Enduro is a big class of motorcycles! There are models for competitions (for rally raids, for example), and others for “civilian” use! More details can be found on our website. The very presence of a PTS indicates the possibility of using the vehicle on public roads.
By law, in order to ride an enduro in the city, you need the following:
- Category A license (depending on engine size);
- The enduro must have documents such as PTS, registration certificate and compulsory motor liability insurance;
- The vehicle must be equipped with road tires of the appropriate marking;
- A state sign is required;
- To drive an enduro in the city, the vehicle must have low/high beams and direction indicators;
- The driver must be wearing equipment; a large selection can be viewed on the website - equipment.
Motorcycle sports equipment: vehicle or not?
This is a key question, the answer to which determines whether a motorcycle can be used on public roads. So let's start with him.
And we're not just talking about motorcycles. The traffic rules have general concepts for two-wheeled vehicles, such as:
- motocross motorcycle – whether issued as a vehicle or sports equipment,
- pit bike,
- scooter (electric or with internal combustion engine),
- various types of ATVs and tricycles.
The fact is that the traffic legislation of 2022, in principle, does not regulate such a thing as “sports equipment”; it only knows the definition of “vehicle”. This, according to the traffic rules, is a device intended for transporting people on roads.
Depending on the engine size, according to Art. 25 Federal Law No. 196, a motocross motorcycle or a pit bike can be equated to either a moped (up to 50 cm3) or a motorcycle (more than 503). Thus, sports motorcycles can be equated to vehicles of category A, A1 or M, and a special right to drive them is granted. The Code of Administrative Offenses has a similar approach.
The logic of the law is that only a device that requires a driver’s license to control it can be recognized as a vehicle. But do you need a driver's license for a sports motorcycle?
Movement through forests and fields
If in the city you can meet with the traffic police, then there are no inspectors outside the city. If I drive around the village, I don’t need documents. Another belief and also erroneous.
The presence of a striped stick allows the inspector to perform his duties even in an open field if there is a suspicion that sports equipment is being raced there. Another thing is that driving in the private sector with a broken muffler can “ get on the nerves ” of ordinary residents, who may call the traffic police.
We have not yet encountered situations where, for the sake of several lovers of LIGHT-ENDURO, a traffic police inspector will move into the fields. But do you still need to get to the fields somehow?
From the point of view of the law, it is possible to deliver sports equipment to a track on which it is “officially permitted” to drive only in a trailer or the body of a vehicle on which the carriage of goods is permitted. Of course, you can roll the bike with your hands, but this is overkill.
country road
This is where the new version of the traffic rules comes into force. After scrolling through paragraphs 1. 2, you need to find the definition of “road”. A strip of land developed and adapted for vehicle traffic.
In other words, the road between plots in the country, a forest path, a country road (not a highway) is also prohibited for sports equipment (pit bikes and sports bikes).
Roadside and surrounding area
There is a misconception that you can’t drive on the road, but you can drive next to it, on the side of the side of the road. The same 1.2 gives the meaning of “adjacent territory”.
The territory directly adjacent to the road but not intended for through vehicle traffic. These include local areas, parking lots, gas stations, and courtyards of enterprises. The key word is road. Conclusion, not a place for a sports motorcycle .
Do you need a license for a dirt bike or pit bike?
According to the law, the driving license gives the driver the right to drive a vehicle - a device for traveling on roads. These include public roads, adjacent territories and other territories, driving on which is regulated by the Rules of the Road. Consequently, a mandatory attribute of a vehicle is the ability to move through such territories.
If you examine the passport of a motorcycle sports equipment and other documents provided by the manufacturer, they will obviously indicate that it is used mainly for sports and outdoor activities. And instead of a PTS, it comes with a regular product passport.
That is, following this logic and this side of the coin, such devices do not drive on public roads, and therefore, a license for a pit bike or motocross motorcycle is not needed. No matter what engine is installed on it. This means that such a device is not a vehicle, which is confirmed by the existing judicial practice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation (Resolution of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. 13-AD15-1 of February 13, 2015). It turns out that you can ride motocross without a license?!
But there is also court practice that contradicts this logic. In accordance with Resolution of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation No. 11-AD19-17 dated July 22, 2019, the fact that, according to the manufacturer’s documents, a pit bike or motocross motorcycle is used mainly for sports and outdoor activities does not mean that it should be used only for this and cannot be used for road driving. Moreover, if its technical characteristics allow it to be classified as a vehicle of category A or M.
This conclusion of the court allows us to say that licenses for motorcycle sports equipment are still needed. But again, only when driving on public roads and other territories covered by traffic rules. When using such a device for its intended purpose, for example, when driving through forests/mountains/fields specially designed for motorsports, a driver’s license is not required. But here, too, you should look at the concept of the word road according to the letter of the 2022 Traffic Regulations - in essence, it is defined, among other things, as “a strip of land adapted and used for traffic.” That is, a forest road, in essence, also fits this definition.
But is it possible to drive around the city with such a device?
What to do when stopped by a traffic police officer?
A pitbike is a rather noticeable vehicle: it is noisy, outwardly stands out from the crowd and does not have a state license. numbers. The likelihood that the inspector will decide to stop such a motorcyclist is almost one hundred percent. At the same time, if the motorcyclist himself notices a traffic police officer, he tries to escape as quickly as possible. If you do this, you must not forget about the rules of movement on the road and not perform dangerous maneuvers.
If the inspector has already given a signal to stop, then you should not leave: this can create an emergency stop, especially if the State Traffic Inspectorate employees decide to start a pursuit. The likelihood of this is low, but it is still better to comply with the policeman’s demands and stop.
Further events will develop based on how the driver communicates with the inspector. If a motorcyclist starts to “pump up his license” and be rude, then the traffic police officer will definitely try to identify as many violations as possible, which will have to be challenged in court. If the communication initially goes on a good-natured note: if the driver explains that he needs to drive a short section of the road and that he is doing this while observing all precautions, then there is a chance to avoid both showdowns and any punishments. Most inspectors treat an adequate driver kindly.
Is it legal to drive sports equipment on the roads?
Following a recent Supreme Court ruling, a pit bike or similar device may well be used as a vehicle, especially if it meets the legal definitions and technical specifications. In this case, riding a sports motorcycle on the roads is possible. In theory. And this does not mean that it will be legal.
The fact is that clause 3 of Art. 15 Federal Law No. 196 allows the admission of vehicles for use on road conditions only after registration and issuance of the relevant documents by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. But in accordance with the Registration Rules, it is impossible without a PTS. And, since pit bikes and other similar equipment are initially produced as equipment for active recreation and sports, PTS is naturally not manufactured for them.
Thus, registration of sports equipment such as a motorcycle with the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate will not be carried out, and this excludes the possibility of legal operation of such devices on public roads and adjacent territories. Moving such a device on roads is only possible by loading it onto a specially equipped trailer.
Where can you go?
The 2022 legislation, again, does not provide a clear and direct answer to where such technical devices can be driven. Following his logic, riding a pit bike and motocross motorcycles outside the zones where traffic rules apply can be considered legal movement. These include, at a minimum, specially prepared tracks for motocross, as well as mountains, forests and fields (not field roads), where there are no roads designed for driving cars and other vehicles.
However, this is an ambiguous issue, since the law does not provide for specific regulation, and judicial practice on this matter is ambiguous.
What is the punishment for going on the road?
A motorcyclist riding a cross-bike will certainly attract the attention of traffic police officers. The consequences can be very different. If the driver drove carefully and according to the rules, then the inspector can let him go without any punishment. If the conversation between the offender and the policeman does not go well, then the motorcyclist can receive many fines: for driving an unregistered vehicle, for driving without a license, for various malfunctions of the motorcycle (for example, the inspector may interpret the absence of headlights as a malfunction) - and this is just a small list what awaits motorcyclists who take to the road on cross bikes.
However, there is some good news. All these responsibilities are imposed on vehicle drivers, and cross bikes, as already clarified above, do not apply to vehicles. That is, the motorcyclist will be able to challenge any of these fines. The first step is to submit an application to the head of the traffic police department within 10 days from the date of drawing up the protocol. If this action does not bring results, you will have to go to court.
In any case, you should not go on public roads on motorcycles that are not intended for this: firstly, it is dangerous, and secondly, a meeting with the police will definitely lead to problems, even if the fines can be appealed.
Will there be fines for driving on the road?
Undoubtedly! Driving such equipment on public roads at a minimum violates paragraphs 3, 5, 11 of the regulations on vehicle approval. And therefore, the minimum that awaits you if an inspector stops you is a protocol under Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. In addition, depending on the situation, the inspector can impose a whole “bouquet” of protocols on the driver of sports equipment, including:
- Part 1 Art. 12.7 Code of Administrative Offences, for driving without a license;
- Part 1 of Article 12.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, for failure to comply with the requirements of the law on vehicle registration;
- Part 2 of Article 12.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, for driving on the road without a valid MTPL policy;
- Part 1 Art. 12.3 of the Administrative Code, for the lack of title documents, and so on.
One way or another, we do not recommend riding sports equipment such as a motorcycle on the roads. But even if such equipment is used in accordance with the rules for its use, for example, when driving in the mountains, it is recommended to always confirm the nature of the technical device and its intended purpose with documents.
For those who like to run away
For those who like to play catch-up with the police or give advice like “the main thing is not to stop” and they will not chase you - all this is nonsense that can cost you your life.
There is a huge amount of video footage of chases that even breaks the theory of “ you can’t chase a motorcyclist without a helmet .” We recommend not to play with fate, and not to create “lawlessness”.
“It would be better if the inspector caught drunks or robbers,” let’s leave it to the conscience of people in uniform!
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.
Is it necessary to register a cross-bike with the State Traffic Inspectorate?
You can ride a cross-country motorcycle on the roads only if it is a vehicle and is registered with the traffic police. It is quite simple to understand whether you can register your motorcycle with the State Traffic Inspectorate.
If you are the first owner, then you need to refer to the documents received at the motorcycle dealership. When purchasing a vehicle, a title is issued. If it is not there, then the cargo customs declaration most likely indicates that the motorcycle is not a vehicle.
If the bike is bought secondhand, then the title must be requested from the previous owner. Even if the purchase and sale transaction is legally completed, the new owner will not be able to obtain a duplicate vehicle passport if the original was retained by the previous owner.
Registration of a moped with an engine capacity of 50 cubic meters
Any motorized vehicle (motorcycle, moped, scooter) must be registered if its engine volume is more than 50 cm³. If it is less, up to 50 cubic meters, registration is not required. Difficulties can arise with Chinese scooters: it will be possible to find out their engine size if the unit is disassembled. But you can study its markings (number). The letters “A”, “B” indicate a volume up to 50 cm³, the rest (G, H, I, L, M) – a volume from 50 cm³.
To register a 50cc vehicle, you will need the following documents:
- passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
- PrEP;
- PTS;
- diagnostic
technical inspection; - OSAGO policy;
- check for payment of state duty.
To ride a moped with an engine capacity of over 50cc, you must have a driver's license with an open category "A". If the engine volume is less than 50 cm³, you need to have a license with category “M” or any other open one.
Method No. 3. Ride on karting tracks on a mini-moto
Another option for winter fun with a motorcycle is a mini-moto. The first amateur races in this sport began in 1965, and it is still popular today. The small dimensions of the bike allow racing on indoor karting tracks, so this type of training is also available in winter. As a rule, such bikes are equipped with engines whose displacement does not exceed 50 cubic meters. cm. Nevertheless, they are capable of accelerating to 120 km/h.
On such a mini-sportbike, even an adult pilot can learn to feel the grip of the wheels on the surface, and at the same time acquire the skills of correct cornering and behavior on the track. So ride your mini bikes and get ready to race on the big track!
Price of pleasure:
Mini-moto can be bought for 20,000 - 25,000 rubles or rented - 3,000 rubles for 2 hours + track rental 1,500 rubles.
Registration of a homemade motorcycle
If the owner decides to register a motorcycle he made himself, the package of documents increases. In addition to the passport of a Russian citizen, the owner is required to attach the following papers:
- documents for each element (unit) used to assemble the new vehicle;
- technical description of the motorcycle listing all characteristics;
- VIN number (identification), which is issued by the Automotive Research Institute located in Moscow;
- certificate of safety of the created transport (SBCTS), which is issued by an accredited testing laboratory.
Upon provision of the entire package of documents, the owner will receive a vehicle passport. How much it costs to get documents for a motorcycle depends on its engine size and region of registration.
