Car Statistics

Question:

I don’t seem to find any material on the law in South Africa around motorised bicycles.

What I want to do is put a motor on a bicycle and ride it around. I want to find out what the max speed is that the bike may go and the engine size and the min age and if I need a license and what are all the requirements that the bike needs as it is just like a bicycle but only powered.

Could you please direct me to find out more about this.

Answer:

The moment it is motorised it is considered a motor vehicle and the normal rules for motor vehicles apply.

See the def of motor vehicle in section 1 of the Act and the exemption clause in reg 5

“motor vehicle” means any self-propelled vehicle and includes—

(a) a trailer; and
(b) a vehicle having pedals and an engine or an electric motor as an integral part thereof or attached thereto and which is designed or adapted to be propelled by means of such pedals, engine or motor, or both such pedals and engine or motor, but does not include—
(i) any vehicle propelled by electrical power derived from storage batteries and which is controlled by a pedestrian; or
(ii) any vehicle with a mass not exceeding 230 kilograms and specially designed and constructed, and not merely adapted, for the use of any person suffering from some physical defect or disability and used solely by such person;

Motor vehicle exempt from registration

Reg 5. (1) A motor vehicle—

(a) propelled by electrical power derived from electrical cabling affixed to the vehicle and that is not used on a public road;
(b) which has crawler tracks;
(c) which is not—
(i) self-propelled;
(ii) a caravan;
(iii) designed principally for the conveyance of persons or goods, or both; and
(iv) operated on a public road;
(d) which by reason of its dimensions or the mass thereof or the mass of a part thereof may not be operated on a public road in terms of the Act, and which is not so operated;
(e) referred to in paragraph (c) and which is drawn by a tractor whether or not it is operated on a public road;
(f) of which the Department of Defence is the title holder and owner;
(g) which is designed exclusively for racing, and includes a micro midget car or cart and a go-cart, and by virtue of its design, does not comply with the provisions of Parts II, III, and IV of Chapter VI and by reason of such design may not be operated on a public road in terms of the Act;
(h) which is a self-propelled lawnmower and by virtue of its design, does not comply with the provisions of Parts II, III, and IV of Chapter VI and by reason of such design may not be operated on a public road in terms of the Act;
(i) which is designed exclusively to be used on a golf course and by virtue of its design, does not comply with the provisions of Parts II, III, and IV of Chapter VI and by reason of such design may not be operated on a public road in terms of the Act and for the purpose of this paragraph operate on a public road shall not include the operation of such vehicle within the confines of a golf course;
(j) which is a type of motor cycle on which a person stands, generally known as a motorised skateboard, and by virtue of its design, does not comply with the provisions of Parts II, III, and IV of Chapter VI and by reason of such design may not be operated on a public road in terms of the Act; or
(k) which is a type of motor vehicle designed for the purpose of being operated specifically by a person younger than 16 years of age and by virtue of its design, does not comply with the provisions of Parts II, III, and IV of Chapter VI and by reason of such design may not be operated on a public road in terms of the Act;
(l) which the steering wheel is on the left hand side, excluding motor vehicles referred to in regulation 200 (2) (b), (d) and (e),
shall be exempt from registration and shall not be registered in accordance with the provisions of this Part: Provided that if the ownership of a motor vehicle is to be transferred from the Department of Defence to another person, such Department shall register such motor vehicle prior to such transfer.
(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1) (c), the words “operated on a public road” shall not be so construed to include the presence of such motor vehicle on a public road for the purpose of—
(a) being driven to the premises of the owner in order to take delivery thereof;
(b) crossing a public road from the one premises of the owner to another over a distance of not more than one kilometre; or
(c) proceeding to or from a place where repairs are to be or have been effected to such motor vehicle.
(3) If a motor vehicle exempt in terms of subregulation (1) (c) is operated on a public road contrary to the provisions of subregulation (2), the title holder of such motor vehicle shall be liable for the registration thereof on the date referred to in regulation 7 (1) (a) (vii)

Regards

Alta Swanepoel & Associates