Missouri defines autocycle

[Ozarkryder]

The Missouri governor signed a bill into law June 1 that will take effect Aug. 28 defining an autocycle.

From the full text, new portions are in bold:

(2) "Autocycle", a three-wheeled motor vehicle which the drivers and passengers ride in a partially or completely enclosed nonstraddle seating area, that is designed to be controlled with a steering wheel and pedals, and that has met applicable Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requirements or federal motorcycle safety standards;

The new law also clarifies what a "Motortricycle" is:

(39) "Motortricycle", a motor vehicle upon which the operator straddles or sits astride that is designed to be controlled by handle bars and is operated on three wheels, including a motorcycle while operated with any conveyance, temporary or otherwise, requiring the use of a third wheel. A motortricycle shall not be included in the definition of all-terrain vehicle;

And if you have one currently registered:

13 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the registrationof any autocycle registered as a motorcycle or motortricycle prior toAugust 28, 2018, shall remain in effect until the expiration of the registration period for such vehicle at which time the owner shall be required to renew the motor vehicle's registration under the autocycle classification and pay the appropriate registration fee

Mandatory helmet use is not required on autocycles. The word "shall" changed to "may not":

2. Notwithstanding subsection 2 of section 302.020, a person operating orriding in an autocycle [shall] may not be required to wear protective headgear

So it appears the Slingshot, Stallion, T-Rex and such are now under the heading of "Autocycle"

in Missouri and no helmet is needed. Conversions, VW and other trikes you sit astride and steer with handlebars

and are open are still motorcycles (or more specifically "Motortricycles") and helmets are required in this state.

[rhino 2]

The Missouri governor signed a bill into law June 1 that will take effect Aug. 28 defining an autocycle.

From the full text, new portions are in bold:

(2) "Autocycle", a three-wheeled motor vehicle which the drivers and passengers ride in a partially or completely enclosed nonstraddle seating area, that is designed to be controlled with a steering wheel and pedals, and that has met applicable Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requirements or federal motorcycle safety standards;

The new law also clarifies what a "Motortricycle" is:

(39) "Motortricycle", a motor vehicle upon which the operator straddles or sits astride that is designed to be controlled by handle bars and is operated on three wheels, including a motorcycle while operated with any conveyance, temporary or otherwise, requiring the use of a third wheel. A motortricycle shall not be included in the definition of all-terrain vehicle;

And if you have one currently registered:

13 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the registrationof any autocycle registered as a motorcycle or motortricycle prior toAugust 28, 2018, shall remain in effect until the expiration of the registration period for such vehicle at which time the owner shall be required to renew the motor vehicle's registration under the autocycle classification and pay the appropriate registration fee

Mandatory helmet use is not required on autocycles. The word "shall" changed to "may not":

2. Notwithstanding subsection 2 of section 302.020, a person operating orriding in an autocycle [shall] may not be required to wear protective headgear

So it appears the Slingshot, Stallion, T-Rex and such are now under the heading of "Autocycle"

in Missouri and no helmet is needed. Conversions, VW and other trikes you sit astride and steer with handlebars

and are open are still motorcycles (or more specifically "Motortricycles") and helmets are required in this state.

Jersey has similar regulations, But so far they aren't doing separate registrations....

IE...Motorcycle vs Autocycle....

[David357]

Thanks for posting, Don.

Missouri and a few other states seem to be moving towards better clarifications of 2 and 3 wheel motorcycle/autocycle definitions.

[Marc H]

I thought you sat straddle on a Stallion.Seems it could go either way with it.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I thought you sat straddle on a Stallion.Seems it could go either way with it.

But don't they have a steering wheel?

[Gorilla]

The FEDS all ready classified the Stallion as a 3 wheel motorcycle when Thoroughbred Motor Sports applied for its certification. States so Right on the Certificate of Origin

[Ozarkryder]

The FEDS all ready classified the Stallion as a 3 wheel motorcycle when Thoroughbred Motor Sports applied for its certification. States so Right on the Certificate of Origin

I was talking to an inspecting officer from the Missouri Highway Patrol about autocycles and this bill. The Slingshot, T-Rex and some home built trikes converted from cars he has inspected are definitely in the autocycle camp. I asked about the Stallion having straddle seating, as that is part of a definition of a motorcyle. He said as the Stallion is enclosed, has a steering wheel instead of bars and 3 wheels it will be classed as an autocycle. In Missouri you won't need a helmet - going to another state? Bring your helmet, just in case.

Before this law anything with 3 wheels or less was considered a motorcycle, and the feds don't have much to say about the subject. Here is a bit from Congress. A few things to note: When the Stallion and Slingshot came out there was precious little in the federal law regarding autocycles. 3 wheels or less were in the realm of "motorcycles". According to the language in the summary, about the only current or proposed vehicle available in the U.S. that fits the definition is the Elio. (If a production model ever sees the light of day) and it gives the Federal DOT 3 years to set the rules, standards and such to fully regulate autocycles.

By the way, this act never got out of committee. Seems the feds are letting the states decide the autocycle question.

************************************************** ********************************************

Summary: H.R.2381 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)







Introduced in House (05/04/2017)

Autocycle Safety Act

This bill applies specified interim automotive and motorcycle safety standards to autocycles until at most three years after enactment of this bill, by which time the Department of Transportation shall issue appropriate final rules, interpretations, and test procedures.

The bill defines "autocycle" as a motorcycle with three wheels in contact with the ground, front-wheel drive, a fully enclosed occupant compartment, and a steering wheel and which is subject to applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.