What makes a motorcycle street legal? is off-road street legal?

as opposed to a "dirt bike"





i've been looking into a scooter/motorcycle for the m.p.g.


but some 'dual purpose' motorcycles I've seen seem nice - also more in the scooter price range





http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.... this type "dual purpose"


says it is 'street legal' but I would guess you couldn't go on the highway with it - or yes?





I would guess with 249cc it wouldn't be really happy on the hwy for longer than a few miles but then scooters can't go on the hwy at all





I'm looking for something a little "outside the box" in terms of a high m.p.g. urban commute vehicle





and then heck ya I'd take some offroad jaunts too I hope!





any drawbacks to this type of thing - I mean, any drawbacks that wouldn't also be drawbacks of a scooter





I'm aiming at the under $5000 (the far more under the better) price range
What makes a motorcycle street legal? is off-road street legal?
Street legal means the vehicle has all of the original safety equipment i.e. lights, horn, brakes. Scooters will not do well off road due to the small wheels but the new ones from Yamaha and Honda in the 200 to 400 cc range can deliver 80+ MPG and cruise at highway speeds all day long. They cost more than 7K.


I ride a 150 cc dirt bike on the highway all the time at 60 MPH or so. for 100 to 150 Miles. If you want more speed and less low end power, on a dirt bike, change the sprocket. Fuel consumption on a motorcycle is not that great
What makes a motorcycle street legal? is off-road street legal?
%26gt; What makes a motorcycle street legal?


Mostly approval by your state for street use.


In my state that means horn, brake and headlights, turn signals, some stupid equipment to decrease gasoline evaporating into the air from the tank when the bike is running, and some emissions equipment.





At 249cc, your motorcycle can be used on highways and freeways. Don't expect a lot of highway passing power from that small engine.





On our freeways, I'd expect a lightweight like that motorcycle to have some highway jitter, where it shakes from the rain grooves. To reduce that, you could get "street tires."
Reply:I own that bike well an 06 model anyway. Yes I took it down a major highway for 20+ miles at 70mph it's ok but working hard it's better for cruising around town at 40-50. But I have hit 80. It also gets 65+mpg around town.





For a little more pep and way easier starting I got a muffler/ re jetted and opened up the air box about 100$ spent in parts. They are so QUIET stock you sometimes can't hear the engine over the wind noise. It's a lot better off road now and with aftermarket tires it's a tank.





Just remember it's a small cc bike for the road but it goes everywhere and does everything well, I'm happy I got one. The first time you go by a cop paranoia sets in but the streets are now my playground.
Reply:I had one in university and I really liked it. They're a blast to ride, the riding position is high so you can see in traffic, they're easy to maneuver, great to zip around the city, and fun to ride on trails outside the city. They're not real comfortable on the freeway for an extended amount of time - but that doesn't mean you can't if your committed. I took my 250 on a several 100 mile (+ or -) trips and a few times with a passenger - and mind you it was kind of an old bike. I never paid attention to gas milage because mine didn't have a gauge.





As a suggestion to you, I would consider the KLR 650 over the 250 because it looks like it's only $500 more, more comfortable, and useful in the long run....but that's just my preference at the moment and you might want more zip and control. I think you must be able to find a used one for less than 5k. The downside over a scooter would be the cost to insure, maintain, and maybe less gas milage (I don't know) - but that's all I can think of.





You got me wishing I had one now, thanks. I don't know why more people don't consider these, especially the beginners, I'd much rather have a dual-purpose than a 250 ninja or the rebel I see people asking about.