you off the site. uptight mother fuckers, god leave people alone, and get a life. all you can do is bitch at other people, so fuck off. and have a nice day.

On 28 July 2004 (10:20 PM),
Huss said:

This is too funny. Especially Jeff’s recent entry! I am still laughing Jethro!

I can’t believe this is still going JD. Thanks for the entertainment.

On 29 July 2004 (02:31 AM),
Mario said:

In the past people have complained about surfers,paragliders,snow boarding and just about any thing that has to do wiht having clean fun.I like to remind these people that this country is suposed to be free.Go find a Nazy Germany and move there.You complainers will be happy there.

On 29 July 2004 (02:07 PM),
pj said:

Pocket bikes have a new official name: “Trailer trash bitch bikes”. This moniker is more representative of the demographic that rides them.

On 29 July 2004 (03:08 PM),
Pocket Bike said:

Trailor trash huh? And they represent their rider? Hmmmmmm… Lets see, 10 to 1 says i make alot more than you do. So if im trailor trash, your ass would have to be homeless, job less, and havent eaten for about 2 weeks. You cant make assumptions about pocket bike riders, because some are rich, some are poor, and others are about middle. Your prob. just mad, cause you cant afford one. Its ok, you can ride mine. Lol

On 29 July 2004 (04:46 PM),
Harley said:

If you make so much money why don’t you own a real bike?

On 29 July 2004 (05:11 PM),
Pocket Rocket said:

I do in fact own 2 ninjas, ones a 600 and ones a 900. Nobody ever said that i didnt have a real one. You just assumed.

On 29 July 2004 (08:47 PM),
devon said:

hi this is devon and i was wondering if you can give me a pocket bike for free. pleasssssssssssssssssssssssse.
hope you can
hope you do please

On 30 July 2004 (03:29 AM),
Pocket Rocket said:

For Free???, maybe at discount but not for free, they aren’t cheap. If they were cheaper i would. But not at $500 a pop. and thats a cheap one. How much could you spend? I will work off of that. Oh, and everyone, im not really an asshole, i just get mad, when i am willing to risk my life to protect our freedom, and people want to tear all that down. It just doesn’t make sense to me. If you have a prob. with them just ask the rider to not ride down your street. If he still does, then he/she is and asshole. And i cant really say much else. have a nice day.

On 30 July 2004 (11:23 AM),
Spanky said:

That’s funny that Dave threatens to resort to violence to stop these pocket bike riders. What the heck? Smaller targets? Need to use your old 12 gage? Jeez, if premeditated murder is your idea of solving a dispute, I can see how these pocketbikers don’t care about your side of the issue.

Hey everyone! Let’s suit up with our kevlar vests and do doughnuts in Daves yard. Let’s see if “old Deadeye” can hit one of us! And if he does..we’ll stop riding forever!

On 30 July 2004 (01:28 PM),
Dave said:

A) “Humor”; look it up Spanky.
B) Pocket Rocket- “and im not a terrorist, in fact im in the Navy.” Either you don’t pay much attention to current events or your vocabulary doesn’t include the word “irony” (or else I’ve seriously misunderestimated your rhetorical skills). Either way I appreciate your willingness to do your duty.
C) Pocket Rocket- my IP address is 127.0.0.1. I’m connected to the net 24/7 at that address. Go ahead and try to shut down my computer. I’ll even leave the firewall open and the lights on.

On 30 July 2004 (03:01 PM),
Dave said:

Im sorry pocket rocket, i love pocket bikes. In fact i am a complete moron, and Spanky i will let you ride in peace, because you know i could close my windows and doors, and leave everyone in peace, and hey they really aren’t that loud, and they are gone in a couple seconds. So i am sorry pocket rocket and spanky.

On 30 July 2004 (03:21 PM),
Pocket Rocket said:

i have resorted to impersonation as a means of arguing. i have no clue how to shut down someone else’s computer, so i will just pretend to be Dave (except i won’t change my punctuation or spelling to resemble his posts).

On 30 July 2004 (03:24 PM),
Pocket Rocket said:

Dang. i just made myself look stupid. i will now attempt to shut down my own computer.

On 30 July 2004 (05:04 PM),
FUCK YOU said:

Fuck you, where do you live. Tell me, ill come

On 31 July 2004 (07:40 AM),
Pocket Bikes r kool! said:

I DISAGREE WITH THIS CRAP MAKE THEM STREET LEGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On 31 July 2004 (07:46 AM),
Pocket Rocket said:

I doub it prob some 7 year old “where do u live ill come.” that is real gay i live in Oknawa Japan… oh ill come…. blah blah…ur gay.

On 31 July 2004 (07:57 AM),
Dave said:

Actually Japan thats great, cause im getting stationed there October 19th, of this year. So I will be there. That is if you do live there. Which i dont think you do, otherwise you have no room to complain about the bikes at all and need to get off of this site.

On 31 July 2004 (05:37 PM),
Margie said:

Ok in response to comparing the pocket bikes to Harleys….NO COMPARISON!! I live in between two of them and I do not live in the hood. Do I want to move? YES. Can I? No…not yet..but for now I see the Harleys leave in the morning on Saturday and come back at night. My husband hates them more out out of fakeness than noise and I see them as a means of going on a pleasure ride for some Old Fogies…on the other hand…what kind of parents are buying these little pit bull menacing pocket bikes? Who are you? The kids in our neighborhood are all from different races, around 8-19 years old, and all middle class. There is one major thread…their parents must be happy to be rid of these boys while the rest of the neighborhood gives them dirty looks. Not me..I step out into the street, tell them they are not street legal, in my teacher voice ask if they need me to talk to their parents, and lie about a sleeping baby. 100% of them apologize and walk the bikes home. how sweet.no egg on my door..yet.

On 31 July 2004 (06:16 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Actuall Margie, they are street legal if you must know. On residental streets, just not on main roads and sidewalks, so really you are not allowed to yell at them. The road is not yours, and therefore you can do nothing about it. Have a nice day and tell them boys i said hi, ok.

On 31 July 2004 (11:36 PM),
Mario said:

I have 2 pocket bikes and I was riding one of them at an empty parking lot.A policeman came and basically told me that they were illegal to ride any where except in private property.Meaning inside your home.I could not believe that.I have been doing some investigating but no one seems to know where it is o.k. to ride these bikes.Does some one here know what the real law is?I would like to know.

On 01 August 2004 (12:47 AM),
Pocket Rider said:

Mario,
Actually it matters on your city/town, and if you have blinkers, lights, horn…exc. So its hard to say. But it is legal to ride them in most cities and towns on residental rodes, if you have the blinkers, horn, exc. I would just ride your bike. If you get pulled over again ask him to contact his seperior and talk to him, if hes says its illegal, tell him you want to see proof, cause 10 to 1 hes lying.
Thats why is such an argument, because there are no laws banning these thing. So if you would like more information on this, contact me at Ghidion101@yahoo.com.
P.S. Dave, please do not leave me bad messages, I am not “Pocket Rocket”, Different people, Thank You.

On 01 August 2004 (10:41 AM),
Margie said:

Pocket rider..you have a black leather couch don’t you? In fact I bet you are a fire fighter or perhaps a contractor..maybe even a partner in a nightclub. I bet you are divorced or perhaps single…I do not want to stereotype you. You are obviously smart and have the ability to charm, but com’on, since when do gentlemen put their own childish hobbies over the burden and inconvenience of others..I say this as a stranger, but I feel like I know you because I have seen many men just like you in my business and neighborhood. PS I don’t yell at any of the kids in our neighborhood..they are kids not grown men…I just inform them of how noisy they are going around in circles for hours.Try thinking about your neighbors and how they feel. I don’t care if my neighbors have Harleys,SUVs, painted dragons on their fences or pink roofs. Noise is much more obtrusive.

On 01 August 2004 (11:56 AM),
Z. said:

Read this article.

Face it… any city, at any time CAN make pocket bikes illegal. All they have to do is pull a DMV on you, categorize them as “motor-driven cycles” and then POOF! your bikes are illegal to ride on the streets and subject to confiscation.

I think you guys are in the same boat as dirt bike/trail riders. You had bought a vehicle that is, at best, an off-road recreational vehicle. Dirt bike riders have accepted that. Soon, pocket bike riders have to accept that, too.

If you spent a grand or two on the pocket bike and DEMAND to drive them on streets (even residential ones), you’re in for a losing battle. A little common sense would say to check your local laws before you buy it for the purpose of joyriding on the streets, or getting a quart of milk, If it’s not specifically LEGAL, then you should logically guess that it could become ILLEGAL.

I don’t have an issue with the sound of the bikes. I have a car too, and I don’t want the responsibility of injuring or killing some doofus who insisted on riding a little bike that is WAY below my sight line. A pocket bike that is obviously unsafe. Think about it… even people who drive little cars can’t see a pocket biike rider on the side of the road… your head is below the level of their passenger door. They look out the passenger side window to change lanes or make right turns, and they CANNOT SEE YOU. If you’re on a pocket bike, you’re roadkill.

That’s the issue, IMHO. If you want miniature bikes that you can race AND drive around in town, campaign to bring back the Yamaha YSR-50s!

http://www.teamcalamari.com/

On 01 August 2004 (04:09 PM),
Claire said:

After 3 months of telling my 14 yr old son that he couldn’t get a pocket bike, he bought it anyway. I called the parent that sold him the bike and told him that they are illegal to ride under age 16. He said “it was my problem, not his”!! He has the money–I have the headache now!!
I called the local police station and they agreed that he needs to be 16 to ride it. However, they look the other way when they see one.
I’m a parent, I’m the responsible party and I don’t want my kid getting killed!! I guess I’ll be the one getting killed when I throw it in the trash.
TAKE THEM OFF THE MARKET AND ANYONE THAT NEEDS TO GET AROUND, BUY A REAL MOTORCYLCE. WHAT IS THE POINT OF BEING 12 INCHES OFF THE GROUND?

On 01 August 2004 (06:40 PM),
Z. said:

Claire, I sympathize.

It seems to me that you need to emphasize your parental RIGHTS over your minor son. Just because he has the money, it doesn’t mean he can just buy a pocket bike and illegally drive it on the streets while you wring your hands with disapproval. You, as the parent, are responsible for the safety of your kid AND the financial liability of any damage he does.

Your 14 year old is not entitled to drive your car either. He might WANT to, but the law says he can’t and being the parent means you have to say, “NO, you can’t, son” and mean it.

So, you need to have a talk with your son. The options are a) sell it, b) we’ll lock it up til you’re 16. He’s a minor kid. You are not depriving him of any legal right. You are in charge of your house, and whatever toys your kid(s) can have. Put your foot down.

BTW- I was 19 when I bought my first moped. I needed a driver’s license for it, and I fully understood my responsibilities and liabilities as a vehicle driver. Problem is that with these pocket bikes, people seem to feel ENTITLED to a piece of the road. Driving is a privilege, not a right.

If people made a stupid decision when shopping, and ended up buying a non-street legal vehicle, yet they’re demanding a piece of the road now that their toys are being banned as safety hazards, I can’t say I’m too sympathetic.

On 02 August 2004 (11:14 AM),
Chris said:

Can someone tell me flat out if pocket bikes are legal or not in California? I’m thinking of getting but i dont want to spend a bunch of money and then have some cop say I can’t ride it.

On 02 August 2004 (06:28 PM),
J said:

I am 25 and I bought a pocket bike and THEY ARE FUN….
All of you guys have become the old fuddy duddy’s that used to stop YOU from having fun when you were younger.
LOUD???
ITS A LAWNMOWER/ROTOTILLER ENGINE!!!!!!!!!
WITH A MUFFLER at that!!!
Next time you old farts fire up that lawnmower for the twenty mintues that it takes you to mow your lawn, you’ll be making TWICE as much noise as a muffled pocket bike. Except you wont be dispersing the noise around, you’ll just be engulfing your poor neighbor with the same noise that you are on this site wimpering about.

The gas powered scooters aren’t for kids, nor can a kid go and fork over the $400 to buy one. So quit trying to outlaw something that’s perfectly fun and safe for us 18-69 year olds that aren’t too busy waving canes at passerby’s telling them to “slow down!”, or “too loud!”.
We prefer to LIVE our lives and have fun doing and experiencing things.

ANYONE 16 OR OLDER CAN GO AND BUY A 1000cc MOTORCYCLE AND GO 150mph+ AND KILL THEMSELVES BUT WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT POCKET BIKES

On 02 August 2004 (09:14 PM),
Z. said:

Chris,

Here’s what the California Highway Patrol has to say:
http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/pocketbikes.html

These are guidelines, and it’s up to the local cities to enforce the law (or not enforce the law) as they see fit. If you happen to live in a city that’s not San Francisco, or South San Francisco, or Fremont, you MIGHT be able to drive a pocket bike on a street, HOPING that the cops don’t pull you over (a pocket bike does not have an explicit right to the road).

But if you do get pulled over, or if the city decides to ban the bikes outright, then a pocket bike owner is S.o.L. with a heap of metal that is unusable unless they want to a) ride the bike in the garage or one’s own backyard (bwa hah hah hah) b) load it in a truck and drive it to a racetrack to have fun c) ride it around any way and anytime you like on one’s own massive farmland.

I live in a city, so for myself, I’d rather be a smart shopper and buy something that’s street-legal to begin with. That way, I’ll never be in doubt and never worry about finding out that overnight, my toy might become illegal.

I LOVE little motorcycles. I like the way they feel, the way they sound, and the way that they help my back and they’re FUN. I’ve driven them for 23 years. I can’t fit on a full-sized bike, so I buy small bikes. But, I make sure they’re street-legal first. I can cruise through the park. I can drive at night. I can have a full lane on anything that’s not a freeway.

In a way, I have something in common with pocketbike riders: My bike is limited legally about where it can go. I can’t drive on a freeway. I know that. I accept that. I knew that when I bought it. I’m not a doofus who’s screaming to get my 125cc bike “legalized” on a freeway, although it can technically go over 60mph. So, if I can accept the limitations of my bike, knowing what it could and couldn’t do, I honestly think pocket bike riders need a similar dose of reality.

What they bought was an off-road, recreational vehicle, just like a dirt bike/trail bike. If they wanted to ride on the street, the first question should have been to the dealer, DMV and the local police, “Can I drive this on the street?”.

All that hollerin’ about “legalize them!” is futile. The banning is just gonna get worse.

On 03 August 2004 (03:12 AM),
Pocket Rider said:

For everyone that is wondering if they are legal or not in California, the answer is no, they are not legal. That is in California, most other places they are. Whoever said that i was very smart, I thank you, because I am. Now, they cant just make them illegal, simply because, then they would have to make motorized scooters, and the little motorized bikes, not pocket bikes, illegal. That as well as they would have to enforce no riding bikes on the side walk, not pocket bikes, i mean regular bikes, and yes that is illegal. Now do u see the problem. That and you only have to tag and insure your car or bike if it is over 50cc, and since they only make pocket bikes up to 49cc, they cant make you do that. That is another problem. For the concerned mother with the 14 year old. Tell him you do have to have a valid drivers license to ride a pocket bike. But do not be too concerned with his safty, the bikes themselves are not that dangerous, it is the drivers that I am concerned with. For anyone that is wondering, yes, I do own a pocket bike, they are a great deal of fun. I do also have a real bike. I didnt buy the pocket bike for transportation, i bought it stricly for fun. If anyone else has anymore questions, please do not be afraid to ask. I thank everybody for their oponion on this, if you would like to contact me, my email is: Ghidion101@yahoo.com
Thank You once again, and have a nice day everyone!

On 03 August 2004 (06:19 PM),
Chris said:

So they are not legal in California. That is strange because my friend who owns a gas scooter can pass by a cop, wave at him and get away with it. It does’t make sense. They have the same rules right? Oh, and do you think I could get away with riding in a private neighborhood? My friend lives in one.

On 03 August 2004 (07:53 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

The rules and laws are different for everything. Its just that people complain about the pocket bikes, and they dont about the gas scooters. About the private neighborhood, the answer is yes you can. The only thing I would do is ask some of the local residents there and make sure that it isnt going to irritate them. Other than that, all I can say is, saddle up and have fun!

On 03 August 2004 (09:05 PM),
Z. said:

Hey Pocket Rider, I think you’re a cool dude. We don’t agree on some issues about pocket bikes, but I noticed that you can hold your own in an adult- level discussion, and as long as people treat you with respect in posting, and you have good information and well thought-out replies. I respect that.

I can only go with what my state (California) has to say about the bikes. The DMV has made them flatly illegal (on streets) here, and my city has decided to step up enforcement on this. I personally agree with the banning of pocket bikes from city streets. We’re a densely populated city, and there is no way that a pocket bike can be safe for the rider, or for the drivers of other vehicles on the roads like cars, SUVS, trucks.

The liability issue disturbs me the most. Even a pedestrian and a regular bicycle can be seen by most vehicles because the head level of the ped/bicycle rider is high enough to see. A pocket bike rider is not high enough to see. It’s unfair for a car driver to be held responsible for an accident with a pocket bike, because those bikes were never properly designed for street use to begin with.

They need to be seriously redesigned. If, somehow, there can be a law that legalizes the bikes, makes them have enough safety equipment (lights, horns), makes them have a high enough seat height to make them visible to car drivers, and requires that they have enough power to properly take a lane (e.g. 25mph), and requires a driver’s license (any, not requiring an M1), and requires riders to follow all traffic laws, then I’d support pocket bikes on the streets all the way.

I think the whole VIN requirement sucks. DMV in California says that any bike MUST have a VIN to be registered. There’s the coolest little bikes for sale on the ‘Net that are 50-100cc, and have all the bells and whistles (lights, mirrors, horn) on a mini-Harley chopper frame. The seat height is 22″. But those baby Harley-like choppers do not have VINs, and therefore cannot be made street legal, even though they seem to have all the right stuff to be street-legal. If I was in the market for a little bike now, and if I could drive one of those babies on the street, I’d be interested in one.

My beef is with stupidity and irresponsibility when people ride pocket bikes around with no respect for the neighborhood, and no respect for others using the roads. Or kids playing “big shot” with their bikes.

But if the bike is large enough, and requires licensed adult drivers on them, respecting road rules, then I’m willing to support a compromise.

On 03 August 2004 (09:16 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Hey Z, actually we agree on more issuses than you think. I to agree that pocket bikes should be illegal on city streets, and heavy populated cities and or towns. I do however think that in smaller towns the bikes should be able to be rode on residental streets. They should however change the age from 16 to 18 because i remember when i was 16 and giving me something like that, well lets just say that I wouldnt be talking to you guys right now! Z your really cool and actually took the time to know what you are argueing about, thats more than I can say for most people, so thanks for trying to see both sides of the issue, see ya later!

On 03 August 2004 (09:20 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Oh Z, I really agree with you on the lights horn signals and everything, that is why before I bought mine, I made sure to have those things included with the bike. For anyone that is thinking about getting a pocket bike. If they are legal in your town, let me tell you that it is the lights, turn signals, brake lights, horn, exc… that makes them legal. Without those options than it is not legal, and cannot be rode. Once again thank you for taking the time to read my comments, and for posting replys, have fun!

On 05 August 2004 (01:44 PM),
jj said:

if you make the mini bikes on sell like 100.99 you might get more dells

On 06 August 2004 (07:46 AM),
dalton c said:

EXCUSE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! i have a pocket bike plus i dont go on busy streets or highways so it isnt a problem you know everyone is intitled to an opinion but guess what????????????? YOUR’S SUCKS!

On 06 August 2004 (09:18 AM),
Pocket Rider said:

Dalton C,
Im sorry we are trying to keep this site civil, and grown up. As a fellow owner of a pocket bike, I am asking you to be nice to everyone and if your going to type something make sure it sounds somewhat intelligent. Because if you go just putting random things on the forum, than Im willing to bet that the people that want to bann these things will just laugh at you, In fact I gaurantee it. Do you want to know how I know that, well i’ll tell you.
(1). Because I am laughing at you
(2). Because in your entire statement, you said nothing.
(3). Because you said, “Everyone is intitled to an opinion,” yet you didnt leave one.
(4). Because you said “YOUR’S SUCKS!” and didnt refer to anything at all.
So there are just a couple of reason that I know. Now please stop leaving random things on here, and if you have something to say, then say it, but make sure its worth saying. Once again Thank You everybody and have a nice day!

On 07 August 2004 (12:00 PM),
pocket supporter said:

you people are so fuckin funny why are you arguing pocket rockets are the shit and mybe you people need to get one and if somone wants to kick my ass i live in pa.

On 07 August 2004 (08:36 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Pocket Supporter,nobody has said anything bad about the bikes in like a month. They didnt feel like arguing with me. So now this forum is like a help line for people with pocket bikes, just to let you know. So nobody is going to read you comment except fellow pocket bike owners, or people wanting one. Well now you know what this forum is used for, and if you want to use it for that reason, then feel free. Otherwise please dont make comments like that. Thank You as always, and have a nice day!

On 07 August 2004 (09:01 PM),
Chad Sheridan said:

hey….iam only 14 and i love these pocket rockets…i think its up to your parents to let you buy them…..i just got an electric one and iam gitting a gas one soon…i think they shouldn’t have be licenced becasue they are under 50cc and i herd from people they have to be over that to be able to licence tho…i might be wrong…but all that i no is most people wouldnt do it anyways…and they are fun lil machines…i think they are no harm

On 08 August 2004 (11:07 AM),
Z. said:

Chad, I’m going to have to disagree with you. An “under 50cc” engine is NOT harmless and innocuous as you suggest. A 50cc engine (well, 49.5cc) when geared correctly on a manual shift can go 52mph on the red line. How do I know? I owned a Yamaha RX-50 from 1983-1996 (thirteeen years) and it was a manual shift. I was curious, so I took it on the Great Highway and pushed it to 5th gear, red line. It went 52mph (it was a street legal bike).

Therefore, any pocket bike, if designed in a similar way, can push a 49.5CC engine to a similar speed. It’s a motor vehicle. Not something to give to unlicensed drivers, Chad.

And even something going 25-30mph can also do some damage to other people’s property. I’m not wanting to take your fun away… I think that if there’s a special track for those bikes, or if you have a large property, or if you have someone’s permission to drive it on their property, then it’s cool, and you can have fun as much as you like.

But, when you mentioned “shouldn’t have to be licensed”, I think you’re implying “ride them on the street” and I have to say “NO!” on that.

Don’t let “under 50cc” fool ya, dude. “Under 50cc” can mean some real POWER in a bike. To ride on the street on somthing with a 49.5cc motor, to me, means “DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIRED”. And I had other safety concerns too… detailed in a previous post. They’re not designed correctly for on road use and they don’t belong on city streets, on sidewalks, or in city parks, especially with unlicensed teen drivers.

On 08 August 2004 (12:32 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

I am going to have to agree with Z. Simply because I own a 49cc pocket bike, and you should have to have a lincence to drive it. I say that because I have mine glittered with aftermarket parts and my carb tuned to go fast. The speedominator on mine taps and thats when I am going about 1/2 the speed that I can reach. I just had a friend that had the same bike as me, crash his and he broke his arm, wrist, and ankle, not to mention the bruises and cuts. So they could actually hurt you, and he was lucky to come out with that. I am glad he wrecked because he drove unsafe, maybe now he has learned to drive a little safer. So chad do you see the moral to my story? I am glad you have an electric one, practice on that for a while, until you are old enough to have a lisence. Then get a gas powered one, because like Z I have also owned bikes in the past, and still own a ninja 900. Ill tell you one thing, theses pocketbikes for the size, go faster, handle better, and are MORE dangerous than the real ones, if you would like my oponion on the subject scroll up and read it. Like always thanks for keeping this forum clean and adult like. Please dont make me have to make anyone else look stupid (dalton c), and have a nice day!

On 08 August 2004 (12:48 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Margie, I just read what you wrote, and thank you. I try not to ride where neighbors do not like it. For anyone that has one that happens to read this, do me a favor. Take 20 min out of your day and walk around your neighborhood and ask your neighbors how they feel about it. If they dont like it, avoid their street. This will help with the police as well. Cause hey, if you didnt make people upset, im sure the police wouldn’t care about them. That is unless they are illigal where you live. Thank you, and have a nice day!

On 10 August 2004 (05:06 PM),
johnny m said:

I have a pocket bike. wut is all the fuss, if people will complain about noisy little bikes they why wont we just complain about huge suv’s with v12 and v8 engins that make a lot of noise.
so if u r going to make pocketbikes illigal then go ahead make garding tools illegal while ur at it.

And come on! kids and adults need to have a little more fun its not like u can follow all the laws and also when was the last time u did something fun with ur kid.

yes they r dangurous bout if u r being supervised and stay in a designated area and it is safer than idiots shooting guns all over the place.

and those 50cc engines r only 3 cc smaller what a big deal.

On 10 August 2004 (06:46 PM),
erik said:

so umm well not too long ago i have bought an i think a ninja x-1 so can somebody tell me if this bike is illegal. becuase damn i bought it and i haven’t rode it except once in a private area. im hella scared about riding them in the streets becuase i heard some people’s pocket bikes are confiscated by cops when they get caught riding one on the street. my bike has everything as far as headlights, horn, signal lights, break lights. so can somebody tell me if this is illegal in the sidewalk. and plus i dont understand those people who rides mopeds. i mean damn how come cops dont pull them over it runs with a motor. well i dont know probably becuase they are more likely to be seen by people becuase they are standing up. so yeah can somebody explain to me if the one i have is street legal and can be used in the bicycle lane or sidewalk???

On 10 August 2004 (07:31 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Once again people this is no longer a forum for complaining, it has changed to a pocket help forum. Thanks to me. So please dont mess up my hard work and complain when nobody has said anything bad about them for about a month. For you Erik. It depends on where you live, they ARE illigal on sidewalks, bike lanes, main roads, highways, exc… Most places they are legal on residental roads and private neighborhoods. Just ask you local police. They would most likely give you a warning before they took your bike. And next time check with the local laws before buying something that my break those laws. As always thank you for your comments and questions. Have a nice day!

On 10 August 2004 (09:20 PM),
Z. said:

Oh, here we go with guns again. How the heck do guns and pocket bikes even compare? (as in, “it’s better to have a pocket bike than shoot guns all over the place”). What a non-sequitur! I suppose we might as well say “it’s better to steal a X-box game from a store than to knock some old lady over the head, steal her money and then go out and buy drugs”.

Comparison of pocket bikes and gardening tools don’t wash either, as I’m probably not going to hit a hedge-trimmer with my car on the street.

As Pocket Rider said, it’s been a while since there have been complaints about pocket bikes. Instead, Pocket Rider and I have been having a good discussion about our mutual concerns about the bikes, and discussing the circumstances on where and how certain ones should become street legal. We’re also trying to HELP people so they don’t end up buying the wrong thing for the wrong purpose.

We are also trying to give some advice to people who want to know some stuff. I think this is a good forum for people to ask questions and LEARN. Let’s try and keep it that way.

On 10 August 2004 (09:52 PM),
Z. said:

Erik, there’s a very good reason why mopeds don’t get ticketed and pulled over. They’re legal motor vehicles. That license plate on them entitles them to a full lane and a piece of the road.

Mopeds meet federal and state safety standards, have all of the necessary equipment to make them street legal (headlight, brake light, turn signals, horn, height), and they also have VIN numbers, which the DMV will register.

A moped isn’t a lark… you have to have an M2 driver’s license, insurance, and it has to be registered every year. Mopeds can even get tickets for being parked on sidewalks sometimes! A meter maid who has a quota might want to lay down the “letter of the law” and enforce “no motor vehicles on the sidewalk”.

The only things that pocket bikes and mopeds have in common is a motor and 2 wheels. I am sorry that you are afraid of riding your pocket bike on the street, being afraid of a ticket and confiscation. I think you had made a mistake in buying the wrong type of bike for the wrong purpose. If you had found this forum earlier, we would have advised you to check with your local police and DMV first. And if you really wanted to drive on the street, I would have advised you to skip the pocket bike and go for a moped, or a scooter, or a true motorcycle, so you won’t be in doubt.

On 11 August 2004 (10:51 PM),
erik said:

well alright this is whats going on. i talked to the california highway patrol, dmv, and the motorcycle safety department and they all told me that to ride a pocket bike, you need to have at least an m2 license or m2 permit, a helmet, and the pocket bike to be registered through dmv. however the sorry part is, that the motorcycle safety department said that dmv are only allowed to register pocket bikes that are 50cc and higher. the gay part is that i have a 49cc ninja x-1. damn! so yeah in order for it to be registered, i needed a title for the pocket bike, proof of insurance, and all those necessary information that needs in able to get the bike registered. other than that, the california highway patrol said it IS street legal but only with at least an m2 permit, helmet, and registered vehicle. so basically, they treat the pocket bikes just like real motorcycles and that mopeds are treated in a different definition. i asked the CHP officer and he went off about the difference in restrictions of the two. i dont remember what he said but i just know it was pretty gay. so yeah..thats that, and now im looking forward into having it sold. thanks for the advise and info though Pocket Rider and Z. im outie

On 12 August 2004 (01:14 AM),
Pocket Rider said:

Well, first of all, sorry but pocket bikes are illigal in California. That is why they have those laws, you have to tag it and insure it, but you cant do that unless it is above 50cc. They screw you. Sorry bout your luck, but that is how they decided to go about banning them. Just like, you can sell weed legally if you have a license to do it, but if you try to buy one you get arressted, its just something they are allowed to do, so they do it. Wish you could of had a chance to really ride it, cause they are alot of fun if they cops are cool with them. Once again Im sorry and eveyone have a nice day!

On 12 August 2004 (10:35 AM),
kool-azz rider said:

pocket bikez ar teh bomb
by kool-azz rider

don’t be hatin’ on my pocket bike
so what if I’m sittin’ lower than a baby on a trike
i like ridin’ em cuz they are fun
if you don’t like it, tell it to my gun

i rode it on the sidewalk teh other day
i yelled at some old dude “get outta teh way”
he looked at me like i did something wrong
but I know my rights – so he’d better move along

i gotta be cool an pocket bikes are teh shit
so move your suv cuz I don’t wanna get hit
if you try to run me over im tellin my mama
an’ she yells louder than my 15 inch brahma

all you haters are just really ghey
if you don’t like the noiz then go away
all my friends havem an we don’t care
so try an stop me if you dare

teh end

On 12 August 2004 (12:03 PM),
pj said:

I dont understand what everyones fuss is about. I ride dirtbikes, crotch rockets, and i also have a 50cc 2 stroke pocketbike.If i want to go out and ride it in the street im not risking anyone elses life, im only goin to injure myself. If i get hit by an automobile the driver is not going to get injured. It all depends on what kind of thrill you like. And unless you have rode one, than you cant talk about how wrong they are.

On 12 August 2004 (01:36 PM),
Pocket Pool Player said:

Not exactly correct pj. I’ve not taken to buggering 12 year old boys, but I can still talk about how wrong it is. And as for the assertion that the driver of the automobile isn’t going to be hurt, I can tell you that although I disagree with riding a pocket bike on the street, I’d still feel very badly and be emotionally scarred if I ran over you while you weren’t hurting anyone but yourself.

On 12 August 2004 (04:20 PM),
jackie said:

Does anyone know of any tracks in southern california that allow the pocket bikes. My boyfriend and I bought 2 so we could have fun with them but that was before we got 2 tickets from the cops and learned that they were illegal. Thankfully we only got tickets and they didn’t take them from us. We are still looking for a legal place to ride them without risking them. It really sucks that the pocket bikes are illegal and go-peds are not. go-peds can go just as fast if modified and they are also noisy and not registered. CHP said they only need to have a helmet and follow the road rules in under 25 MPH areas. It’s rediculous to say one is okay and not the other. the only difference is the shape of the vehicle. It looks like a little motorcycle and therefore police don’t want to catergorize it as a scooter otherwise they would have to have the same laws. Well a power wheels is a motorized little car but there’s no problem with that cuz it goes slower! Well then where’s the law that tells me how fast something has to go to before it isn’t a toy anymore & is considered illegal?

On 12 August 2004 (04:38 PM),
jackie said:

One more thing to add….For those of you complaining it’s obvious you don’t own pocket bikes cuz if you did you wouldn’t be complaining! They are awesome and safe, it’s the bad california drivers that I have to worry about. At least you can hear them coming like a mile away just so that they are a little safer to ride. For drivers who are worried about hitting them, I’m sure you would feel bad if you hit any kid on any type of transportaion (bike, scooter, skateboard, etc.) Those don’t even make any noise so you’ll never know they’re there and if you’re not paying attention you could hit anyone, that’s why I agree that you should have a driver’s license cuz licensed drivers know to watch out for cars!!! And for those of you complaing about the noise don’t seem to get it! If you let riders ride them on the streets in the bike lanes with helmets they wouldn’t run them up and down your neighborhood, they would only be loud for a second as we pass you by on the street just like a Harley Davidson does now!

On 12 August 2004 (04:44 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Ok, ONCE AND FOR ALL, this is not a place to leave dumb ass remarks or comments about pocket bikes, and yes that includes songs of any sort.
That was lame, and by the way they are illigal on sidewalks. Oh thats right, you know your rights, oops forgot. I hope anyone you yell at, Kicks the living shit out of you, then trashes your bike. Peopl like you are the reason they get banned, and people like me are the reason they are still even around. So if I were you, and if you still wanted to ride your bike, and do whatever you wanted on it. Stop acting 11 and let the grown ups handle this one.

On 12 August 2004 (07:18 PM),
kool-azz rider said:

Geez, why’d ya have to be so mean? I was just playin’ man. Please don’t ban me from this here Pocket Bike Forum.

Pocket Rider-

Just because some of us have not posted any comments lately does not mean we don’t read what’s going on.

The fact that your recent comments have been civil and educational is admirable. JD hasn’t turned off comments or banned any IP’s, so he must not be too upset that you have turned this weblog entry into a Pocket Bike Forum.

But, that doesn’t change the fact that most of these Pocket Bikes are operated illegally and in a matter that is a nuisance to other citizens. My little bit of lame poetry was simply a parady of what I (and many others) see as the typical Pocket Bike Rider (based on many of the posts here).

Don’t get too cocky and start trying to dictate who can and can’t post here. If I want to post more lame poetry, I will; and if I want resume the complaining about pocket bikes, I will.

You may have turned this entry into a forum for pocket bikes, but that doesn’t change the fact that foldedspace is a weblog that is all about freedom of speech.

On 12 August 2004 (07:25 PM),
Z. said:

I’m with you, Pocket Rider. All of a sudden, what’s all this “people who dis pocket bikes are gay” crap that we’re seeing? How to these people think that “gay” and “hating pocket bikes” have to anything do with each other anyways?

You’re right… people w/ pocket bikes and a jr. high school mentality are part of the problem. Flipping off people and turning up a snotty ‘tude isn’t gonna make the bikes LEGAL. It’ll just piss off more VOTING-AGE adults and get them to push the police for more banning, more enforcement, more citations and bike confiscations.

Instead, if more pocket bike riders were more like you… like talking some sense and reason, and acting like responsible people, then I’m sure that more people would be willing to work things out. Act reasonable, and amazingly, a lot of other people (even if they don’t agree with you) will act reasonable in return.

Originally, I took a look at this forum to see what the controversy was about. I saw some good arguments and stupid-ass ones, both pro and con. I think it’s stupid as hell for a pb-hater to imply that picking off bike rider with a gun would be a fun thing to do. Pb-riders don’t deserve to be shot at for sport.

It’s just as stupid for a juvenile pb-rider to claim “rights” and imply that they have a gun to enforce their supposed “right” to ride it. Pb-riders stamping their lil’ feet, acting like brats and throwing a tantrum doesn’t get any respect either. It just makes grown-ups associate pocket bikes with jerks and snotty kids, which isn’t fair to respectable adult pb-riders.

Road rights aren’t free… they come with a hefty responsibility. Seems that some people missed the point.

On 12 August 2004 (07:36 PM),
Z. said:

Just a thought…

With Erik and Jackie’s situations, shouldn’t pocketbike dealers be REQUIRED to do all the research upfront about local laws, and hand out that information to buyers and prospective buyers? It must really suck for people to hand over cash for a pocketbike, thinking that they can “have fun” and getting the (wrong) impression that they can go to the store or a friend’s house on their bike but end up getting ticketed by cops. It must ALSO really suck to find their several-hundred dollar toy hauled off by a tow truck.

Unless the pocket bike dealers are jackass money-grubberss (hey, we just SELL you the bike. After that, your problem), shouldn’t they be doing a real service for their customers?

As I said, people seem to get caught up with “wrong bike/wrong purpose”. A simple thing, making up a flyer and putting it in the shop, could have saved a lot of people the grief. It s seems that people just don’t KNOW what they can and can’t do with the bikes and sometimes, parents get lulled into “Oh, that looks so cute, I’ll buy one for Junior” without knowing the local laws, so it’s hard to expect Junior with his birthday money to know more than those parents.

On 12 August 2004 (07:59 PM),
Z. said:

Jackie,

I didn’t even know “Power Wheels” were until I looked them up! You mean the little Fisher-Price car for toddlers?

No child is going to take a Power Wheel on the street. They’d be doing circles in the back yard, or in the garage, or in Mommy and Daddy’s driveway, (under supervision) but that’s about all. Some pocket bikes are seriously underpowered (the ads boast: GOES up to 14 mph!!!) and obviously, those don’t belong on the street, just like Power Wheels will never be on the street.

Other pocket bikes can go much, much faster, but that’s the rub… they’re neither/nor. They’re not toys and they’re not truly legal motor vehicles. If they’re underpowered, they can’t go fast enough to avoid a dangerous traffic situation. If they’re powerful 49cc bikes, then they have too much power to hand out to unlicensed drivers. Most of them don’t have enough safety equipment and they’re too small for, say a bus to see. So, a pb is either too little or too much, depending on the type.

And the amount of noise is not a safety feature. people might have their car windows up and have their radios on loud. They won’t hear the buzz of a pb, so don’t depend on just the noise to alert people that a pb is on the road.

Jackie, I’d suggest that you do what Erik is gonna do… if you seriously wanted to ride on the street, sell the pb and get something else that has a license plate. Then you will have real road rights, and no one can hassle you over your new bike. That way, instead of wishing that things (laws about pb’s) were different, you can just go out and RIDE!

On 12 August 2004 (11:36 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Kool Rider, Ill tell ya what. Post anything that you wish to post, but I can promise you if it is something that I dont belive to have a meaning and makes sense, I will make you look stupid. I dont like to do that but I have done it to several people on here, and they no longer post. So it is up to you what you type you have that right, but it is up to me to choose to either like it, agree, disagree, or hate it completly and make you wish you never posted it. If you dont think that I am (a) smart enough (b) have the balls to or (c) will think twice about showing your stupidity, im sorry but you are sadly mistaken. You can try me if you wish.

On 12 August 2004 (11:40 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

For everyone else, if they are not legal where you live then there is no advise that I can give you but to agree with Z and sell it. They do make ones that are over 50cc and can be taged, insured, yada yada yada, but I would check with the DMV and local laws before I bought one. If anyone else has any problems with their bike than let me know, Im sure I can help you out, and if I dont know, Ill find out for you. People im not mean, an ass, or anything of the sort. I just worked too hard for too long to get this forum where it is, and I will not sacrafice someones comments and fuck it all up. Im really a nice guy, if you come to me with real questions and concerns. As always Have a nice day!

On 13 August 2004 (12:03 AM),
Pocket Rider said:

Come to my new forum where we will start new again, the address is: http://www.voy.com/183299/

On 13 August 2004 (07:17 AM),
kool-azz rider said:

Welcome to my sever about Pocket Bikes, sorry all messages have to be approved by me before they are posted. Hope this forum will be of some help to some people.

Ummm… you may want to work on not making yourself look stupid before you try to make me look stupid.

Hint: If you want to get more hits on search engines, you may want to change your phrasing a little – something like “Welcome to my Pocket Bike Forum”.

Good luck with your forum – I really hope things go well for you. If you can educate a bunch of teenagers who have attitudes like my little poem, then you are to be commended.

If things go really well, you may want to consider using vBulletin as your server.

On 13 August 2004 (10:34 AM),
Pocket Rider said:

Congrats! you caught me in a typo. I dont like vBulletin, and This is going to be a private forum, if I wanted it to be real public, id make it that way. It is not only teenagers that I have educated, if my memory serves me right, you thought you could ride them on sidewalks. Hmmmm…. well there I seemed to have educated you now. If you knew any better you would know that nothing with a motor is allowed on the sidewalk, and another law that may suprise you, regular bikes aren’t even supposed to ride on them. Sidewalks are for people on their own feet, only. Not only that but it wasnt a poem, the way you worded it and the groups you have it in does not classify as a poem, nice try though. Oh and as far as typos and spelling goes, I just LOVE all the words in your so called poem. You have to be what, like 13, because I dont know any 18+ year olds that still use Kool. But hey im sure your a smart guy, you may be able to figure out how to spell, and youll get older,and if your really lucky, maybe, just maybe one of these days you might know what the hell you are talking about, and leave an intell. message.

On 13 August 2004 (11:01 AM),
kool-azz rider said:

parody

1. A writing in which the language or sentiment of an author is mimicked.

I thought you had figured out by now that my little poem (song?) was meant as a satirical parody.

Satire

1. A composition, generally poetical, holding up vice or folly to reprobation; a keen or severe exposure of what in public or private morals deserves rebuke.

2. Keeness and severity of remark; caustic exposure to reprobation; trenchant wit; sarcasm.

On 13 August 2004 (11:28 AM),
pj said:

If everyone would take a look around, its usaully not high school kids riding pocketbikes. It is the VOTING-AGE adults. So dont imply that everyone riding them are kids who are just out to cause trouble.

On 13 August 2004 (11:43 AM),
PJ said:

hey there pocket pool player, why dont you go play wiht yourself some more. Its not 12 year olds riding pocketbikes its the adults, so dont say that everyone riding one is a child. And for the bit about you being emotionaly scarred, get a life man. What the hell, why would you be scarred, it was the fault of the pb driver not yours. ITs all the choice of whos driving the pocketbike, to decide if they want to go and play in traffic.And if you would become scarred maybe you shouldnt be driving, you could hit a car and kill that person just as quickly. You people make it sound like pocketbikes are invading the city streets and you cant miss them. You have more of a chance of getting in a car accident and killing that person, than you do of ever hitting and killing a pocketbike driver.

On 13 August 2004 (11:46 AM),
pj said:

On 29 July 2004 (02:07 PM), pj said:

Pocket bikes have a new official name: “Trailer trash bitch bikes”. This moniker is more representative of the demographic that rides them.

OK, i definately didnt post that so whoever is acting like a fucking juvenile fag, your not cool.

On 13 August 2004 (02:29 PM),
civicsport1 said:

Hey I have been gone for awhile from here and now trying to read up. first I would like to say thanks to pocket rider for your comments on this.
I really don’t see why this is such a heated topic. I am heated that the fact that the government is enchroching on our rights one small one at a time. I also wanted to clear up what I said about the politicians and them needing to remember that they were a child once. I did not mean that they should make laws based on a childs perspective. they should just remember that they probably were not perfect and did some stupid things growning up and now look at them. it did not seem to effect them. Just let me decide whats good for me and set some ground rules so I don’t hurt others in the process. I receintly attended a motorcycle gathering in the area I live and there are always a few pocket bikes that show up. Needless to say that when you have about 2-300 bikes in one parking lot, the cops are bound to show up. well I stoped one the other day and asked him about what he thought about pocket bikes and he said that he did not care if you ride as long as you are not cuasing a hazard to other drivers, meanign zipping out into traffic and you are staying to lower speed limit streets ie. (residential with 25 mph limit) and you have the proper safety equipment. he also added some sarcasm. ” that if some one wants to ride their bike out into a busy street and get crushed by a car, I will be happy scrape up your carcase off the road” well you know what. he hit my feelign on the head. I do not feel that the person driving the car should have to go through the trauma of hiting and possibly killing someone but really if the pocket bike rider does try to battle with suvs and other cars then really they kinda deserve what happens. I own a ninja, and I abide by the laws of the state to ride safely, I also own a waverunner and I have taken the proper boaters safty courses and I try to abide by them as well, they should also make rules for these but not just come flat out and say they are illegal and thats, that. like people have said its not like smoking where studies have shown there are heath hazards with that, there has been no research on this and nor shoudl there be. its just a hobbie, please have fun. I enjoy racing my neighbor but I am the older rider of the group. and I get on teh kids cases when they buzz through a stop sign or zigzag across the street. I keep telling them that they should ride like they were diving a car. stop at the stop signs ride on the right side of the road and yeld to ALL cars. I do the same on the water. I know I am on a waverunner and i can outrun most other boats but I stll keep in mind that there are rules and I am on a much smaller craft and in a head to head collison I am going to be the looser. so everyone on a pocket bik should know the rules of the road, maybe have to take a safty course for younger children and give them a certificate for passing the course and place an age limit. I was talking to my neighbors father abtou the way his son rides and how well he does. We looked at one aspect to younger then riving age kids riding these things, they will grow up to be much better motorcycel riders, unlike me who never rode a bike before and my first one I got two years ago and smashed it up twice already. I had to learn the hard way that grabbing front break in the rain is not a good thing, as well as look, lean turn and never look down or you will go down. two mistakes I tought my neighbor and I hope that it will save his life when he starts riding for real.
thanks for reading

On 13 August 2004 (10:25 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

For one, Kool Riker, be gone, it seems im not the only one that doesnt like you or your comments. Also Kool, make up your mind first it poetry, then i tell you its not so your calling it satirical parody, hmmmm just seems like when it comes down to it you have no idea what you are saying. And maybe if i knew you longer than i would have known that, but posting it as a first comment, come on. Nobodys going to know that you were kidding, There are sooo many dumb ass people with dumb ass comments,its not funny. So if you want to post an actual comment and be a little serious, go ahead, ill commend that. And for two, Thank You Civic, I wondered where you went. The forum has sorta changed since you got on. I agree with you I dont know why the topic is so heated, because in all actuality it isnt that big of a deal. Also about the rules, your right on that. Everyone should have to drive it like it was a car. That insures that each ride is safer and that you are less likly to get introuble. LOL, about the front brake thing, watch out those can be real trouble. Well thanks for posting everyone. Have a nice day!

On 14 August 2004 (04:11 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Visit the new Forum at www.voy.com/183299 leave what ever you wish.

On 17 August 2004 (07:27 PM),
Aaron said:

I live in Eden Ny york 14057 i was thinking of buying a pocket bik do uknowif i am able to ride the roads.

On 17 August 2004 (07:29 PM),
Aaron said:

I live in Eden Ny york 14057 i was thinking of buying a pocket bik do uknowif i am able to ride the roads.

On 17 August 2004 (07:29 PM),
Aaron said:

I live in Eden Ny york 14057 i was thinking of buying a pocket bik do uknowif i am able to ride the roads.

On 17 August 2004 (10:13 PM),
Pocket Rider said:

Ask your local law department.

On 19 August 2004 (10:24 PM),
Nam said:

Pocket bikes are one of the funnest things to ride and cruise on. They are safe if you know how to drive it so kids under 15 shouldn’t drive it. Drivers should have a helmet and everything will be okay. Most pocket bikes are under 50cc and under california law motors under 50cc do not need to be registered but has to have headlights, brakelights, signallights. I heard california is going to ban all pocketbikes. I think they just dont wanna see people have fun. and about the noise; noise is going to be everywhere. There are many more things than pocketbikes that will make noise as loud as that. To the pocket bike haters BACK THE HELL UP. we’re just trying to have fun, not cause trouble.

On 20 August 2004 (09:55 AM),
Z. said:

No, no, no, no! I’m sorry to say that your information is quite outdated! California law says nothing about “bikes with motors under 50cc do not have to be registered”.

If you have no intention of riding your pocket bike on public streets, then registration is irrelevant. Go ahead, buy the bike and take it to a pocket bike track and have a good time. If you happen to have a large property, or own a parking lot, or a warehouse, then you can do whatever you like with the pocket bike on that property.

California Law specifically forbids using pocket bikes on the street, period. Cities may enforce the law as strictly as they wish to, and it is possible that some towns might turn a blind eye on riding the bikes on the street. But don’t take it for granted that “Hey! This bike is under 50cc. I don’t need to register it and I can ride it up and down the block, no problem” because you wouldn’t have a leg to stand on, and you could have trouble with the cops for making that wrong assumption.

It doesn’t get any clearer than this:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/pocketbikes.htm

Read up, be informed and know the facts.

And don’t think that California banned them just to take away people’s fun. It’s public safety, and because California is such a car culture, it just isn’t safe for those bikes to be on the streets with cars, buses, trucks and SUVs.

I’m not dissing your bikes, I’m just telling you the facts. Like I said in an earlier post, I don’t understand why the pocket bike dealers don’t give people the right information in the first place!

Be safe, and be smart. Buy the right kind of bike for your purpose.

On 24 August 2004 (02:33 PM),
Kyle said:

I,m 16 and i live in jersey i can’t get my license till im 18. what do want me to do ask my parents to drive me every were. . . I don’t think so.i have a summer job and i am realy thinking about buying one. I give u that they are noisy and acident prone but they are no more dangerous than an real motorcycle. I am for them as long your responsible you know speed limit type of stuff. I know every one wanted something realy bad when they are or were young and this is just another generation.

On 26 August 2004 (03:43 PM),
Paul Schoolfield said:

New Pocket Bike forum – in need of moderators and participants. Please join us or help in spreading the word:

http://smallcycles.com/phpBB2/

On 27 August 2004 (10:41 AM),
Z. said:

Kyle,

According to your NJ DMV, it says that you can get a motorcycle license at age 17. Where did you get the idea that you had to be 18?

Nobody said that they expected your parents to drive you everywhere, so how did that ever come up?

It would be irresponsible for us to say “Go for it. Drive it around to go from Point A to Point B without a license”. Not to be a party pooper, but I think you need to make some calls to your local police and DMV and find out if you can legally buy a pb and drive it around without a license. If they say that it is allowed, then go ahead, buy it and drive it responsibly, like you said.

But if they tell you that you need a license and registration, insurance, etc. then you’re out of luck for at least another year. If you don’t have a motorized alternative, then you can get around on a regular bicycle or a bus, just like every other 16 year old did before pocket bikes made it big.

On 28 August 2004 (05:13 PM),
Steve said:

I think Pocket Bikes are great. Like come on loosen up a little. Who cares if there loud because there just as loud as all that other gas powered equipment out there. I think Pocket Bikes should have the same laws a bicycle has. A helmet to be mandatory I could go with that. But come on what the ____ to all those people out there that disagree with pocket bikes. I believe they should be ridden on the sidewalk but to be considerate the riders should slow down to less than 5 mpH when passing a pedestrian. I can understand how there dangerous on the roads because your head is as high as a cars bumper. I’m just going to say one thing: Times have changed and the toys are more advanced these days and as a 13 year old I think I speak for most I’m going to be purchasing a pocket bike in a short while and if some bored cop decides to confiscate it from me I’m going to be really angry.

On 28 August 2004 (05:15 PM),
Steve (again) said:

One more thing I forgot to add. Pocket Bikes are a great source or transportation for teenagers like me. I would be able to get to my place of work faster than ever.

On 28 August 2004 (06:07 PM),
Z. said:

Ride them on the sidewalk??? You’re joshing us! NO WAY! In a city, there’s way too many pedestrians around, and the sidewalks are packed with people going in both directions. Some are so packed that pedestrians can’t move around each other, so how the heck is a pb supposed to move around safely? I think that people (old ladies included) are entitled to walk on a sidewalk without worrying about some skateboard, bicycle or pb hitting them while they’re shopping or walking home. How fast can YOU brake? Not fast enough, dude.

It doesn’t matter how angry you’d be if you buy a pocket bike, drive it illegally (on sidewalks, or on city streets, whatever) and get it confiscated by the cops. Being angry isn’t going to make them legal. And being a 13 year old who sees a cool new toy and wants it does not give you rights to the road, that’s why we keep telling people to check with their local laws FIRST before buying the bike. Bicycle laws cannot apply to a pb because a bicycle does not have a motor and will not be zooming around town at speeds up to 52mph.

We don’t like to see kids, or grownups getting in trouble and ending up being out a few hundred or thousand bucks if/when their bikes get confiscated because a) They misunderstood the DMV laws b) They didn’t care about the law- they went ahead and broke it anyway because their “fun” was more important c) They bought the wrong bike for the wrong purpose… thought that a pb was like a moped and could use it for transportation.

I donn’t want to be a jerk to you, but I really have to give you a reality check. It’s better that you hear this stuff NOW instead of AFTER getting into trouble. Sometimes people gotta tell you what you don’t want to hear, because it is in your best interests.

Peace.

On 29 August 2004 (11:07 AM),
Steve P said:

Hey Z,

I forgot to tell you that I live in a small town and I come across a pedestrian every 5 10 minutes.

On 29 August 2004 (11:08 AM),
Steve P said:

Hey Z,

I forgot to tell you that I live in a small town of only 20,000 people and I come across a pedestrian every 5 10 minutes.

On 29 August 2004 (11:18 AM),
Robert A said:

-Pocket Rider

Eat shit, give people a break if they wanna ride [pocket bikes then let em. You dont always have to be fucking snob. Don’t make fun of kool-azz-rider hes the best. Fucko.

On 29 August 2004 (09:37 PM),
Z. said:

Hey Steve,
Thanks for clarifying. Even if your town is only 20,000 people, it is highly unlikely that you can drive any motorized vehicle on it, unless you are severely physically disabled, and you need a motorized wheelchair.

Have you talked to your folks about your ideas about a pb? Do they know that they have to pay any fines that you rack up? Do they know that they would be fully legally responsible for anything you do on it (presuming that a person your age can legally ride a pb on the street at all)? Your true legal status is “minor child”, so of course the cops won’t write a ticket out in your name, and no one will slap you with a lawsuit or a demand to fix the damage to their car, etc… your parents would have to pay it, and out-of-pocket too. Their car and homeowner’s insurance won’t cover what you do on a pb.

First steps:

1) Talk to your folks about your desire for a pb. They HAVE to agree to it. If not, you are SOL. You cannot go against your parent’s wishes. They run the show and can veto any toys and stuff you want, even if you are spending your own money.

2) If they agree, have them call the police dept and the DMV to check on the local laws regarding unlicensed teen drivers on pb’s on the streets or sidewalks. It is unlikely that what you want to do is legal, but you and your folks NEED to know.

I still don’t understand where this idea of “ride them on the street” comes from. There has always been dirt bikes and go-carts and dirt buggies and mini-bikes. But, even back then, people didn’t think anything with an engine and wheels belonged on city or town streets. PB’s were designed for racing on paved tracks, not to drive on streets.

Just because they’re small, does not mean that it is a handy way of circumventing road rules, such as age requirements and a LICENSE. A motorcycle is a motorcycle… subject to the same road rules as a car (and then some). I had to pass two different written tests to get my M1 license.

If a pb manufacturer happens to make a pb large enough, with all the safety equipment to make it street legal, I don’t understand why they do not stamp a VIN number on it, so the owner can legally register it and drive it on the street, just like a true motorcycle. Otherwise without a VIN and a plate, most pb’s are only good for the track.

On 30 August 2004 (08:22 AM),
Steve P said:

Thanks Z,

besides my parent my not even let me have one because they know they are illegal. I might get one but I might not. And I live in Canada and maybe the laws are different but there probably the same. I might just wait until I get my M licence and buy a Suzuki Hayabusa GSX 1300 R

On 30 August 2004 (11:39 AM),
Drunk Stepdad said:

What gets me is how they are sold as ‘toys’. But they really are intended to be a track-only racing ‘motorcycle’. They are illegal on the roads for the same reason that a go-kart, an atv, or a snowmobile. It’s not made for the streets.

On 30 August 2004 (07:18 PM),
Nick said:

OK Guys, Ive heard all the guff regarding noise. I have to boys 6 and 8 years old. I bought them each an electric pocket rocket. They don’t ride them on the street and I still have neighbors screaming at my kids to get off their rockets.—-Tough Luck—, these units have all the same rights to use the sidewalk as an electric wheelchair. Get over it, TOYS HAVE CHANGED!!! They have a top speed of about 20 mph, no more dangerous than their bikes and probably a lot less dangerous than their razor scooters. My kids race dirt bikes on the week end and believe me can maneuver these bikes like pros. Dangerous-No, Noisy-No, Good, Clean Fun-YES

On 30 August 2004 (07:18 PM),
Nick said:

OK Guys, Ive heard all the guff regarding noise. I have to boys 6 and 8 years old. I bought them each an electric pocket rocket. They don’t ride them on the street and I still have neighbors screaming at my kids to get off their rockets.—-Tough Luck—, these units have all the same rights to use the sidewalk as an electric wheelchair. Get over it, TOYS HAVE CHANGED!!! They have a top speed of about 20 mph, no more dangerous than their bikes and probably a lot less dangerous than their razor scooters. My kids race dirt bikes on the week end and believe me can maneuver these bikes like pros. Dangerous-No, Noisy-No, Good, Clean Fun-YES

On 30 August 2004 (09:20 PM),
Z. said:

Nick,

It’s cool that you are supervising your kids when they ride their dirt bikes and their pocket bikes… that’s what parenting is all about. Dirt bike riding is a great way that you can be with your kids and the whole family can have fun. I never had an objection to dirt bikes used for their intended purpose. If I had kids your age, I might share my love of small bikes with them and take them out to the trail, too. And when they’re 16 and show themselves to be responsible, I’d help them get their license for their first street bike, too. Heck, I’d probably be riding right behind them, yelling out instructions and telling them how to drive safely!

I don’t believe for one second that a pocket bike has the same rights to the sidewalk as an electric wheelchair! Elderly people (who are adults) are one thing, but kids on a “play” vehicle are not equal.

That’s a “no way in hell” thing. I’d like to see some proof of that “entitlement”. If you’re lucky, your local police might turn a blind eye, but don’t take it for granted that driving on the sidewalk is an entitlement.

On 31 August 2004 (01:02 AM),
Drunk Stepdad said:

Wow Nick, you sound like a great dad, with that ‘in your face’ style of parenting. It seems like you’ll give your kids whatever they want, and let them do whatever they want. Thanks for raising more punks that the rest of us have to deal with!

Although I will agree, if you’re complaing about noise of the mini-motorcycles, you have too much time on your hand. It’s the aholes that have car radios that shake your house from 3 blocks away that should be shot.

Of course, that’s probally one of your kids in 10 years, isn’t it?

On 03 September 2004 (11:38 PM),
Steve said:

Hey Drunk Stepdad,
Even though I don’t even know Nick why the fuck are you making fun of his kids? And why do you have a desire to kill people that like to listen to there music loud? Thats sick. Your probably just another one of those sick fuckos out there that find shooting people amusing and all that other sick shit. So I’d say don’t comment on Nicks kids and stop being a mother fucking prick. Oh ya and the type of parent you sound like is the one that ignore there kids and there kids turn out to be just the same fucking lowlife you’ve become.

On 06 September 2004 (10:58 AM),
playa said:

in virginia the legal age to ride the pocket rocket is 13

On 06 September 2004 (10:58 AM),
playa said:

in virginia the legal age to ride the pocket rocket is 13

On 06 September 2004 (10:58 AM),
playa said:

in virginia the legal age to ride the pocket rocket is 13

On 06 September 2004 (10:58 AM),
playa said:

in virginia the legal age to ride the pocket rocket is 13

On 06 September 2004 (10:58 AM),
playa said:

in virginia the legal age to ride the pocket rocket is 13

On 06 September 2004 (10:58 AM),
playa said:

in virginia the legal age to ride the pocket rocket is 13

On 06 September 2004 (10:58 AM),
playa said:

in virginia the legal age to ride the pocket rocket is 13

On 06 September 2004 (10:58 AM),
playa said:

in virginia the legal age to ride the pocket rocket is 13

On 06 September 2004 (10:58 AM),
playa said:

in virginia the legal age to ride the pocket rocket is 13

On 06 September 2004 (10:58 AM),
playa said:

in virginia the legal age to ride the pocket rocket is 13

On 06 September 2004 (10:58 AM),
playa said:

in virginia the legal age to ride the pocket rocket is 13

On 06 September 2004 (11:03 AM),
john hamphery said:

the legal age to ride a pocket rocket in the Richmond part of Virginia is 13 years of age.im not sure about california but i heard it is 16

On 06 September 2004 (11:03 AM),
john hamphery said:

the legal age to ride a pocket rocket in the Richmond part of Virginia is 13 years of age.im not sure about california but i heard it is 16

On 06 September 2004 (11:03 AM),
john hamphery said:

the legal age to ride a pocket rocket in the Richmond part of Virginia is 13 years of age.im not sure about california but i heard it is 16

On 06 September 2004 (11:03 AM),
john hamphery said:

the legal age to ride a pocket rocket in the Richmond part of Virginia is 13 years of age.im not sure about california but i heard it is 16

On 06 September 2004 (11:03 AM),
john hamphery said:

the legal age to ride a pocket rocket in the Richmond part of Virginia is 13 years of age.im not sure about california but i heard it is 16

On 06 September 2004 (11:03 AM),
john hamphery said:

the legal age to ride a pocket rocket in the Richmond part of Virginia is 13 years of age.im not sure about california but i heard it is 16

On 06 September 2004 (11:03 AM),
john hamphery said:

the legal age to ride a pocket rocket in the Richmond part of Virginia is 13 years of age.im not sure about california but i heard it is 16

On 06 September 2004 (11:03 AM),
john hamphery said:

the legal age to ride a pocket rocket in the Richmond part of Virginia is 13 years of age.im not sure about california but i heard it is 16

On 08 September 2004 (02:16 PM),
mookie said:

That’s pretty cool.

On 08 September 2004 (02:16 PM),
mookie said:

That’s pretty cool.

On 08 September 2004 (02:16 PM),
mookie said:

That’s pretty cool.

On 09 September 2004 (01:30 PM),
pocket rocket boy said:

FUCK ALL OF YOU FUCK POCKETBIKE HATERS!!! IF I MET ONE OF YOU’S ID SHOVE ONE OF MY SUPERBIKES UP UR ASS!!

On 29 September 2004 (01:05 AM),
lil guy makin all that big noise said:

I’VE GOT A SOLUTION …. STOP HANDING OUT DRIVERS LICENSES LIKE TOILET PAPER !!! MAYBE IF THE DMV WOULD STOP ACTING LIKE A BUSINESS AND BECOME A SERVICE EVERYONE WOULD LEARN TO DRIVE BETTER. THE U.S. IS THE ONLY COUNTRY TO HAND OUT DRIVERS LICENSE AND FOOD STAMPS LIKE ITS TOILET PAPER, YOU SHOULD HAVE TO “EARN” A LICENSE FOR ANY VEHICLE WHETHER IT BE A FERRARI OR A RAZOR SCOOTER!!! OLD PEOPLE NEED TO GET SCHEDULED TO RETAKE D.L.’S BECAUSE MOST OF EM GET EZILY CONFUSED WHY !>? WELL BECAUSE THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE 50’S …. ASIAN PEOPLE & HINDU PEOPLE … I’M NOT EVEN GOING TO GO THERE !!! THEY JUST CANNOT DRIVE ….

BACK TO THE SUBJECT OF POCKET BIKES … LAY OFF PEOPLE …. JUST WAVE AND SMILE … SAY A LIL PRAYER THAT WE DONT DIE AND GO BACK TO LIVING UR LIFE ….. WHY MUST YOU MAKE IT SUCH A BIG DEAL … EVERYTHING IS SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE TO EVERYONE THESE DAYS …. I AGREE IF SOME JACKASS RIDES AROUND AT NITE YEA BEAT HIM WITH A SHOE … BUT DONT STARE ME DOWN WHEN I’M RIDING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I GREW UP IN FOR 20 YRS DURING THE AFTERNOON WHEN NORMAL PEOPLE ARE WORKING.

On 29 September 2004 (01:05 AM),
lil guy makin all that big noise said:

I’VE GOT A SOLUTION …. STOP HANDING OUT DRIVERS LICENSES LIKE TOILET PAPER !!! MAYBE IF THE DMV WOULD STOP ACTING LIKE A BUSINESS AND BECOME A SERVICE EVERYONE WOULD LEARN TO DRIVE BETTER. THE U.S. IS THE ONLY COUNTRY TO HAND OUT DRIVERS LICENSE AND FOOD STAMPS LIKE ITS TOILET PAPER, YOU SHOULD HAVE TO “EARN” A LICENSE FOR ANY VEHICLE WHETHER IT BE A FERRARI OR A RAZOR SCOOTER!!! OLD PEOPLE NEED TO GET SCHEDULED TO RETAKE D.L.’S BECAUSE MOST OF EM GET EZILY CONFUSED WHY !>? WELL BECAUSE THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE 50’S …. ASIAN PEOPLE & HINDU PEOPLE … I’M NOT EVEN GOING TO GO THERE !!! THEY JUST CANNOT DRIVE ….

BACK TO THE SUBJECT OF POCKET BIKES … LAY OFF PEOPLE …. JUST WAVE AND SMILE … SAY A LIL PRAYER THAT WE DONT DIE AND GO BACK TO LIVING UR LIFE ….. WHY MUST YOU MAKE IT SUCH A BIG DEAL … EVERYTHING IS SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE TO EVERYONE THESE DAYS …. I AGREE IF SOME JACKASS RIDES AROUND AT NITE YEA BEAT HIM WITH A SHOE … BUT DONT STARE ME DOWN WHEN I’M RIDING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I GREW UP IN FOR 20 YRS DURING THE AFTERNOON WHEN NORMAL PEOPLE ARE WORKING.

On 28 October 2004 (03:00 PM),
oo said:

i dont even see haw anyone can ride a pocket bike by the ages of 14 and up..i meaan how do you bend dowwn to even ride them????

On 04 November 2004 (09:41 AM),
Jeremiah said:

This pocket bike frenzy is stupid I have gotten a driving on a suspended lisence for driving one of those little stupid bikes down a abandoned road. apparently you have to have a legal lisence to operate one.

On 17 November 2004 (12:17 AM),
Chaz from Oregon City said:

Fuck all of you who hate pocket bikes. It is fucking stuped, I have a super bike and it is very quite and a gas scooter and it is the same way. I can see how it is a little unsafe if some one is riding like a fucking dum ass. but there is no harm if some kids wanna have some fun on the pocket bikes. A lot of my friends have pocket bikes and scooters and mini choppers and no one bitchs about us ridong them, we are out till 8:00pm and no one minds it as long as we dont ride by peoples houses like 4 to 5 times so all of you fucking pocket bike haters, get a fucking life and bitch about something else. And you only have to be 16 to ride pocket bikes and scooters in Oregon.

On 17 November 2004 (07:42 AM),
Kool-Azz Rider said:

Fuck all of you who hate pocket bikes. It is fucking stuped, I have a super bike and it is very quite and a gas scooter and it is the same way. I can see how it is a little unsafe if some one is riding like a fucking dum ass. but there is no harm if some kids wanna have some fun on the pocket bikes. A lot of my friends have pocket bikes and scooters and mini choppers and no one bitchs about us ridong them, we are out till 8:00pm and no one minds it as long as we dont ride by peoples houses like 4 to 5 times so all of you fucking pocket bike haters, get a fucking life and bitch about something else. And you only have to be 16 to ride pocket bikes and scooters in Oregon.

You see this people? This is what happens when you cut school budgets down to nothing. Way to go Oregon!

On 22 November 2004 (06:17 PM),
nate said:

all u haters about pockets need to shut the fuck up . please

On 22 November 2004 (06:17 PM),
nate said:

all u haters about pockets need to shut the fuck up . please

On 22 November 2004 (06:17 PM),
nate said:

all u haters about pockets need to shut the fuck up . please

On 04 December 2004 (10:33 AM),
mat said:

i understand your points of veiw about the pocket bikes, however it occurs to me that kids, (and some adults) are just trying to have some fun.

On 07 December 2004 (03:23 AM),
Chaz From Oregon City said:

fuck you Kool-Azz Rider. All Im trying to say is we all wanna have some fun on pocket bikes and scooters. Thats it so back the fuck off all of you.

On 08 December 2004 (12:48 PM),
Dwayne said:

you people have got to be kidding we are talking about a toy here? Just because half of you are so damn old that you didnt have shit like that when you were young, dont ruin it for kids of this day and age. What the hell is so damn wrong with someone that knows the danger of pocket bikes and still chooses to ride one. you risk you life every time you step in a car what are we going to ban those too?? Just Because some of us want to live a little, dont hate us for that. Im sorry that we want a little something to look forward to or to live for. AND TO ALL YOU PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST GOING TO WORK COMING HOME AND BASICALLY JUST TAKING UP SPACE,,,,WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR.GET A HOBBY OR SOMETHING, DAMN, YOUR BASICALLY JUST LIVING TO DIE IF THATS THE CASE WHY DONT YOU JUST
KILL YOURSELF.STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT STUPID SHIT AND GET A LIFE. YOU OLD NAGGING, COMPLAINING,ROTTEN PRUNES FUCKIN SICKEN ME………..

On 08 December 2004 (01:15 PM),
Dwayne said:

Just so you know, that comment i posted prior to this one wasnt directed at old people in general it was for those that eat, sleep, shit and complain about everything that doesnt benefit them. those grumpy old (or i should say older) people that are just mad at the world. so if that is not you please do not be offended by my comment,
but if that is you…….TAKE MY ADVICE.

On 08 December 2004 (06:12 PM),
i boy that have one said:

i c what all u are saying i have two and i also race them on the gp pocket bikes are very fun and unsaft but everything is insaft walking down the street is unsaft so we have to take a chanc we all are going to die one day so fuck it

On 09 December 2004 (12:29 PM),
you know you wannnnnnt it…. said:

society as a whole will always be fearful and critical of the something new or unknown. give it some time, the novelty will wear off. the law will lighten up, people will relax, and pretty soon it’ll be just like a motorized scooter, they’ll hear it coming, look up at it, shrug their shoulders, and move along. that’s it.
but to all you other pocket riders, just play it safe so you don’t end up getting your bike confiscated. ride safely in safe and designated or private areas. ask your neighbors if they mind. be respectful of others. exercise a bit of tolerance and i’m sure we’ll find a place for our bikes. I ride one, i’m 29, i’m a professional, highly educated, and just want to have fun,… but i still understand that there is a time and a place for everything. ripp down the sidewalk at 40 mph, cruising thru pedestrians? wrong. no helmet? wrong. but in a warehouse, backyard, race tracks, during the day, in a cul de sac?….no big deal. just play it safe, for you and everyone else. prety soon, no one will even raise and eyebrow…
that’s all for now.

peace.

On 09 December 2004 (07:56 PM),
me said:

i want one for christmas r they fun and does anyone know if the r legal in ga

On 23 December 2004 (02:18 PM),
Jakar Stephens said:

how does a pocket bike work

On 23 December 2004 (08:54 PM),
Adam said:

my pocket bike i off the chain

On 23 December 2004 (09:06 PM),
Adam said:

All yall haters need to grow up and live a little. And let the kids have fun and enjoy there child life even the adults.

As a matter of fact everybody needs to have fun because you onley get to live for so long.

On 24 December 2004 (08:05 AM),
Chaz from Oregon City said:

Live each day like its your last. So have fun

On 27 December 2004 (02:54 PM),
FUN FUN FUN FUN said:

FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUNFUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUNFUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUNFUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUNFUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUNFUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUNFUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUNFUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUNFUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUNFUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUNFUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUNFUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUNFUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN

On 27 December 2004 (02:55 PM),
Fun said said:

have fun fun fun fun fun……………….. fun

On 30 December 2004 (11:37 AM),
Coery said:

Ok,all the people that say pocketbikes are annoying and dangerous,are gay.They’re gay.Thats it.If you can’t dodge a person on a sidewalk,GOING STRAIGHT, then you suck.I ride dirtbikes.If you’re out at the desert ,Ocotillo, for example and you’re going down Wolf Wells Road and HIT a bush on the side of the road you don’t belong riding a dirtbike unless you’re like 4 years old and are riding a 50.But the point is that Wolf wells Road is the most straight,longest(almost) road in Ocotillo.If you hit the bush on the side of the road you suck.You have 20 feet to go left and right.The sidewalk is the same thing.Just smaller.It is straight and there is nothing to run into except people.If they are in the way you either ride off the curb(which I have done) or tell them to get the hell out of the way.But when people hear you they usually get out of your way.What the should do is make you take a test at the dmv and if you pass you can get a pocketbike license.You should be able to be any age.And when I got my pocket bike I would go piss all the old people off and laugh at them in their face.Yeah!Down with stubbern people!Just to let all the gay people know that they do make pocket bikes with lights,horn,blinkers and mirrors.When I get my license I’m going to get a NSR 50 and put a YZ426F motor in it.It will go like 100.Thats 4000 times louder than a pocket bike.How do I know this I have one.119 decibles(FMF full titainium system)For all the gay people that think pocket bikes are annoying,you don’t know what you’re missing.Late

On 30 December 2004 (11:37 AM),
Coery said:

Ok,all the people that say pocketbikes are annoying and dangerous,are gay.They’re gay.Thats it.If you can’t dodge a person on a sidewalk,GOING STRAIGHT, then you suck.I ride dirtbikes.If you’re out at the desert ,Ocotillo, for example and you’re going down Wolf Wells Road and HIT a bush on the side of the road you don’t belong riding a dirtbike unless you’re like 4 years old and are riding a 50.But the point is that Wolf wells Road is the most straight,longest(almost) road in Ocotillo.If you hit the bush on the side of the road you suck.You have 20 feet to go left and right.The sidewalk is the same thing.Just smaller.It is straight and there is nothing to run into except people.If they are in the way you either ride off the curb(which I have done) or tell them to get the hell out of the way.But when people hear you they usually get out of your way.What the should do is make you take a test at the dmv and if you pass you can get a pocketbike license.You should be able to be any age.And when I got my pocket bike I would go piss all the old people off and laugh at them in their face.Yeah!Down with stubbern people!Just to let all the gay people know that they do make pocket bikes with lights,horn,blinkers and mirrors.When I get my license I’m going to get a NSR 50 and put a YZ426F motor in it.It will go like 100.Thats 4000 times louder than a pocket bike.How do I know this I have one.119 decibles(FMF full titainium system)For all the gay people that think pocket bikes are annoying,you don’t know what you’re missing.Late

On 30 December 2004 (12:00 PM),
BOOBS said:

People that think a 49.5 cc pocket bike goes fast then you are a frikin whimp.Yeah some guy Z in the middle of the page said tha he had a RX 50.it went like 53.Hay guess what dumbass your bike has 5 gears not 1.Who the hell wants to gear their pocket bike high.not some ten year old.Yeah maybe a 15 or 16 yearold.People you have to understand there are 14 year old kids that ride CR 500.If you don’t know what a CR 500 is a real mans bike that will make you crap your pants.It is the biggest dirtbike out there.And there is going to be some dumbass that would say something if I didn’t type this.For a 4 stroke to be able be equal with a 2 stroke it has to be Twice the size of a 2 stroke.CR 500(2 stroke) up against an XR1000.If you try to find a way to make me think IM wrong I’ll have an answer to your question

On 01 January 2005 (11:38 AM),
neighbor said:

Speaking of those mini bikes and pocket rocket bikes, this 9 yr old neighbor boy to me recently got what I think is a battery powered pocket bike for Christmas. Anyway, earlier today I saw him fighting with his 4 year old brother over the bike, cursing him out and so forth. Soon afterward, I saw the four year old flip the bird on each hand to his mother, then jump on the pocket rocket and ride off down the street, escaping his mother who tried in vain to catch him! And these are some of the kids who get those type of bikes! Makes a bad name for the responsible people are riders and fans of mini bikes.

On 14 January 2005 (09:36 PM),
pocket bike owner said:

i am parcially going with neighbor on this one. i ride pocket bikes in races only. not down public streets. Riding them on streets is not what these bikes are made for. And little kids swearing and bigger kids also is just showing how bad parenting can effect the children of todays society. Now these pocket bikes are also not ment for children electric ones mabe but for kids 8 and over. Gas Powered pocket bikes are mostly for race purposes only, they are much to fast for sidewalks. and if there are no lights on the bike then the road is out of the question. Reading all of the bad things people are saying about how annoying they are and giving the riders a bad name, just angers me. The sport is a lot of fun and is usually organized. they have many performance upgrades just like a car only much cheaper. pocket bikes are much to fun to ban from any state and even if they are banned the kids will find more reason to ride them because it might get their adrenaline pumping and wut not. just think about it before you try and give us, pocket bike racers and sellers, a bad name. WE REALLY ARENT BAD PEOPLE well most of us anyway. as for those stupid little kids they need a spanking with a belt or sumthing because those parents are defanately not doing the right thing.. Thank you

On 14 January 2005 (09:46 PM),
Pocket bike owner said:

oh and listen boobs you stupid idiot. its not the speed that matters. its the skill of the riders to do sixty around a tight turning track. I own a cr 500 and no i dont shit my pants everytime i see it. and when you are goin 60 on a pocket bike it feels like 80 in a car. when you are close enough to the ground you see it going by you much faster. Shut up you asshole until you have jumped on a highly tricked out pocket bike and try to race going sixty around a a tight turning track. Dirtbikes are fun and all but pocket bikes are fun too.

On 17 January 2005 (12:46 AM),
Mr. Experience said:

Interesting comments here. As a two year veteran of electric and gas scooters and pocket bikes I can tell you that many states have now made it LEGAL for these vehicles to operate on some public roads and city sidewalks. For example, our great state of Texas passed a law that makes these vehicles legal to operate on any city street with a posted pseed limit of 35 mph or less, as well as city sidewalks. It requires riders under the age of 18 to wear protective head gear. Like anything else, these vehicles can be used and enjoyed properly or misused in a dangerous manner. It’s up to the parents to teach kids about safety and to supervise them. Let’s face it – most beer-chuggin, burger eating, cell phone slinging SUV drivers are MUCH more of a danger to other drivers. That’s what should be banned!

On 19 January 2005 (12:55 PM),
Kevin said:

If any motorcycle riders are looking to buy a pocket bike, you can check out Largepocketbikes.com. They are pretty descent and look like a trusted site.

On 20 January 2005 (09:23 AM),
biker child said:

i think everything with a motor should be banned from all countries around the world if you think something like a pocket bike should be banned because of safety issues when the damn things were created for the “adult child” adults drink and drive everyday, cars with numbers on them go speeds 225 plus and you cheer them on kids on dirt bikes get praise for not falling down and now this little motorcycle is under attack because it looks like the big one but has a weed whacker engine on it?? come on now its not about safety on them its where can those who own them ride them. if you help to create a place for these bikes there will be less problems with these bikes. i personally have a place for me and the ppl who own them to go and it has helped the problem solving

On 25 January 2005 (08:05 PM),
boobs said:

Ok mr Pocket bike owner.I have a shifter kart with a 125cc motor in it with six gears.It tops out at around 94mph.it sits approx 3/8 of an inch off the ground.It will beat the shit out of your cr 500 off the line so bad it wouldn’t be funny.I also have a 426 thats tricked out to a bitch and the same with my Kx 125 with 40 horsepower.If you want to see my 125 go to google.on the web type….www.msnusers.com/125fortrade.If you want to talk about fast hop in a shifter kart 3/8 of an inch off the ground and take it up to 94 beeotch.It will beat the crap out of a tricked out pocket bike.

On 29 January 2005 (03:23 PM),
sam said:

hay i live in england and work all the time with minimoto’s we have grc motos witch can range from 1,500 pounds to about 3,000 pounds alot of money concidering the size of them. you think this but there amazing fun. the new world record for a minimot was set a couple of months ago by a man whom reached 78mph! amazing concidering the size! this was a grc moto cost around 3,000 again but these are the ultimate bikes of there class! nothing like these cheap ones on the market now. 300-400 pound ones tend to be slow and fall apart for starting on there great! you want to be fastest then buy GRC!!

On 07 February 2005 (03:23 PM),
David said:

Ilove pocketpikes. I have 1so what waht are you going to do about it . so what if the make nosies
so what if their low
so what if their fast your not going to die. yes I have been stopped befor but if you are going to band them you sould at lest make a park where we can ride them with out getting in troupple .
howerver made that GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY LAW IS GAY GAY GAY GAY AMD A FUCKING BITHCH

On 03 March 2005 (09:52 PM),
Keith said:

I just got a pocketbike about 2 weeks ago and I havent got caught by the cops with it yet. I hope I dont because it is illegal and I also have an illegal blue neon kit for my pocket bike, so I would be in even bigger trouble. My friend just got pulled over today by the cops and he said he will have to go to court if he gets caught riding again and he just got his 2 weeks ago too and that was the first time a cop talked to him. I have had my motorized scooter for almost 3 years and have barley got bothered by anyone. I used to think it was loud because me and my dad bolted a 2.5 HP motor onto it. Once I got my pocketbike I realized it was really loud, but you’re going so fast that people on the street hear it only a few seconds. Actually I get smiles from old people and people seem to like it, so really what is the big deal. Also the idea of making a track to legaly ride these on would be pretty cool. Anyway, whatever shit face made the law agains pocketbikes pisses me off. Anyone who calls the police because someone is riding a pocket bike is just a jealous bitch. (If anyone wants to know a good website for pocketbike neon, Its www.elwirecheap.com

On 05 March 2005 (01:04 PM),
Steven said:

Those people that say that ALL pocket bike owners are imature are wrong. I am 14, I own a pocket bike, and drive it very carefully on the street. I don’t think it should be illegal. Just have supervision over the younger children. Plus, the people that say that are to loud are just making up an excuse to ban pocket bikes on the street. It make the same noise as the people who mowe their lawns Sunday at 7am. If you think pocket bikes are to fast, your wrong. Most pocket bikes don’t even go up to 35mph- the dealer or websites might say it goes faster, but that is just for them to sell their product.

On 03 April 2005 (03:24 AM),
pocket bike lover said:

i think pocket bikes are mad and if u think they are 2 noisy u dont have 2 ban them put silencers on them. why the hell sould u haters care about our safety GET A LIFE!!!!!! let us have some fun i mean think about it silencere duh geez. lay off relax.

On 03 April 2005 (03:25 AM),
pocket bike lover said:

i think pocket bikes are mad and if u think they are 2 noisy u dont have 2 ban them put silencers on them. why the hell sould u haters care about our safety GET A LIFE!!!!!! let us have some fun i mean, think about it, silencers duh, geez. lay off, relax.

On 03 April 2005 (07:14 PM),
wizzer said:

I just got a pocket bike 2 weeks ago and the cops already caught me but they said that its cool and they got my back if any1 is bitchen off about the noise,….. lol Fuck u all who hate pocket bikes also.. im 13 and i dont got shit to do so i can just go ride my pocket bike and dirtbike when i want to.. U c what im tryin to say all u fuckin gay asses who dont like them?

On 03 April 2005 (07:19 PM),
wizzer said:

I live in colorado and anything here under 49cc is legal to ride where ever the fuck u want to!!!!!!!!!!!So come move here if its so fuckin bad in cali
>>>>>>>>>>>>> GOT IT?

On 06 April 2005 (05:11 PM),
josh said:

WOW! why are you all so uppset about the pocket bikes they are not that loud. you dont get mad about loud cars with loud mufferlers and music coming past your house at sometimes midnite and even later but you get all pissed off about a little buzz go by during the day and the sound doesent even last long i promise you if you wer to ride one of these bikes you would want one TRUST ME the first time i rode one i absolutely loved it and allmost all my friends have them i personaly think that they should have to wher a helmet that is verry important. and wut is the deal with you guys thinking they go to fast on my foot pettaled bikes i can got up to speeds of 25 miles per hour that is all most as fast as a pocket bike. the poeple are allways complaning that we should go out side and that all we do is play games! now that we do find somthing fun that guys and even girls like and we use the bike out side now they say that we shouldent be out side rideing bikes so wut are we suposed to do out side if we illegalize these bikes and it is also a motivation tool you can use it to help your children dont do there work or if they dont listen to you and it also teaches you chiled reasponsibility it teaches them to save there money, DONT BYE THE BIKES FOR YOUR CHILDREN!if they want it they need to bye it there self. if you dont want your child going so fast than get a governer for the bike!!!!!!! my child is saving for a bike. he also loves these bikes. when do your children get the chance to ride a motor bike?? does you child want a bike when he or she gets old enought? then they need to no how to ride a motor bike so they can get to understand the controles and dangers of a bike like what it can and cant do. so i think that every one needs to calm down about the whole pocket bike thing. what is the piont of living without some fun. and please understand you only live once and you mite as well live it up.please just let your kids have a little fun before they are to old. thanks for reading thoughts about the pocket bike. SEE YALL! PEECE.

On 06 April 2005 (07:16 PM),
J.D. said:

I’ve left this thread lie fallow for a long, long time, but I think a point of clarification is necessary. And I’ll put it in bold for emphasis:

Nobody’s really complaining just because pocket bikes are loud. No, that’s not it at all. You’re all right: some cars are loud, too. No, the real complaint is that pocket bikes are loud continuously as they putter up-and-down the street over and over and over again.

A loud car passes through the neighborhood and is gone. Most pocket biker riders cruise up and down the same streets over-and-over again, so that the noise is there continuously. That’s the problem.

Does that make more sense?

On 07 April 2005 (02:15 PM),
Josh P. said:

i have a pocket bike and go-kart and the cops have came to me twice. they really only had to come becouse somewone complained. for all who do complain why. if you dont like it then tell the rider/owner when it would be ok to ride it or if they want a siclencer on it or somthin. its just a bunch of kids trying to have fun. i bet when you were a kid you did somthin that somewone else diddent like. comon people. you all who caller the cops are the kind of people who sit in their house and dont do anything. but if somewone does somthin to have fun and you want to do the same thein or are jelous or dont like the kid or somthin you ge mad and call the police. lighten up people.

oh for all the pocket bike riders you all can ride it on your driveway and yard so just annoy them that way.

On 15 April 2005 (12:53 PM),
LA Rider said:

Hell on wheels: pocketbikes face new regs in LA
http://www.server213.com/News/041405_pocket_bikes.html

On 19 April 2005 (10:13 PM),
J.M said:

i dont realy get what the big deal is with pocket bikes if ur care full dont drive up one streen over and over again then it should b okay i can understand people getting anoyyed if they kept goin up and down the same street,but if u dont like it just go talk to them 99% of the time they will stop or go somewere else i dont get y old, or stuck up people run others peoples honest fun ps. GET OVER THE LITTLE BUZZ ITS NOT GOIN TO KILL U!

On 24 April 2005 (04:46 PM),
que said:

corny.

On 28 April 2005 (08:03 PM),
offhahead said:

i have a 50cc scooter the cops see me and try to run me over it is shit. yeah i ride hard but im careful my scooter goes 50 kms and ive done more modifications it goes faster the cops now i have to sell it i want 250 4 it give me a call 0422757196

On 28 April 2005 (08:03 PM),
offhahead said:

i have a 50cc scooter the cops see me and try to run me over it is shit. yeah i ride hard but im careful my scooter goes 50 kms and ive done more modifications it goes faster the cops now i have to sell it i want 250 4 it give me a call 0422757196

On 05 May 2005 (07:04 AM),
offhahead said:

hay pocket rider your pretty cool you no wat to say i like u ive still got my 50 cc scooter. what can i do to get it going plz help me 3 day ago it was mby brithday my mum said take it out 4 a spine so i did i was racing a a water cooled pocket bike when i gave it to it i killed him i stop and the cops were after me i turned in to a mates house lucky i need your help i wear all the safety gear now i need the power plz help me pocket rider thanks brendon

On 05 May 2005 (07:04 AM),
offhahead said:

hay pocket rider your pretty cool you no wat to say i like u ive still got my 50 cc scooter. what can i do to get it going plz help me 3 day ago it was mby brithday my mum said take it out 4 a spine so i did i was racing a a water cooled pocket bike when i gave it to it i killed him i stop and the cops were after me i turned in to a mates house lucky i need your help i wear all the safety gear now i need the power plz help me pocket rider thanks brendon

On 05 May 2005 (07:04 AM),
offhahead said:

hay pocket rider your pretty cool you no wat to say i like u ive still got my 50 cc scooter. what can i do to get it going plz help me 3 day ago it was mby brithday my mum said take it out 4 a spine so i did i was racing a a water cooled pocket bike when i gave it to it i killed him i stop and the cops were after me i turned in to a mates house lucky i need your help i wear all the safety gear now i need the power plz help me pocket rider thanks brendon

On 14 May 2005 (07:57 AM),
s d said:

okay heres the deal whats the problem of having a little fun on our streets im mean cmon its just a little motorized bike that cant realy go that fast any ways.i mean every body has one look around and do they realy look so dangerous and also if its to loud they can just get a silencer on there pocket it cost like 30 bucks and after its on the pocket bike will sound a little louder than an electric pocket bike so just let the kids have alittle fun on neibor hood streets

On 22 May 2005 (11:03 AM),
gskthunder said:

omg all i see in here are a bunch of whiners. i am a 31 year old male, i have a pocket rock bike and it’s fun to ride, and i also have a moped, BTW mopeds are not loud as some of you complianed about. we all have a kid in us, weather you want it to show or not, let that kid inside of you come out and take a mpoed for a ride. i live in fort worth texas. our mpoed is regs. as the law wants, the mini pocket rocket i am going to get info on it to see if i have to reg. that also. mopeds and scooters are street legal, the pocket rocket i have isnt though, top speed is only 25mph my moped is 30mph. as far as noise goes, yes the pocket rocks are a bit noisey, and mopeds and scooters are not loud, think how loud a harley is……hummmm think about that, they are louder than most pocket rockets, and most mopeds and scooter (not the little scooters you stand up on) are quiter than lawn mowers. i have a 3 year old son and a 12 year old step son, my 3 year old has a 1hp hot wheels gas powered go kart, he loves it, think back when you were a kid riding your go kart or a friends go kart, how fun that was, well that is how much fun i have at 31 years old on a pocket rocket. my wife, step son and i take turns ride it, in a empty parking lot. but as far as the moped i drive that thing everywhere. so stop whining about the pocket rockets, there not that bad, there fun. LET THE KIDS BE KIDS and yes part is the parents fault for not showing them the correct way to ride them, and they dont go over the laws with there kids on these things. our family knows the law. and they are not spoiled because they have these fun toys. how many of you bought a PS2 or an XBOX for your kid(s)? think about how much that cost you, well i can tell you it cost just as much as a moped,scooter, and a pocket rocket, so dont say these kids are spoiled that have these things you spent the same amount of $$$$ on a video game. oh and by the way i work on these things for the kids and parents in my neighborhood so :P when you see or hear one coming do the road, think back when you were a kid. i will say there should be a cut off time for riding them if in a parking lot near houses. if you have a problem with these things be a man or a grown woman and go to the kids house and talk to the parents and info them about the law. ok well i will stop writing now i have to go get gas for these things. P.S all you pocket rocket and moped/scooter riders RIDE ON AND HAVE FUN, OBEY THE LAWS IN YOUR AREA.

On 08 June 2005 (03:26 PM),
Dude said:

Pocket Bikes should be legal,there fun hott and a load of fun…soo if us teens want to ride um..then let us ..who cares about the dangers?

On 08 June 2005 (03:26 PM),
Dude said:

Pocket Bikes should be legal,there fun hott and a load of fun…soo if us teens want to ride um..then let us ..who cares about the dangers?

On 17 June 2005 (03:56 PM),
James said:

Fuck all of you niggers that hate pocketbikes.Fuckin faggot ass bitches

On 27 June 2005 (07:45 PM),
cameron dillard said:

i would like to see pictures of a pocket bike , i bet people would actually buy your stuff if you had pictures i really want a pocket bike i am 15 years ,old and i bust my butt every day so i can save up to buy one and i heard your site was pretty good

On 27 June 2005 (07:45 PM),
cameron dillard said:

i would like to see pictures of a pocket bike , i bet people would actually buy your stuff if you had pictures i really want a pocket bike i am 15 years ,old and i bust my butt every day so i can save up to buy one and i heard your site was pretty good

On 13 July 2005 (05:45 PM),
Doach Choad said:

Hey queers.If you see any of us pocket bike riders and we fall and eat shit(which we won’t) just go ahead and laugh.It will make you feel better because if all you do is bitch about us riding them than just laugh when you see one crash.Don’t worry about it.Fuck you.Nigger.Dick sucking fat mother fucker who takes it up the ass.Well have a nice day people!Thomas Chadd sucks bick dick!!!!!!!!!

On 24 July 2005 (10:59 AM),
english kid said:

Pocket Bikes in america are slow, me and my friend here have a blata origami watercooled minimoto, and they do 70-80mph, and only 50cc they are not road legal here, and we dont know where too ride them so we just go too a carpark after the supermarket is closed

On 31 July 2005 (10:14 AM),
NFSGamerUSA said:

Apparently most of you think pocket bike riders are all idiots, who don’t care about the rules of the road, who don’t wear any safety gear, carry their friends or “little brother or sister” along in the middle of the night and puposely annoy people. NOT ALL RIDERS ARE LIKE THAT!! I have a pocket bike, I stop at stop signs, wear a DOT APPROVED HELMET, ride only in daylight, as they are already hard enough to see, riding at night doesn’t help, I’m don’t carry ANYONE on my bike, and I don’t bug people out of their minds. If you think pocket bikes are loud, what about all of the weed eaters and lawn mowers people use, why don’t you call the police and complain about them being loud, as they’re not any quieter than pocket bikes. I know, the reason you don’t call the police on them is because it wouldn’t being ruining kid’s fun, it would just cause someone to have a half-cut lawn.

On 31 July 2005 (03:49 PM),
** said:

I agree with NFSGamerUSA.

…-english kid, dont lie they are slow here in america, but dont exagerate-blata-they dont go 70-80mph they go about 45-55 freekin liar

On 31 July 2005 (03:49 PM),
** said:

I agree with NFSGamerUSA.

…-english kid, dont lie they are slow here in america, but dont exagerate-blata-they dont go 70-80mph they go about 45-55 freekin liar

On 31 July 2005 (03:49 PM),
** said:

I agree with NFSGamerUSA.

…-english kid, dont lie they are slow here in america, but dont exagerate-blata-they dont go 70-80mph they go about 45-55 freekin liar

On 02 August 2005 (08:30 PM),
PocketDude said:

Does any one no if pocket bikes are legal in virginia cuz im 12 and gettin one

On 02 August 2005 (10:06 PM),
PocketDude said:

i dont htink u shuld have 2 be 16 cuz im 12 and i can ride my 60mph x12 pretty responsibly and none of my neighbors get pissed off at me they actually wanna ride it! i think pocket bikes should be leggalized that would be be so fun. o yeah and all u faggets bitchin ur probaaly just some 80yr fuck that just was ass fucked and stays in ur house all day, ur probaaly all fat cuz u never go out! thats wuts wrong with some of u guys u dont wanna live life on the edge ur just pussies! u never go out and ur the kinda nieghbors that call the cops and ruin the fun!

On 02 August 2005 (10:06 PM),
PocketDude said:

i dont htink u shuld have 2 be 16 cuz im 12 and i can ride my 60mph x12 pretty responsibly and none of my neighbors get pissed off at me they actually wanna ride it! i think pocket bikes should be leggalized that would be be so fun. o yeah and all u faggets bitchin ur probaaly just some 80yr fuck that just was ass fucked and stays in ur house all day, ur probaaly all fat cuz u never go out! thats wuts wrong with some of u guys u dont wanna live life on the edge ur just pussies! u never go out and ur the kinda nieghbors that call the cops and ruin the fun!

On 05 August 2005 (01:03 PM),
Ian said:

Adults think we don’t know pocket rockets aren’t street legal and just because when they had mini bikes they were stupid and rode them in the street and got hit doesn’t mean we’re going to,and yes they did have them back then.
O’yeah um,”PocketDude” next time your “making a point” at least spell faggot right. But I say lift the ban off of California!

On 05 August 2005 (01:03 PM),
Ian said:

Adults think we don’t know pocket rockets aren’t street legal and just because when they had mini bikes they were stupid and rode them in the street and got hit doesn’t mean we’re going to,and yes they did have them back then.
O’yeah um,”PocketDude” next time your “making a point” at least spell faggot right. But I say lift the ban off of California!

On 05 August 2005 (01:04 PM),
Ian said:

Adults think we don’t know pocket rockets aren’t street legal and just because when they had mini bikes they were stupid and rode them in the street and got hit doesn’t mean we’re going to,and yes they did have them back then.
O’yeah um,”PocketDude” next time your “making a point” at least spell faggot right. But I say lift the ban off of California!

On 06 August 2005 (04:50 PM),
123456789 said:

pocketbike dude: x12 do not go 60mph tops is 40mph: dont bullshit little kid!

On 06 August 2005 (04:51 PM),
123456789 said:

pocketbike dude: x12 do not go 60mph tops is 40mph: dont bullshit little kid!

On 21 August 2005 (01:49 PM),
pocket bike fan said:

I think that pocket bikes should be aloud. My friend has one and the neighbors think its cool not annoying.

On 21 August 2005 (06:51 PM),
NFSGamerUSA said:

**, you seem to be the only one that much about pocketbikes, have you ever been to pocketbikeplanet.com? If you haven’t, you ought to visit there because they offer lots of help on pocket bikes, same for everyone else reading this thread. It’s a great place to get into pocket biking at!

On 21 August 2005 (06:51 PM),
NFSGamerUSA said:

**, you seem to be the only one that much about pocketbikes, have you ever been to pocketbikeplanet.com? If you haven’t, you ought to visit there because they offer lots of help on pocket bikes, same for everyone else reading this thread. It’s a great place to get into pocket biking at!

On 21 August 2005 (06:52 PM),
NFSGamerUSA said:

**, you seem to be the only one that much about pocketbikes, have you ever been to pocketbikeplanet.com? If you haven’t, you ought to visit there because they offer lots of help on pocket bikes, same for everyone else reading this thread. It’s a great place to get into pocket biking at!

On 28 August 2005 (05:35 PM),
rossinirider said:

actualy the X12 goes 60 mph if its 110 cc if its 49 it goes like 25 mph

On 30 August 2005 (01:19 PM),
NFSGamerUSA said:

No, 110cc X12s only go maybe a little over 40, I assure you they do not go 60. The stock speedometers on ANY Chinese pocketbikes are so innacurate it makes a 3 year old look good at math.

On 30 August 2005 (01:19 PM),
NFSGamerUSA said:

No, 110cc X12s only go maybe a little over 40, I assure you they do not go 60. The stock speedometers on ANY Chinese pocketbikes are so innacurate it makes a 3 year old look good at math.

On 07 September 2005 (06:55 PM),
pocket winner said:

anyone know the laws of a pb in colorado cuz ive got one & my mom wont let me ride it til i know it wont get taken away

P.S. Fuck you anti pocket bikeists yall dont even know how good it feels to ride them and yet you criticise us for enjoying life a little bit dammit

On 08 September 2005 (03:15 PM),
NFSGamerUSA said:

pocket winner, I don’t know if it is or not, but most everywhere it is. If I were you, just ride it until a police man stops you or says that that’s illegal, just say, “I didn’t know it was illegal to ride on the street, sir, I’m sorry. I won’t ride it the street again. Thank you for notifying me (Unless he isn’t nice and doesn’t let you off with a warning or even a ticket, but instead takes it away).” Also, don’t be so rude to people who don’t like pocket bikers being on the street. Cussing them out only makes pocket bikers look worse and more hated all around the country, think before you say things.

On 17 September 2005 (11:35 PM),
MJ said:

what has gone wrong with america what is wrong with you people. i may as well move to a another communist country because this one is getting weirder and expensive. we all cant do anything without somebody or a nasi cop dipping into our personal business. my grandfather and father died for this country, why to see it turn into a sociaiist nation. what a bunch of weak uptight rude self centered people we have become. where is joe mccarthy when you need him. there are 19000 murders in the usa and the cops are worried about pocket bikes!!!!!
maybe if the hoodlums could have a cheap thrill on a pocket bike or whatever it would give them something else to do.

On 18 September 2005 (01:16 AM),
pocket racer champion said:

I think pocket bikes should be allowed on public roads. they may be dangerous but accisents happen every day and police should be doing more important things instead of confiscating peoples pocket bikes. they are is powerful as scooters and can be customised to be just as noisy. We should just be atleast to ride them in the bike lane or the footpaths or at the minnium at public parks

On 20 September 2005 (08:00 PM),
NFSGamerUSA said:

Well, I think they should be legal, but people in cars usually can’t see them, especially the really small ones, like mine. I think there should be a drivers permit for small enigned vehicles, such as pocket bikes, that you could aquire at 13 or 14. I know here in Alabama you can get a motorcycle permit at age 14 (I wish I had a real motorcycle; I’m 14), and if you put a tall zip flag on your bike you’d be a lot more visable. It’s just that all of these dumb kids get on them and run stop signs and lights and hit and get hit by cars.

On 20 September 2005 (08:00 PM),
NFSGamerUSA said:

Well, I think they should be legal, but people in cars usually can’t see them, especially the really small ones, like mine. I think there should be a drivers permit for small enigned vehicles, such as pocket bikes, that you could aquire at 13 or 14. I know here in Alabama you can get a motorcycle permit at age 14 (I wish I had a real motorcycle; I’m 14), and if you put a tall zip flag on your bike you’d be a lot more visable. It’s just that all of these dumb kids get on them and run stop signs and lights and hit and get hit by cars.

On 20 September 2005 (08:00 PM),
NFSGamerUSA said:

Well, I think they should be legal, but people in cars usually can’t see them, especially the really small ones, like mine. I think there should be a drivers permit for small enigned vehicles, such as pocket bikes, that you could aquire at 13 or 14. I know here in Alabama you can get a motorcycle permit at age 14 (I wish I had a real motorcycle; I’m 14), and if you put a tall zip flag on your bike you’d be a lot more visable. It’s just that all of these dumb kids get on them and run stop signs and lights and hit and get hit by cars.

Action Girl’s Guide to Living

The final writing class of the term was last night. I haven’t mentioned the writing class in several weeks because I haven’t gone; buying a new house has kept me busy.

I’m sad to have missed so many sessions. The instructor, Rick, is quite good, and I always came away from Wednesday night inspired, motivated to write. I want to create something.

Last night, Rick shared various bits of wisdom he’d gleaned from years of writing classes. While these may seem like platitudes, I think they each contain an important insight:

  1. Talent does not get you published; hard work and perseverance do. Perhaps this is obvious, but some of us it ought to be a mantra. You may be talented at something, but that talent is meaningless if you don’t use it.
  2. Self-loathing is far better than cowardice. This, of course, is just a re-wording of the old “better to have lost in love than never to have loved at all”, or the similar “shoot for the stars”. Basically, the idea is that if you try and fail, you’ve still done more than by not trying at all. Take a chance!
  3. Observe the world around you. This is especially important for writers, of course. Pay attention to the actions and conversations of the people you encounter. Observe what happens in the natural world. Learning to notice details makes life richer.
  4. Live life with an insatiable curiosity. Ah, yes. This one I’m good at. Never stop learning!

Rick’s rules reminded me of Action Girl’s Guide to Living.

I first discovered Action Girl when Dana mentioned her during our superhero discussion several weeks ago. Action Girl, created by Sarah Dyer, isn’t a superhero in the traditional sense of the word. She has her own comic book, sure, but her main super power is the ability to help people take charge of their own lives. Dyer has a personal agenda, and she’s pleased to share it with the world.

Here is an abridged version of Action Girl’s Guide to Living (follow the link for Dyer’s extended version).

  1. Action is everything! It really doesn’t matter what you say or even what you think; it’s what you do that matters. Be less of a consumer and more of a creator. Write. Sew. Cook dinner. Put on a play. Publish a magazine. Make a web site. Don’t just buy stuff: make it!
  2. Support other’s actions. Support what other people are doing; spend your time and money on things done for something other than profit. This doesn’t mean you can’t buy the new U2 album, just try to buy things on smaller labels, too.
  3. Have a code of ethics. It doesn’t matter what your code of ethics is — everyone’s is different — what’s important is to have an articulated set of rules you follow. You can change your mind as you go along — what works for you now might not work in ten years — but you should know what it is you stand for now.
  4. Don’t be a hypocrite. Once you’ve developed a code of ethics, live by it. Consider your actions and how they relate to your standards. Don’t make compromises. For example, if you believe that it’s wrong to eat meat because it exploits animals, then don’t wear leather, and don’t use products tested on animals. Be consistent.
  5. Be positive. Life is short. Don’t wast time bitching about others. If you can do something about it, do it. Otherwise, get on with life and forget it. Re-route your negative energy in a positive direction. If you hate something, fine, but don’t make it your career.
  6. Be open-minded. Read books and magazines and newspapers and web sites. (And not just the ones you already agree with or like.) Listen to other people’s opinions. You don’t have to welcome every new idea with open arms; just be willing to change and grow.
  7. Forget the “scene”. Discard the idea that a thing has to be underground to be legitimate. Or that something popular is necessarily bad. Good work is good work, no matter the forum, no matter how broad its appeal.
  8. Most things suck. Become more discriminating. Pursue quality. Don’t waste your time with the mundane. You’ll have more time to do something fun!
  9. Be adventurous. Try new things. Eat new food. Learn a new skill. Travel. Watch foreign films. Change your hairstyle. You might not enjoy everything you try, but then you might find something you really love.
  10. Live life. Never stop buying toys. Write letters to complain about things you don’t like. Make your own clothes. Do stupid tourist things with your friends. Never pay for a haircut if you can help it — that’s why you have friends. Learn to cook more than just spaghettios. Don’t hurt other people. Start a collection of something you like. Make elaborate valentines for your friends. Don’t be so serious. Learn to do more things and feel more competent. Don’t be afraid of technology. Don’t worry about what other people think. Have fun!

Dyer has distilled these rules into a succinct “Action Girl Manifesto”:

ACTION IS EVERYTHING! Our society, even when it’s trying to be “alternative” usually just promotes a consumerist mentality. Buying things isn’t evil, but if that’s all you do, your life is pretty pointless. Be an ACTION GIRL! (Or boy!) It’s great to read / listen to / watch other people’s creative output, but it’s even cooler to do it yourself. Don’t think you could play in a band? Try anyway! Or maybe think about putting on shows or starting a label. Don’t have time/energy to do a zine yourself? Contribute to someone else’s zine. Not everyone is suited to doing projects on their own, but everyone has something to contribute. So do something with all that positive energy!

It’s a great philosophy, one I endorse wholeheartedly (though I may not always practice it myself).

I have a couple of additions:

  1. Ask for it. You’ll never get it if you don’t ask. And you might be surprised at what you can get just by asking.
  2. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Who cares if your shirt isn’t ironed? If you forgot to mail the phone bill? If you can’t remember someone’s name? Take it easy. It’s not that important.

What’s the gist of all these rules? Do something! Don’t just sit there; get up and live!

Don’t watch a movie on television; go make one yourself. Don’t write a book; go write your own. Don’t buy dinner from a restaurant; cook it yourself. Don’t shop for new clothes; sew your own. Don’t drive to the store; walk, or ride your bike.

Be creative! Build things!

Discover new foods and friends and books and movies. Don’t be stuck in a rut.

Lighten up. Relax. Don’t be so critical of others. Instead, support what they do. Enjoy life.

These rules are important because our modern society programs us to operate like mind-numbed robots, driving everywhere, buying pre-packaged everything, consuming mass media. I’m just as guilty as the next person, but I want to change.

And that’s why I’m happy that over the past six months I’ve begun to write fiction. That, if only occasionally, I ride my bike around town for errands. That we’re buying an old house that will require personal care and attention.

I want to be an Action Girl. Er, Action Boy.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go eat breakfast. I’m going to have some of “Rick’s Precious Granola”, cereal my writing instructor made himself.

Comments


On 10 June 2004 (09:22 AM),
Johnny said:

Ask for it. You’ll never get it if you don’t ask. And you might be surprised at what you can get just by asking.

I am asking for everyone to send me a million dollars and join my cult, er, I mean my new religion. I have asked for this in the past, but this time I really, really mean it. If you have to choose between one of the two about things, please just send the cash. Thanks in advance.

PS. Just so you know, I need the cash because I’m going to meet the President of Nigeria. His assistant undersecretary sent me an email asking for my help in getting back a bunch of cash that apparently the evil former regime had socked away in a Swiss bank account. Once they transfer it to my bank account I can help them out, but I need lots of cash first in order to get the wire transfer authorized. So it’s obviously for a worthy cause. It’s not like it’s just going to lie my own pockets. I mean, line my own pockets.

On 10 June 2004 (09:41 AM),
Denise said:

Johnny, you’ve tried this cult thing before, haven’t you? Do you think you’ll have better success this time?

I love this post, J.D.

On 10 June 2004 (10:00 AM),
Johnny said:

“Action is everything”. I’m sure it wasn’t the success I wanted because people just forgot about it. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

On 10 June 2004 (10:10 AM),
Betsy said:

Great post, J.D.

Especially the ‘ask’ part. I hate asking people for stuff, or help.

It took the death of someone I am close to in order to jolt me out of my ‘I cannot possibly ask’ mode – but last week, I started asking. And people started responding. No one even thought twice about it, and people were glad to be able to do something, anything.

We all felt better afterwards, I am sure.

On 10 June 2004 (10:20 AM),
Virginia said:

I’m reminded of the saying,

He who whispers down a well,
About the things he has to sell.
Does not make the shinning dollars,
As he who climbs a tree and hollers.

On 10 June 2004 (10:43 AM),
Anthony said:

These rules are important because our modern society programs us to operate like mind-numbed robots, driving everywhere, buying pre-packaged everything, consuming mass media. I’m just as guilty as the next person, but I want to change.

Well put.

Action is everything! It really doesn’t matter what you say or even what you think; it’s what you do that matters.

I wouldn’t put it quite like that, but the point made is important. If you really believe in something, you will act it out in real time, so it is our actions, not our ideas, that faithfully reflect who we really are.

While I certainly do not agree that “it doesn’t matter what your code of ethics is,” I do think every person should be consistent with the code they choose. I continually try to maintain consistency in my own life, and I congratulate you, JD, in striving to escape the mindless herd and build your life around your ideals. Only people who think and do for themselves are free.

On 10 June 2004 (02:42 PM),
J.D. said:

Who knew? Benjamin Franklin was the Action Girl of the 18th century, though some of his advice seems dated now. Here are Franklin’s Goals of Virtue (via makeoutcity.com):

  • Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
  • Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
  • Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
  • Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
  • Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; that is, waste nothing.
  • Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
  • Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; speak accordingly.
  • Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries; or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
  • Moderation: Avoid extremes; forebear resenting injuries so much as you think deserve.
  • Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
  • Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles or at accidents common or unavoidable.
  • Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
  • Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

I wonder what other good advice I can find on the net…

On 10 June 2004 (04:46 PM),
Hmm… said:

Ask for it. You’ll never get it if you don’t ask. And you might be surprised at what you can get just by asking.

Can you buy these for me?

On 10 June 2004 (04:58 PM),
Johnny said:

Well Nick, if you don’t tell us who you are how will we know where to have them delivered?

On 10 June 2004 (05:06 PM),
Nick said:

Hmm…good point.

I Am Interviewed By Toto The Cat

Toto: So let’s talk about the food situation.
J.D.: What food situation?
T: I’m hungry.
J: I just fed you.
T: Right. You fed me one-third of a cup of special diet food meant for my grey brother. I HATE YOU.
J: Wait — I feed you that three times a day. The vet says that’s all you need.
T: Right. The vet sticks a thermometer up my ass, too. I hate him. Like I believe a word he says. You used to feed me a cup of dry food — that delicious Friskies seafood flavor — and a quarter can of Friskies wet food. TWICE A DAY. Is this ringing any bells?
J: Yes, but…
T: I HATE YOU. Oh, how I long to eat ocean white fish with tuna again.
J: You haven’t been throwing up as much lately, have you?
T: Come again?
J: Since we changed to the new food, you’ve stopped throwing up after eating. That was gross.
T: LIES! I never did that.
J: Yes you did. Every night I’d hear your huck huck huck squish as you vomited your food. I used to step in it in the morning. That was gross.
T: Er, I was just pre-digesting. I liked to save it for later.
J: It was gross.
T: Moving on. So, what’s with all the boxes around the house? And what’s happened to all the scratching posts? And why isn’t anything where it used to be. Last night I went to pull books off the bookshelf and there weren’t any there. You? In a house without books? Something’s up…
J: We’re moving.
T: What?
J: We’re moving to a new house. All those boxes you see are filled with books. Nearly fifty boxes filled with books. Remember when we moved before? It was ten years ago — you were just a kitten. We had just brought you home to the apartment. Then we moved. You and Tintin spent the better part of a day huddled together, hiding in the bottom of the bathroom cabinet.
T: LIES! I have always lived here. And I’ve never hidden from anything.
J: Except the vacuum cleaner. And bananas.
T: What!?
J: Nothing.
T: Will there be more food at this new house?
J: Well, no. Just lots of roses and trees and birds and —
T: Birds!? Birds are food!
J: Uh…

T: How exactly are we going to get to the new house?
J: Well, we’ll probably put you in a cat carrier and drive you —
T: Unfair to cats! Unfair to cats!
J: Calm down. Do you want to walk the whole way?
T: I don’t want to move at all. Why don’t you just leave me here. Next on the agenda: what’s with locking me away at night lately?
J: You keep growling at Nemo.
T: Who’s Nemo?
J: Your little brother.
T: Oh, the little cat. Right. I hate him.
J: Yes, well, when you growl at him all night long, we can’t sleep. Last night you woke me from the middle of a dream.
T: Do tell. What were you dreaming about? Food?
J: No. Uh…I dreamt that I was Simon, and that I was in a fight with a chicken, and that I was losing that fight.
T: HAHAHHAHAHAHAHA. You are so stupid.
J: I could lock you away right now, you know.
T: I HATE YOU.
J: You hate everybody.
T: That’s not true. I like mom. And Auntie Tiff. And Auntie Aimee.
J: Oh. I see.
T: I only hate you. And Auntie Pam. Let’s talk about the little cat. Why does he have to be here? Here’s an idea to stop the growling: instead of locking me up at night, why not get rid of the little cat? I’ll help.
J: We like Nemo.

T: He looks like a monkey.
J: Well, that’s true. But he’s affectionate, and playful, and talkative.
T: I’m all of those things.
J: Well, sort of, but you’re mean, too. And besides, you should just give him a chance. You used to growl at Simon all the time, too, until Nemo came along. Now you get along fine with Simon and you growl at Nemo. Nemo’s not that bad. He’d love to play with you if you’d let him.
T: Yes, I’ll play with him. IN THE STREET.
J: Be nice.
T: Or maybe he’d like to play in the microwave. How about this? I was talking with Boss Spurge [ed.: the neighbor cat, the head cat in the neighborhood] the other day. He tells me that I’m named after a dog.
J: Yes, that’s true.
T: I HATE YOU.
J: Well, Ididn’t name you. Your beloved Auntie Tiff gave you that name.
T: LIES.
J: It’s true! Tintin was sort of named for a dog, too.
T: Tintin?
J: Your white brother.

T: Whatever happened to him, anyway?
J: Tintin?
T: My white brother.
J: Er, he was old. He got diabetes and died.
T: He what?
J: Died.
T: I don’t understand.
J: Never mind. Anyhow, he was named for a dog, too. Sort of. We actually wanted to call him Snowy, which is the name of a comic strip dog. But your mom and I thought Snowy was a stupid name, so we called him Tintin instead. Which is the name of Snowy’s master.
T: Master?
J: Er, his dad.
T: Careful with the speciesist talk…
J: Sorry.
T: Let’s talk about the food situation.

Comments

On 08 June 2004 (04:02 PM),
Joel said:

You were right, this is hilarious.

On 08 June 2004 (09:22 PM),
Betsy said:

I’m not the biggest cat fan in the world – but I LOVED this!

On 08 June 2004 (10:24 PM),
tammy said:

I tooo hate cats but I have to admit that was quite entertaining. Jd, have you ever counted all your books? Do you have any idea how many you have? And do you remember I still have she’s Come Undone? I loved it. Help me remmember to give it to you nect time I see you.

On 08 June 2004 (10:35 PM),
Schmela said:

Cats have such spectacular personalities. Here is a photo of our hissy but lovable cat. She would like to talk strategy with Toto on the food issue. She has similar complaints.

On 09 June 2004 (06:28 AM),
Anthony said:

That’s a good story. And it certainly captures the essence of a cat’s personality. I really doubt the motives of even affectionate cats. I think they are just better at the art of manipulation.

On 09 June 2004 (07:00 AM),
Amanda said:

Best. entry. ever. More cat posts!

On 09 June 2004 (09:07 AM),
Courtney said:

Hilarious!!! Thanks for the laughs! :)

On 09 June 2004 (09:43 AM),
Auntie Pam said:

I agree with Toto – leave her at your current house!

On 09 June 2004 (10:40 AM),
Anthony said:

Yeh. Toto’s a jerk. But Nemo looks like he could grow up to be a monkey-faced manipulator. Be very careful.

On 09 June 2004 (11:49 AM),
Lynn said:

I had to move my cat a few times and she hated it. I did find that she adjusted better if I made sure to have my stuff (furniture,etc) in the new place when I brought her over. At least some of the things were familiar to her.

Once they get used to things, I’ll bet Toto and Nemo will have a blast exploring that house and yard!

On 10 June 2004 (09:22 AM),
Joel said:

Ah, I see now that the second picture features the dear departed Satchel in the background. Smart money says that Toto’s bird is actually Satchel’s catch.

On 10 June 2004 (11:03 AM),
Tiffany said:

Did I really name Toto? FunnY I had forgotten about that.

On 09 September 2005 (03:28 PM),
Martha said:

My curmudgeon black cat’s name is Murphy, and he looks just like Toto! He came with the house we bought. Four years later, we were going to move. A few days before my daughter and I moved across town, he hopped up in a chair as we sat at the dining table. I figured that was as good a time as any to formally announce that we were moving to an apartment house with lots of other inside/outside cats. He responded by disappearing for three days!

About This Site

What is foldedspace.org?
Foldedspace.org is the personal web site of J.D. Roth, a run-of-the-mill middle-aged geek. Mostly what you’ll find here is this weblog, a not-quite-daily rumination on those things of interest to me. The amateur photography I used to share here can now be found at Flickr.

I posted my first web site in the summer of 1994. I bought foldedspace.org on 26 June 2000, and started my weblog on 16 March 2001. (I’d experimented with on-line journals of various sorts as far back as 1997, but nothing ever stuck.) I have dreams of starting bibliophilic.org, a site for book-lovers, but I never seem to get anything done with it.

Who is J.D. Roth?
I was born and raised in Canby, Oregon. As was my father before me. As was his father before him. I attended Canby Union High School before spending four years at college in Salem, where I attended Willamette University. At Willamette, I met the remarkable Kris Gates. We were married soon after graduation. Against all odds, Kris got a job teaching chemistry and physics at Canby High School, so we moved back to my hometown and I went to work for the family business, Custom Box Service. We lived in Canby for over a decade, raising our cats, tending our garden, reading our books. Then we stumbled upon our dream house in Oak Grove, so we packed up and moved closer to Portland.

I now live in said dream house with a spectacularly intelligent wife and three troublesome cats.

I live my life primarly in the mental realm. Some people are physical: outside doing stuff, lifting stuff, building stuff. While I enjoy physical activity and being outdoors, I gravitate toward pastimes that engage my mind, and I lose myself in a mental world from which I’m unable to escape. I’m perpetually out-of-shape and flabby. I try to combat this by commuting to work by bicycle when it’s warm. Though I have good intentions, I rarely ride as much as I should.

I love to learn.

I read a lot. I write a lot. I surf the web a lot. I dabble in photography. I enjoy playing games. I like to watch soccer. Though I claim friends aren’t important, I have many with whom I enjoy spending time.

I crave a life of idleness.

Were you the host of television’s Fun House? The voice of Johnny Quest?
No. That’s a different J.D. Roth, trying to ride on the coattails of my success. I really wish he’d drop me a line. I feel two J.D. Roths could get into much mischief. Plus, I’ve got a bunch of fan e-mail for him.

What is a weblog?
It depends on whom you ask. For my purposes, a weblog is like a public journal. Some people would tell you that a weblog is only a series of interesting links posted in reverse chronological order. They’re wrong.

My weblog is a forum for my thoughts and interests, and an opportunity to share my daily life with friends and family. To the extent a weblog can represent a person, mine represents who I am. Sometimes I swear. Sometimes I rant against religion, etiquette, and assorted bozos. If these things offend you, I apologize: there are other sites that might be of greater interest to you. I update the weblog regularly. Recent entries can be accessed via the calendar on the main page. Older entries can be found in the archives.

My entries fall into several broad categories. There are the personal history entries, which tend to be long, rhapsodic remembrances of my past. My entries on daily life are similar, but more detail-oriented, and generally the kind of thing that people despise in a weblog. I often write about books and reading. I rave about computers and music. I babble about my hobbies: photography, comic books, computer games, soccer, etc. I have a lot of interests, though I tent to obsess about only one or two at a time, often for several weeks or months.

Though I try not to write about politics, sometimes I can’t help it. I’m a small-I independent (though some feel I’m a small-L libertarian). I hate the two-party system. For a time, I was mildly active in local politics, but that died a slow death when I found I could affect little change. (Though I did fight for funding for the historical society!)

Disclaimer: Everything here is True, but not everything here is true. Sometimes—not often—I will alter a fact, will compress time; will composite characters; will, in short, alter the little truths in order that a larger Truth might be more visible. This isn’t a common occurrence, but it does happen. Here is an extended discussion on truth vs. fact in weblogs (in particular, how it affects foldedspace.org).

I’m new here — where’s a good place to start?
Here are some notable entries:

Popular Posts
Get Rich Slowly!, my most-read piece: I summarize the financial self-help books I’ve recently read
Getting Things Done
, in which I describe how I implemented the system from the popular self-help book
Man vs. Skunk: a Photoessay, in which I retrieve a dead skunk from under a trailer house
Action Girl’s Guide to Living, a summary of a fantastic life philosophy
Pocket Bikes — I loathe them
The Golden Rules of Weblogging and Everyone Has Something to Say discuss the art of weblogs
Sexy Songs — readers like you rate their favorite sexy songs
Peter Jackson’s Helms Deep — I review the second Lord of the Rings film; everybody hates me

Personal History & Beliefs
Independence Day — a snapshot sparks memories of my father’s final days
Ashamed — in which I recall times I’ve been ashamed
U2: A Love Story — I fell in love with U2 in high school
How Not To Watch a Movie — Joel, Dave, and I get kicked out of a movie
The Queue — Kris and I don’t fight about money; we fight about our Netflix queue
On the Malleability of Time — I wax philosophical about the nature of time
Golden Plates — I was raised Mormon
Genesis, Exodus, and Revelations — in which I explain my spiritual sojourn
Action Girl’s Guide to Living — how to live life to its fullest

Media Consumption
Star Wars Generation describes my youthful love for Star Wars
Ten Most Important Books — what ten books have been most important in your life?
Best Science Fiction Films — your favorite science fiction films
Netflix — I review every film we rent from Netflix
Sexy Songs — readers like you rate their favorite sexy songs
Peter Jackson’s Helms Deep — I review the second Lord of the Rings film; everybody hates me

Political and Ethical Issues
Everything Here is True — a discussion of truth and journalism (especially weblogs)
How Did We Get Here? — a brief recent history of the Middle East; an attempt to explain 9/11
Amend This — which is a response to…
The Banning of Gay Marriages — Tammy’s post about gay marriage
Whose Rules? — Whose rules should we live by? Yours? Mine? Your god? My god?

Food
Best Salsa Ever — my favorite salsa recipe
Best Clam Chowder Ever — my favorite chowder recipe
Best Gingerbread Cookies Ever — my favorite cookie recipe
American Ethnic Food — in which I butcher Tater Tot Hot Dish
Gin Fizz, Illustrated — in which I learn how to make a fine cocktail

Our House
4027044 and Interpreter of Dreams chronicle the purchase of the house
This Old House, Peeling Wallpaper, Moving Day, and More Work describe the move
Photo Gallery: Remodeling — our friends help us out
Insulated — our insulation contractor sucked
House Update: Painting and House Update: Painting (part two) — with photos!
Yet Another House Update — which is just what it seems
Berry Patch — I plant blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries
Mighty Oaks From Little Acorns Grow — a summary of our gardening adventures
Bathroom Remodel: Before (with photos) and Bathroom Remodel: During (with photos)

Miscellaneous Flotch
The Book Club Reading List documents every book we’ve ever read
When the Bullet Hits the Bone — goofy nonsense from yours truly
Catfilter — an attempt to gather all the AskMetafilter cat questions in one spot
2002: Year in Review — bests and worsts from 2002
2003: Year in Review — bests and worsts from 2003

Comments

On 09 June 2004 (03:58 PM),
Denise said:

Do you want your picture to look sinister? You almost look like a character from a Stephen King novel.

On 10 June 2004 (07:08 AM),
Jeff said:

Denise-

Stephanie took that picture at Tony & Kamie’s wedding 7 years ago (has it really been that long?!?). If I remember correctly, Steph was taking pictures of all of couple friends (Jeremy & Jenn, Kim & Sabino, etc.) sitting around the table. But, Kris wasn’t able to attend the wedding, so poor little JD was all alone. Thus the goofy, sinster look.

My wife just has a knack for taking good photos (and catching JD at his best).

On 10 June 2004 (07:12 AM),
Jeff said:

…pictures of all of our couple friends…

…sinister…

I can’t type this morning.

On 04 August 2004 (01:32 PM),
Jalpuna! said:

Hello! I’m just dropping by on my lunch break to compliment your site. The “I’m New Here” section above is an excellent idea!

Cheers!

On 09 May 2005 (05:58 PM),
Chelsea said:

I left a comment on one of your entries on reading the classics.

Please get back to me if you can.

Frvballbaby13@yahoo.com

I really appreciate it!

On 17 June 2005 (03:43 PM),
Margaret Corrick said:

Could your family go back to a John and Francesca Roth who lived in Canby in the 1800’s. I am a relative of that family. They had a son Fred who was supt. of schools at Canby in the early 1900s. If you have any information on that family please let me know. Thanks

On 18 June 2005 (12:21 PM),
Mom (Sue) said:

Margaret, I did some genealogical research on this Roth family line when I first married Steve, my late husband and J.D.’s father, and the family doesn’t go back to any Canby people. Steve’s grandfather and grandmother were Daniel and Amanda Roth, who lived in Silverton and then Woodburn. I’m not familiar with the couple you mention. There is another Roth family in Canby, notably a Paul Roth, and maybe you could contact him to see if they are related. I wish I could be of more help to you but perhaps this will be of some assistance through the process of elimination.

Patronus

For most people, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban — the third Harry Potter book — is their favorite. It’s the last of the books in the series to be tightly written (and edited), but the first to really explore its themes in a complex manner. And the climax is marvelous.

I didn’t really care for the first two Harry Potter films (though we had fun attending the second film in costume); I found them loud and garish and, well, annoying.

I’m happy to report that the third film adaptation is a refreshing change. The overall presentation is darker — the visuals and the sets, I mean. There’s more of an emphasis on character and story and less of an emphasis on gee-whiz special effects (though Buckbeak the hippogriff is amazing, the best CGI character I’ve seen yet: on a par with Gollum). There’s far, far less Quidditch, and no mention at all of the House Cup. This is the best film of the three so far, just as the third book is the best in the series.

In fact, from its middle, this film is nearly perfect. And it’s nearly a perfect adaptation. I actually had tears in my eyes as I watched my favorite scenes unfold, scenes I’d imagined in my mind for years, scenes created on screen in pitch perfect accuracy (unlike Peter Jackson’s mutilation of The Lord of the Rings).

My favorite part of the book/film is when Harry learns (and then uses) the Patronus charm. The Patronus is designed to ward the Dementors, the terrifying guards of Azkaban, the wizarding prison. Dementors suck joy, happiness, and hope — and eventually the soul — from their victims. They’ve caused trouble for Harry, and he wants a way to protect himself.

A wizard creates a Patronus by concentrating on the happiest moment of his life. This strong, positive emotion wards him from the despair and hopelessness represented by the Dementors.

How would my Patronus manifest itself? Which moment in my life was happiest?


In many ways, I feel as if Kris and I are trying to recreate happy moments from our childhood with this new home. If we follow our plan, the downstairs living area will feel very much like your grandparents’ house might have thirty years ago.

The furniture and painting Kris received when her grandmother died will be featured prominently around the house. We recently purchased a kitchen stool exactly like the one in my grandparents’ kitchen (only ours is yellow and theirs was pink); we have a heavy black rotary-dial telephone like my grandparents had; we’ll be hanging mirrors on the walls — as the current owners have — and one of the mirrors is one that hung on my parents’ bedroom wall when I was growing up; and so on.

I can’t keep away from the new house. I drive past it whenever I travel to or from Portland (which I’ve done several times this past week). Yesterday, before the movie, we stopped for a visit. The annual neighborhood garage sale was in progress, so we were able to see the stuff John and Mary Jo (and Gerry) don’t plan to keep.

“Hey!” I said, pointing at an old leather-covered chair. “They’re selling my chair.” When we first toured the house, I fell in love with this chair, which had been sitting in the kitchen. It’s old, and a bit rickety, but it’s comfortable (and comforting). I had wanted to write the chair into our offer, but Kris and Mary argued that it would be too frivolous.

“You want that chair?” asked Mary Jo, disbelieving. She laughed. “That’s Gerry’s chair. He loves it, too.” (Gerry is her housemate.)

Gerry appeared, beaming. “The chair is $25, but for you it’s only $20,” he said. I thanked him, paid him, and then carried the chair back to its proper spot in the kitchen.

“Do you want this old end table?” Mary Jo asked when we’d gone back out to the garage sale. “It’s forty years old. It was my mother’s. She loved it. I hate to sell it, but we don’t have a place for it.”

“Sure,” I said. “We can use that.” And so I carried the coffee table back into the living room.

The current owners have a long Davenport in the front room. Though it’s large and its form is fine, it’s rather ugly.

“Do you want this Davenport, too?” Mary Jo asked. We did not.

But, in a way, I did. My grandfather had a long, ugly Davenport, too: a mauve-colored beauty with a flowery pattern etched in the fabric. (The fabric was very firm, so that if you slept on it, the pattern would be etched in your cheeks). Every day, after a lunch of Campbell’s bean with bacon soup, grandpa would sleep on the Davenport for fifteen minutes to half an hour. Then he’d rise suddenly, get to his feet, and say, “Well, time to get back to work.” And then he’d go out to his garden or his cows or his woods.

Things from our childhood are comforting, are they not?


I really like the house’s current owners. They seem like good people.

Comments


On 05 June 2004 (11:18 AM),
Ron said:

I had some bean and bacon soup this week because it reminded me of grandpa’s house. I hadn’t had any in years. Its still one of my favorite soups. I have a picture of my mom and dad on that couch holding me as a baby.



On 05 June 2004 (11:39 AM),
J.D. Roth said:

I eat Campbell’s bean-with-bacon soup on a regular basis. It’s one of my comfort foods. And it’s all because of grandpa. (Actually, I’m fixing a can for lunch right now.)

In fairness to my extended family, I should admit we recently had a converation about grandpa’s naps on the top-secret Roth family forum (past excerpts from the forum, and a cast of characters, here). Here are some highlights:

J.D.: So I was reading and article in Prevention Magazine about sleep and sleep disorders, and one of the points that they made was that a short nap every day is very beneficial and that more American businesses should allow time for their employees to nap. (I guess they must mean more than zero.) This got me to thinking of Grandpa and his naps, so I shared my memories with Kris. She wondered if he had always napped, or whether that only happened when he was older. Viriginia? Did Noah nap when you were a kid? And when were his naps? I seem to recall them coming after a hearty lunch of bean with bacon soup, but I could be mistaken. Anyone? Any memories of Grandpa’s naps?

Tammy: Yeh, he’d often sit in the corner of that pink couch right by the old radio and snore loudly.

Virginia: Years ago there was a wood cook stove in the area where your mom’s breakfast nook is. The nook part is now in what used to be the bedroom walk in closet. (Hmmmmm, I wonder if anyone else had a walkin closet in them days) The refrigerator sit in what used to be the pantry, so I guess the nook takes up part of that, too. There was a space between the stove and the wall. Dad would lay down in that space everyday right after lunch for a short nap. One day I decided to crawl back there after he was done with his nap. I had a box on my head (don’t ask me why) and I crawled on the floor behind the stove. When I got ready to come out I stood up. Well, it so happened that mom had a kettle of soup on the stove and the handle was sticking out over the edge and the box hit the handle and the handle spun around and tipped over the soup, and the soup hit the floor, the soup was hot and I bawled and Dad came to my rescue and poured cold water on me and till it was all said and done there was a big mess which I’m sure my Mom enjoyed cleanig up. :-( Dad’s naps only lasted about 10 – 15 minutes. Sometimes shorter, The ones in church seem to last longer.

Gwen: Mom, I never heard that cute story! I remember Grandpa saying “well, I had a good nap”. It was totally amazing to me as he had been sitting upright in the car, while Grandma was shopping. I have inherited that ability, and for the most part I am glad, In church it is unhandy, but I find that if I quit fighting and go ahead a doze a bit, I often wake refreshed and can stay awake the rest of the service. If I fight and fight, I have to keep on fighting and it is terrible. Henry envies my ability to lie down on the recliner with the children all around and sleep 20 minutes. But the children laugh at me when I fall asleep in the middle of a spelling test, or doing oral reading class. Did Grandpa have that problem, too. I mean, besides church, did he fall asleep when he sat still? It is especially in the forenoon that I have that problem.

Sue: I remember Steve telling me about his dad’s ability to just drop off for 20 minutes and then wake up suddenly and go back out to work. I am assuming that this took place after his lunch but I’m not sure — you all have better memories of what happened than I do of what Steve said. I have often envied his dad’s ability to nap like that. I very rarely nap, and when I do, sure as shooting I have a cat on me trying to make itself comfortable (I am being vague about the sex here because it could be either Stevie — a female — or Chester or even, if he’s in the house, Silver).

Tammy: I seem to have inherited grandpas short naps. I often lie down in the afternoon and get up in fifteen minutes totally recharged. If I sleep longer I feel headachy and groggy all day!

Virginia: I also remember another story about that old stove. On Saturday night there would be a big wash tub filled with water and that is where we took our Saturday night baths. On this certain evenng the electricity went off after the tub was filled, and before anyone was in it. We were all told to stay in the dinning room while Dad went and checked the electric box. I was scared so I followed him. The rest of the story is all wet. Also it is on this stove that I learned to bake. I would wait tlll Mom went over to clean the church and then I knew I had plenty of time to make cookies. I learned just how much wood to put in to hold the fire at just the right temperature. The only thing I didn’t know… One time I put too many eggs in the cookie dough and at that time I didn’t know about doubling a recipe so I threw the dough out and started over.

Ron: I remember Grandpa’s naps. It seemed to take him about 2 breaths before he was asleep and then he would wake up with a snort and sit up and go to work. I also remember looking across the church at Zion and seeing him sleeping. I tell Eileen I am just following the behavior modeled for me by my ancestors at church.

I love the top-secret Roth family forum. :)



On 05 June 2004 (11:42 AM),
Lisa said:

Oooh. That stool is cool. I think that Albert wants it.



On 05 June 2004 (06:21 PM),
tammy said:

I had totally forgotten about that pink metal chair of grandmas. I put some tributes to my heritage aroudn myhosue too. My craft room is bordered in faceless Amish dolls in a nod to my roots. The guest room is filled with things from Gregs side of the family; a trunk that came over to Ellis Island with his family when they immmigrated from Poland, his baby pictures, a huge painting of an iris that his sister made, antique picture frames from his mother and a quilt hanger with old quilts that his aunts and mother quilted through the years.

In Gregs den is a balck and white framed wall hanging of the boat his dad worked served on in the war. I love old things that tell a story. By the way that trunk in the guest room has it’s lock broken. Seems they somehow lost the key on the voyage and so immigration officers forced it open. Gregs mom thought I might want to get it fixed. Why? It’s all part of the story.



On 05 June 2004 (09:01 PM),
Anthony said:

I love the idea of you returning furniture right back into the house whence it came. I also think your plans for the house sound splendid.

Why do we love old things? Why in a culture marked by a compulsive desire for the newest and best do we still find ourselves drawn toward things, outdated relics, that remind us of the past?



On 06 June 2004 (07:17 AM),
gwen said:

Mom fell heir to that ugly couch. I’m sure she had it until she moved to Idaho. Perhaps it could still be traced.;^) Are you going to have a sterio console instead of an entertainment center?
We found a beautiful one at an auction for 40.00 when we got married, but 10 years later we couln’t get a nibble on it a yard sale, and ended up burning it. I always felt kinda bad about that.



On 06 June 2004 (09:44 AM),
dowingba said:

Every time you mention the LOTR films, you get more and more viscious about it. Now they’re a “mutilation”? Come on, how many Academy Awards have the Harry Potter films won? And by the way, they really shouldn’t be compared, since LOTR was written by a true linguistic genius half a century ago (and it took him about 20 years to write), while Harry Potter books are churned out one per week it seems, just riding the perpetual wave of fantasy popularization that was started solely by Tolkien.

Okay, I was disappointed with The Two Towers adaptation (and that was my favourite of the books, too), but ROTK is a pretty damn good adaptation, you’ve got to admit that. I haven’t seen a more perfect page-to-screen rendering of any story, ever. Of course, I haven’t seen or read the latest Harry Potter book/movie. Nor will I.



On 06 June 2004 (10:18 AM),
J.D. said:

Dowingba makes some fair charges against your humble narrator.

Every time you mention the LOTR films, you get more and more viscious about it. Now they’re a “mutilation”?

Fair enough. I deserved to be called out for this. Let me explain my current feelings.

When I first heard about these films, and saw the initial production stills, etc., I was worried about the potential problems.

Then I saw Fellowship. Though I wasn’t blown away by the film, I liked it. I thought the cave troll scene and the insanely long final battle were the only real blemishes. And then when I saw the extended version of Fellowship on DVD, I loved it. I could forgive the twenty-minute final battle because the rest of the film was so good in its extended version.

Then I saw Peter Jackson’s Helms Deep. You all know how I feel about that. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. It’s not fair to say that it’s a bad film — it’s merely average (or, actually, a little below) — but it certainly did not live up to my lofty expectations. And the extended version didn’t help this time.

When I first saw Return of the King, I had mixed emotions. There were some great scenes, yes, but the film was marred by too many scenes of overwrought emotion from Sam and Frodo, but too much glossing, and by a tedious extended denoument. It’s only with time that I’ve really come to realize how much I disliked the third installment. It’s not as bad as Peter Jackson’s Helms Deep, and it’s still an above average film, but again: I was disappointed, and sometimes “failure to live up to expectations” can, in a person’s mind, be a worse sin than actually being “a film of poor quality”.

To compound the problem, the Rings films were the subject of relentless hype for over two years. There’s only so much hype I can stand before I sour on something, even if it’s something that I’m predisposed to like, you know? I’ve read The Lord of the Rings a couple dozen times in my life, and I love it. But that doesn’t mean that I’m willing to endure two years of being told how awesome a trio of mediocre films are.

To summarize: I love the books, and always will. I find the films mediocre (though I do quite like the first, especially in its extended version). They failed to live up to my expectations, though, and that makes me bitter. This bitterness is compounded by the relentless hype around these films that exists even now.

Come on, how many Academy Awards have the Harry Potter
films won?

I have no idea. But you know how I feel about the modern state of the Academy Awards, right? Are you really saying that you can believe they’re a true indicator of quality? Titanic over L.A. Confidential? Shakespeare in Love over Saving Private Ryan? Gladiator over Crouching Tiger? A Beautiful Mind over anything? Please.

And by the way, they really shouldn’t be compared, since LOTR was
written by a true linguistic genius half a century ago (and it took him about
20 years to write), while Harry Potter books are churned out one per week it seems,
just riding the perpetual wave of fantasy popularization that was started solely by
Tolkien.

You’re right that comparing the two worlds is like comparing apples and oranges, but it’s perfectly possible to have a good apple and a good orange. And besides, I’m not comparing the books, I’m comparing the films. (It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of Rowling’s stylistic ability. She’s no master of the craft. (In fact, the last two books have been pretty poorly written and poorly edited.)) And, to my mind, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the best of the combined six Harry Potter and Rings films. That’s my opinion. (The second Harry Potter film is the worst of the six, even worse than Peter Jackson’s Helms Deep.)

ROTK is a pretty damn good adaptation, you’ve got to admit
that. I haven’t seen a more perfect page-to-screen rendering of any story, ever.

The Princess Bride was pretty damn faithful to the book, IMHO. Also, To Kill a Mockingbird. Actually, I can think of many better adaptations than ROTK. Just saying.

I know you love the Rings films, and I respect that, but they just didn’t do it for me. And I realize that the rest of the world agrees with you and disagrees with me. That doesn’t mean that you’re all right and I’m wrong. It just means we have different opinions. :)

I’ll try to talk less smack about the LOTR films, though. It’s difficult, but I’ll try…



On 07 June 2004 (08:45 AM),
jenefer said:

jd, I was so glad you mentioned to Kill a MockingBird. I was about to mention it. My whole life my mother (Pam) felt it was the best adaptation of book to film she had ever scene. Nothing else surpassed it.

I think you hit the nail on the head with Tolkien. It is not the director’s job you hate, but your own anticipation and too firmly entrnched ideas of how the movie should have been adapted that disturb(s) you, I think. I too have read the books many times, and all the associated support books. I think the films were great given the limitations of the medium and the audience. How will your books ever make it to film if you are so critical now? Prepare yourself.



On 07 June 2004 (09:16 AM),
J.D. said:

Also, Jurassic Park was a better adaptation than ROTK, though I missed the pterodactyls from the book…

Here are other Harry Potter reviews from weblogs I read: Michael Rawdon’s Escape from Chris Columbus, Joel and Aimee’s The Boy Who Lived, and Rob Fahrni‘s brief comments.



On 07 June 2004 (11:23 AM),
Denise said:

J.D. – how can you say Jurassic Park was a better adaption? They completely changed the ending…in the book the old guy dies and is eaten by the little scavanger reptiles, whereas in the movie, he is saved with the rest of the crew.



On 07 June 2004 (11:25 AM),
Denise said:

Sorry folks – should be adaptation up there.



On 07 June 2004 (12:15 PM),
Lynn said:

Understanding that when a book is adapted to film there are going to be changes, I was still disappointed that my favorite line from HP3 was removed. It occurred at the very end of PofA when Harry went home for the summer and he informed the dreaded Dursleys that he had a godfather…and he was an escaped convict! It was a sweet moment. But, other than that, I thought the movie was great fun. I loved the themE of time and the ever-present clocks. I also really liked the added landscape and the color.



On 07 June 2004 (02:00 PM),
J.D. said:

Denise: How can you say Jurassic Park was a better adaptation? They completely changed the ending.

Peter Jackson completely changed the ending, too. He changed lots of stuff. Where’s Saramun in the third film? Where’s the scouring of the Shire? Where are Sam and Frodo falling in with the orcs? Why did he add that stupid scene with Aragorn falling off his horse and into the river? (Wait — that was the second movie, wasn’t it?) Why the emphasis on Arwen?

I think Jurassic Park was a more faithful adaptation than Return of the King



On 07 June 2004 (02:36 PM),
Denise said:

Ok – I get your point, but I still say that the old guy getting eaten at the end is much better than him getting saved. That sort of changes the whole feel of the story.



On 07 June 2004 (02:57 PM),
Joel said:

JD said: “Why the emphasis on Arwen?”

Perhaps the mighty lobbying power of the Collagen Advisory Board? Peter Jackson’s a big Aerosmith fan?

Or maybe P.J. concluded that, for the movie to work, it really needed a romantic subplot.

Similar to Cuaron’s decision to change how Peter Pettigrew was first revealed, making the moment more about Harry.

It seems we’re having a disconnect over the question of the “perfect adaptation”. Did you like the movie because it effectively captured the spirit of the books and communicated that spirit as an effective film? Or did you really like it because the “scenes [were] created on screen in pitch perfect accuracy (unlike Peter Jackson’s mutilation of The Lord of the Rings).”? The Cuaron took more liberties with the story than the previous films and clearly benefited from the resulting freedom. Peter Jackson tried to do a similar job with LotR, but it didn’t work for you. Eh?



On 07 June 2004 (05:04 PM),
Nikchick said:

JD said: “Why the emphasis on Arwen?”

I think that was a wise decision, to appeal to modern audiences who maybe are not entirely consumed with their geekish knowledge (and reverence) of the books. Tolkien was a man, and he wrote about males. The female characters in his books need modern punching up.



On 07 June 2004 (10:05 PM),
dowingba said:

J.D., film and literature are quite different mediums. Being closer to the book doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a better adaptation. Can you imagine how bad the LOTR movies would have been if they were line-for-line with the books? I, for one, am damn glad the Scouring of the Shire was ommitted from the film. And I am amazed, and thrilled, at how much dialogue was lifted directly from the books. I think the movies, and ROTK specifically, perfectly captured the spirit of the books, and that’s what counts. Of course, the books or the movies might have had a different impression in your mind.

Also, I loved Jurassic Park, but I never read the book.

Oh, and the Saruman battle is going to be in the extended edition. I hear it’s a huge 10 minute fight of some sort. I kinda liked the non-violent battle-of-words in the books, but some more Jedi-esque wizard martial arts like in the first film would suit me just fine. I hope he winds up imprisoned on the roof of Orthanc. Heh.

Cellular

I give in.

You win.

Cellular phones are okay. They’re not evil. Some people may use them for evil, but they’re not evil in and of themselves.

We would not have our new house if it weren’t for the cellular phone we’re borrowing. The cellular phone has allowed us to track down all sorts of things while on the road lately. I’ve been using it for about a month, and I admit it: I’m hooked.

So now I come to you — penitent — and asking your advice.

Which providers to you recommend? (I’ll tell you from the start that I despise US West, so don’t recommend Qwest — they’re not an option.) Jeff and Jeremy recommend Verizon. What other options are there?

What kind of calling plans are available? What about pay-as-you-go?

What should I look for in a phone? If I get a cell phone, I want to be able to check my e-mail from it. This is not optional. I’d also like for it to sync with existing computer-based address books. Is this possible?

Yes, I’ve turned to the dark side.

Help me by sharing your experiences, good and bad, with carriers, calling plans, and phones.

Don’t gloat.

Just give me advice.

Comments


On 04 June 2004 (10:44 AM),
Tiffany said:

I have Cingular, I like it, good coverage. I have only lacked coverage in Alaska and the week of Sept 11. Nationwide coverage was important to me, but most likely not for you.

Plus they have roll over minutes that come in handy some months.
Check Costco, they normally offer a sightly better deal that you can get in the malls.



On 04 June 2004 (10:52 AM),
Denise said:

Don’t use AT&T – I’m changing over as soon as my contract is up…too bad it’s next April.

I have heard good things about Verizon.



On 04 June 2004 (10:53 AM),
mac said:

We have AT&T, their prices are fine, but sometimes their coverage sucks. You’re going to pay a pretty penny for internet services through your cell phone. Most phones hook up to the address books in your computer or palm pilot, but they usually DON’T come with the cable that connects your phone to your computer.


On 04 June 2004 (10:56 AM),
J.D. said:

So Dana, in an informative e-mail (why not comment?), also pointed out internet service via cell phone is pricey. So, in your advice, ignore the internet stuff unless you have first-hand experience with it. I’ll research that myself. For now, just focus on normal usage.


On 04 June 2004 (11:14 AM),
MightyLambchop said:

The AT&T thing is moot as that division is now owned by Cingular.

Pay as you go is good if you’re like me and you rarely use your phone.
However, if you will use it for work or business like my boyfriend does, you’ll need to go with a contract plan. Those will give you long distance, roaming and national coverage.

Sprint is pretty good as is Verizon for something like that. Both have good coverage. The trick is choosing a good phone. I have an ancient LG that has never let me down. My boyfriend has a Samsung that’s neat but it’s battery life is nonexistant and it never gets a good signal.

Read your contract thouroughly though. You don’t want to get locked into a crappy plan and sometimes buying out is more trouble than it’s worth.



On 04 June 2004 (12:28 PM),
Scott Smith said:

You may want to consider a blackberry phone from either Verizon or T-Mobile. This will recieve and relatively easily send e-mail, and the internet connection cost is reasonable IMHO. It comes with software and a sync cradle that will allow you to connect it to your computer via Outlook.
As a side note, I decided to move from a palm pilot to a pocket pc (Palm OS v. Windows CE) about a year ago. I found the easiest way to convert the information over was a free Yahoo account. Yahoo has a sync program that will upload and download from both platforms. So I uploaded the information from my old palm to Yahoo, then downloaded it to MS Outlook, which downloaded it to my new pocket pc.



On 04 June 2004 (12:33 PM),
Amanda said:

I love Cingular and hear only nasty things about AT&T and Sprint.


On 04 June 2004 (05:05 PM),
Betsy said:

I’ve had AT&T for over seven years now, and have not had problems until the last year.

First I got a new phone on the new network, but took it back after 2 weeks after a rash of missed calls/dropped calls/general flakiness. They finally admitted that they’re still scrambling to get towers up on this new network, so coverage might be spotty (I’m now told that any new customer MUST go on the new network – they let me switch back, though.)

Then I had customer service problems, after years of great service.

Now, I have horrible coverage, especially in my own house. Calls go right to voicemail & I never hear them ring, I have no network access, etc.

If it weren’t for the fact that I get perks from AT&T for being a longtime customer (reduced rates on new phone purchases, etc.) & the hope that Cingular might give us the rollover program as well, I’d be gone…

There is a way to get email notifications on your wireless phone, though – you can set it up to get a text message every time tagged people (or tagged subject lines or keywords) send something to your inbox. Yahoo used to have a notifier, and I know there’s something integrated with Outlook. What I don’t remember is whether or not you need to have your machine on and the email actually resident on your machine to trigger the notifier, or if it’s server-based instead.

I think that’s better than email on a cell phone -which I tried, and it sucked for many many reasons.

I’d really carefully check the form factor of any device that’ll let you do phone and email (whether a Blackberry or Treo, which I hear is way cool.) Will you like holding a brick like device to your ear? Do you need access to your calendar or phone book while you’re on the phone? Think it through carefully before deciding on a all-in-one device (I still like my 2-device partnership – cell phone and Handspring Edge – better.)

Finally – welcome to the 21st century. While cell phones have their disadvantages, they’ve saved my butt on more than one occasion…



On 04 June 2004 (07:44 PM),
Amy Jo said:

We too have joined the dark side. We signed with Verizon and two new phones are on their way to us (with a 503 area code)–just in time for our cross-country trip and looming homelessness.



On 24 June 2004 (07:12 AM),
J.D. said:

Three weeks later, I finally succumbed to the dark side. Here’s what I decided to go with:

A Sony Ericsson T610 phone with T-Mobile’s Basic Plus service and the t-zones add-on package (which gives me access to POP3 e-mail and WAP browsing for $5/month). One-year contract.

If, at the end of the year, I find that I’m using less than 60 minutes/month, I’ll drop down to the lowest service plan.