A pitbike is one of the types of a family of motorcycles, the main purpose of which is off-road or road riding, depending on the configuration. Currently, a pit bike does not belong to the category of vehicles (hereinafter referred to as vehicles). This is due to the fact that the legislation has not yet provided for a certain type of transport for it. Therefore, to a greater extent, pit bikes are purchased for sporting purposes, for example, for motocross and supermoto. Before buying a pit bike, motorcyclists ask themselves the question: do they need to have a driver’s license to continue using it?
You can find the answer to this pressing question in this article.
When do you need a driver's license to drive a pit bike?
According to its technical characteristics, a pit bike can be classified as a motorcycle or moped, depending on the engine size. But upon purchase, this mechanical device is registered as sports equipment, as evidenced by the corresponding entry in the warranty conditions. To directly use a pit bike on special motocross tracks, you do not need a license.
If you purchased such a mini-motorcycle for everyday use, you can try a trick and design it as a moped. Since 2013, citizens with category “M” licenses are allowed to drive this type of vehicle. If the pit bike’s engine capacity is more than 50 cubic meters, then in order to ride on city streets, you will need to obtain a driver’s license of subcategory “A1”.
The main question for mini-motorcycle owners in Russia
A little time passed, and the area of use of the pit bike expanded. Already in the late 1960s, it went on wide sale; people began to purchase it for entertainment and household needs. At some sports competitions, for example, motocross, it is the main equipment; it is actively used for tourism.
Mini-motorcycles are popular in Russia, but people also buy them because they imply some kind of legislative loyalty in operation. However, when asked whether a license for a pit bike is needed if it is sports equipment, traffic police inspectors, as a rule, answer in the affirmative. At the very least, the lack of a driver's license risks, at a minimum, penalties.
At what age can you get a license to drive a pit bike?
Pit bikes are especially popular among young people. In this regard, the question arises at what age can one obtain a driver’s license to drive one.
A citizen from the age of 14 can undergo technical training in order to become the owner of the coveted crust in the future. At the same time, you need to know that it will not be possible to use the document and become a full participant in traffic on highways at this age.
The owner of the license will be able to get behind the wheel once he reaches the age of sixteen. If we are talking about a vehicle with an engine capacity of more than 50 cubic meters, capable of reaching speeds above 50 km/h, then you can use your rights only after reaching the age of majority (18 years).
What is a pit bike for?
Pitbike is a young hobby that is growing into a big sport.
This transport appeared in the middle of the last century. It was created as an alternative to bicycle technology. Today this is a separate modification of the motorcycle.
Experienced people say that this is sports equipment, and only then everything else. After all, it is intended for events that are held during the day and with special conditions - so that there are no people or other vehicles on the way.
This is a device for those people who are interested in motorcycles, but are not ready for the test. After all, such a sport is not for everyone, and it requires large investments. The need for learning and progress arises from a person. Knowledge of parts, experience in servicing your vehicles.
For those who do not want to learn complex things, pit bike racing was invented. The motorcycle, only with smaller wheels, is light both in weight and in control. And the price is affordable. It all depends on the desired characteristics and needs. Simplicity of design and ease of operation are the main advantages of transport. Therefore, it can be the first transport to a full-fledged moped.
The pit bike is easy to control - even a child can handle it
Pit bikes are now rapidly gaining popularity. There are many reasons for choosing such transport - from the crisis to hobbies. In Russia, hundreds of clubs have been created in different cities of the country, whose members are experts in the matter. There they will tell you everything about the advantages, train you and let you participate in competitions. The organizers of which are.
How to get a technical passport for a pit bike?
According to traffic rules, a technical vehicle passport is not issued to a mini-motorcycle. But without it, you won’t be able to go through the registration procedure with the traffic police.
To turn a pit bike into a vehicle, it must be equipped with brake lights, lighting elements, and road tires. The engine volume stamped on the cylinder will have to be sanded down.
Additionally, a service book is purchased from any moped with an engine capacity of less than 50 cubic meters. Despite the relative simplicity of this method, resorting to tricks associated with forging documents is undesirable.
To classify a modernized pit bike as a vehicle, you need to pass a technical commission and, based on its results, receive a title.
What does the law say?
From the point of view of current legislation, the issue must be resolved based solely on the individual parameters of the vehicle. Pit bikes whose rated speed does not exceed 50 kilometers per hour and whose engine capacity is no more than 50 cubic centimeters do not require a driver’s license.
This type of transport is classified as low-power, and theoretically even children can drive it. Such models are also often equipped with an automatic clutch. Such a pit bike not only does not require a license, but in general does not require any document.
With more powerful varieties of such mini-motorcycles, the situation is somewhat more complicated, for example, if the volume of the power unit is more than 110 cubic centimeters, registration must be carried out with the traffic police, and the vehicle must be registered as a full-fledged motorcycle. Also, the driver of this vehicle will have to have a category “A” driver’s license.
This means that a pit bike with an engine capacity of 125 and 250 cubic meters requires a driver’s license.
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What documents are needed to obtain a driver's license?
The difficulty lies in the fact that quite often difficulties arise when registering such a vehicle. In particular, for smooth registration you will need to provide a Vehicle Passport, and most manufacturers do not issue such a document for their products.
Actually this is the main problem. Therefore, when registering a vehicle, you need to be prepared for the fact that it won’t be possible to do everything “in one go.”
Is it possible to ride a pit bike on public roads?
A cross-country motorcycle is designed for high-speed riding on specially equipped tracks. It is unacceptable to drive it under your own power on roads. Pit bikes are transported on cargo trailers.
To travel on highways without breaking laws, you must have a driver's license that matches the category of vehicle you are using.
However, this document alone is not enough to avoid criticism from traffic police. The vehicle must be equipped in accordance with technical regulations and have registration numbers.
Owners of pit bikes who have successfully modernized their “iron horses”, gone through the procedure for obtaining a title, received license plates for the vehicle and took out insurance, can safely ride on highways without fear of punishment.
Feature of a pit bike.
Literally, a “pit bike” is a bicycle used in a technical area.
The name appeared with the organization of pit boxes (pit lines) on race tracks. Team members often used light available transport (initially, a bicycle) to speed up movement in the technical zone or adjacent sections of the route. It was included in the inventory lists, and the nomenclature designation “pit-bike” was used. Accordingly, the main features included:
- Lightweight, compact, easy to transport;
- Belonging to sports equipment.
The range of such equipment turned out to be diverse - from bicycles, mopeds, minibikes, light motorcycles, to children's cross-country models (the latter turned out to be the most convenient on cross-country tracks).
There were a sufficient number of people in the teams who liked to organize comic competitions on these little ones. Everyone (spectators - no exception) received the opportunity to fully participate in such competitions. The races became spectacular, attracted participants, spectators, and gathered fans.
As a result, competition rules were formed and general requirements for equipment appeared. The current pit bike has become a motorcycle with:
- Horizontal four-stroke air-cooled engine;
- Drive wheel with a diameter of 10, 12, 14 or 17 inches.
Racing is a sport discipline - the American Motorcycle Association has officially included the competition in the regulations of motocross competitions.
There are fans of this sport in Russia - minimotocross is not included in the register of sports, amateur competitions are held regularly.
What documents are needed?
In order to avoid problems when operating and transporting such a device, even if all requirements and rules are met, you must always have with you:
- a document confirming that you are the owner. In fact, this is a regular sales contract, which states that the purchased device is sports equipment and indicates its distinctive characteristics (color, engine number, VIN code);
- passport of sports equipment (certificate of registration of a sports motorcycle). Such documents in the Russian Federation today can be issued only in two organizations: MFR and NRMF.
Having such documents, the pilot will be able to confirm the sporting purpose of his equipment and avoid unnecessary questions from the inspector. But only if it is used for its intended purpose - when driving on the road, the sports equipment card will not save it from problems.
Exam
Now all the conditions have been met, training at the driving school has been completed, and then the future driver will face an exam covering a full test of knowledge. It consists of theoretical and practical parts.
The theoretical part is submitted to the traffic police. The citizen is given 20 minutes to solve 20 test questions. The information contained in the tickets includes not only traffic rules, but also the provision of first aid (before the ambulance arrives), what are the requirements for allowing the vehicle to be used.
Passing the exam for category A at the race track
The examinee is required to confirm with knowledge that he easily has information about safe behavior while driving:
- what factors lead to road accidents;
- what does the technical part of driving safety include;
- components of a vehicle
Ignorance of traffic laws does not exclude you from strict liability.
When taking the exam, you can make no more than two mistakes, otherwise, it will not be passed. Also, when working with various literature, tips from the “neighbor” and cheat sheets, the chances of successfully passing this stage are equal to zero. With new strength and knowledge, you can come back for a retake in 7 days. However, if everything went well and the future driver receives a positive assessment, these results remain valid only for three months.
Exam in the traffic police
The practical part in 2021 is made up of three different exercises, rated on a five-point scale, including the following maneuvering actions:
- “Overall corridor”, “Overall semicircle”, “Acceleration-deceleration”;
- “snake”, “rut road”, “low speed control”;
- “dimensional eight”.
Thanks to such turns, basic driving skills are acquired and developed:
- be able to accelerate using all gears;
- move slowly;
- follow a given trajectory;
- give signals by turning your hand;
- engage neutral gear;
- Brake in a timely and competent manner.
Platform for figure eight
Before starting the assessment test, the examinee is asked to adapt to the transport and site within a couple of minutes. The exam may be taken from one or several applicants at once to acquire rights.
Vehicles used in a driving school must meet certain requirements. This also applies to the quality characteristics of the road surface and lighting on the site.
If one of the exercises is performed incorrectly, the examinee is given an attempt to repeat it. In case of a repeated error, the exam is considered failed. But if, during the test run-in of the site, the future driver understands that he is not ready to take his license today, the attempt is not counted and the examiner invites him to another day.
If the examination area is wet after rain, then “high-speed maneuvering” will not be passed.
