MOORABBIN Highway Patrol ran an operation targeting illegal monkey bike riders last week.
Police say that there has been a rise in people using bicycles with petrol engines in recent months. “Members of the public who use these vehicles (and their parents), need to be aware of the potential dangers and consequences of riding a bicycle that was not designed to have a motor. The frames are not designed to travel at consistently higher speeds, and the brakes are not adequate to stop a powered bicycle,” a police statement read.
A bike motor has to have a maximum ungoverned power output of 200 watts or less to be legal. Police say that a 50cc engine, frequently fitted to bikes, puts out around 2238 watts.
Illegal bike riders can face fines for unlicensed driving, $826, own or use unregistered motor cycle with engine capacity of 60cc or less, $165, own or use unregistered motor cycle with engine capacity of 61cc or more but less than 501cc, $496, and ride motor bike without helmet, $330 and 3 demerit points.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 13 October 2021