Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

J D /

Jul 03, 2020 07:28AM

So, I have read through the wiki page and the TX DPS website regarding registration of a moped. I am perplexed, mostly due to the origin story of the bike that I own.

I have a valid title and registration from MI(chigan) for a 1959 Montgomery Ward's Riverside AV88. MI has few requirements (motorcycle ed, helmets, plates, all NOT required). I recently moved to TX and am looking to register/ride. When I look at the TX DPS website, it says that my moped has to be on an approved list to actually be a moped? My moped is not on the list. Info posted on the DPS website also states that if it doesn't meet criteria to be considered a moped, then it must be registered as a motorcycle. Seems ridiculous since it fits all requirements BUT being listed. Also, Montgomery Ward's is out of business and I don't believe that there is a Riverside dealer website where I could request the 'required' affidavit to confirm that the bike is in fact a moped.

Website also says that I need a TX motorcycle license (and requisite safety course) to ride a moped?

I want to be on the north side of legal but also don't want to do a bunch of extra leg work or spend money unnecessarily just because the information is not easily interpreted. Then again, did I read everything EXACTLY correct and TX just hates mopeds? (edited)

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

Bas Autowas /

dutchpuch

Jul 03, 2020 08:08AM

Check the list if Mobylette or Motobecane is on there, as Montgomery wards just put their own name on Mobylette/Motobecane mopeds.

Edit; from what i gather all Motobecane's are approved

Screenshot_20200703_141010_com.google.android.apps.docs.jpg

(edited)

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

The Dude /

adventurewagen

Jul 03, 2020 08:55AM

Dude, it's a fucker. It took 6 visits to get my stupid moped legal for the street.

You can register it as a moped, or if you talk to them you can register it as a classic but then it falls under motorcycle.

I dont think you need proof of insurance when you go classic btw. I have my motorcycle license so not sure if you need one for 49cc and under vehicle.

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

Newman Ryno /

grawwler

Jul 03, 2020 10:35PM

I looked into it as well. Basically the process seems like the following:

Get insurance first

take insurance and bike to jiffy lube which gives safety inspections (not all Locations)

once the give the ok for $8 you needs lights horn and can use hand signal don't need cat-eyes

If you have registration then take all that to dmv to set up in the system and done

If you don't have registration or title you have to get a bonded title

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

Beach Club Nick /

khool1499

Jul 03, 2020 10:58PM

In Ohio they used to have an approved model list which only had like 20 mopeds cause Ohio says anything faster than 20 is a motorcycle.

I registered every tomos I got as a golden bullet since that was one of the only Tomos's on the list. If I could find a bike on the list with the same motor as the bike I had, I registered it as that. Ohio was clueless about peds though so who knows if you'd get destroyed by the law in Texas.

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

J D /

d3r3zz3d OP

Jul 04, 2020 02:33AM

Thanks everybody for the help. I was thinking about putting a kit on it to go past 50cc (49.9) anyways, after I registered it (so much for being totally north of legal). If I gotta go get a motorcycle license and register it as such, I guess I might as well go all out. Would be pretty cool to register is as a classic motorcycle.

How big of a motor do you think I could fit on it? I have a Kawasaki motor from an old donor bike (pic attached).

Maybe if I mail it over to Ichiban Moto could put it together for me.

In all serious though, I am genuinely interested in motor mods. Please share links for Moby Moto Modz. I rebuilt the original AV7 that was on it but want moar.

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

Aaron Blair /

aaronb

Jul 04, 2020 04:52AM

Dude the French produce tons of mods, they have a whole racing series over there. Some guy are pushing 20hp. You don't want anywhere near that on a road bike tho. But cylinders, intakes, exhausts....it's all available here from treatland.tv and doscycles.com

There's thousands of threads here on Moby engine modding. And I sizeable wiki page.

We only got the av7 overhere due to speed restrictions, but in France they got the later generation AV10 engine with case induction and Reed's. But an av7 can push 50 no problem with a couple hundred bucks and some time.

Check out Dave fixes his shit on YouTube. He has a series going through the whole process of make a fast Moby street bike.

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

P D /

pdcomm

Jul 04, 2020 08:05AM

You get enough snow in Texas to use these ? ;)

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

J D /

d3r3zz3d OP

Jul 04, 2020 11:27AM

In Michigan: Yes. In Texas: No, that's where all the free parts come from ;)

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

P D /

pdcomm

Jul 04, 2020 11:30AM

Hmm free parts ...

You gonna hang a 440 under that moby ? ;)

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

J D /

d3r3zz3d OP

Jul 04, 2020 11:52AM

Yeah Brother, Snoped to Moped. South Dakota probably gets more snow than Northern Michigan. We get dumped on a couple of times every year from 'Lake Effect'.

No, it was just a gag. I was watching Ichiban Moto weld with sparklers (4th of July celebration) and got a kick out of it. The 2cyl 440cc Kawasaki in a circa 1972 Arctic Cat Cheetah probably weighs more than the Moby frame. Rips though. I had one of these things doing 80 in farmer's fields every winter when I was a kid. Insane by today's standards: a 13 year old going 80 mph + on a suicide machine wearing nothing more than a beanie and a Car-hart jacket with no seat belts, doors, or helicopter parents to supervise.

Since TX is (likely) going to make me say that this thing is a motorcycle (even if it's just the licensing for ME and not the machine), looking to justify the all the effort. Might as well slap a bigger motor on it - looking at 80cc av10 kits on treats. Really, I'm probably just gonna do a burnout on my way to the mailbox every day. I live outside San Antonio so not a very practical machine for doing much aside from mail runs or hitting the Walmart Neighborhood Market for PBR/High Life and Skittles.

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

P D /

pdcomm

Jul 04, 2020 12:19PM

I spent a fair part of this past winter on the edge of Yoakum , Tx . That's about 80 miles east of San Antonio . A little town of maybe 6,000 population .

Anyway , I road my FA50 all over town and countryside without any kind of hassle .

I'd think with a big motor like that 80 , you'd be able to stay with a good share of traffic .

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

Pushrod Fifty /

supercub

Jul 04, 2020 03:33PM

Move to CT, no reg required!

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

Jim Hickcox /

jimhickcox

Jul 05, 2020 10:28PM

I think the DPS list is just things that are for sure mopeds, but other things also count as mopeds. As of last year you still needed an M endorsement on mopeds and scooters but I THINK the Lime/Bird/whatever lobby might have pushed something through so that you don't anymore.

As far as getting it legal - they do ask if it's over 50cc or goes faster than 35mph when you're getting it inspected but they don't check in any way, so if you're cool with a gentle lie you can still get it inspected and then registered as a moped. Moped inspections cost 75 cents and all you need is a headlight, reflectors, and brakes (I think).

If you don't have a title you can always go the VT route. Lots of VT mopeds in TX.

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

Aaron Blair /

aaronb

Jul 06, 2020 10:10PM

If you get an AV10 cylinder your gonna have to source an AV10 engine. Totally different cases.

> J D Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------------

> Yeah Brother, Snoped to Moped. South Dakota probably gets more snow

> than Northern Michigan. We get dumped on a couple of times every year

> from 'Lake Effect'.

>

> No, it was just a gag. I was watching Ichiban Moto weld with sparklers

> (4th of July celebration) and got a kick out of it. The 2cyl 440cc

> Kawasaki in a circa 1972 Arctic Cat Cheetah probably weighs more than

> the Moby frame. Rips though. I had one of these things doing 80 in

> farmer's fields every winter when I was a kid. Insane by today's

> standards: a 13 year old going 80 mph + on a suicide machine wearing

> nothing more than a beanie and a Car-hart jacket with no seat belts,

> doors, or helicopter parents to supervise.

>

> Since TX is (likely) going to make me say that this thing is a

> motorcycle (even if it's just the licensing for ME and not the machine),

> looking to justify the all the effort. Might as well slap a bigger

> motor on it - looking at 80cc av10 kits on treats. Really, I'm probably

> just gonna do a burnout on my way to the mailbox every day. I live

> outside San Antonio so not a very practical machine for doing much aside

> from mail runs or hitting the Walmart Neighborhood Market for PBR/High

> Life and Skittles.

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

J D /

d3r3zz3d OP

Jul 10, 2020 07:28AM

Too true. Treats seems to have all the kit necessary. Any thoughts or recommendations on other parts/components?

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

kevy Piepkorn /

chillywillie

Jul 13, 2020 03:35AM

Tx has a form to fill out to register it you jump through a lot of hoops even if you have the paper work,you can get a collector plate it though.

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

Brent Bhuiyan /

Go to branch

brentb

Jul 15, 2020 02:33PM

no motorcycle license required just a valid driver's license (but good luck explaining that to the police).

This thread here

https://www.mopedarmy.com/forums/read.php?1,4338943,page=1

a guy complained to the dps here in Texas enough to have the moped list expanded and also be more defined in terms. I believe he also had gotten the update to include that a motorcycle license was not required.

Re: Rejistration in Tejas - Seems complicated

Brent Bhuiyan /

Go to branch

brentb

Jul 15, 2020 02:38PM

https://www.dps.texas.gov/msb/documents/vdrchart.pdf

MOPED ARMY

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