Government
Iowa Chooses to Do the Hard Work…Legalizes Training Wheels on Motorcycles
- Posted on February 20, 2011 at 9:52pm by
Mike Opelka
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If there is a Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in the state of Iowa, they might be seriously considering a move. This week the Des Moines Register broke the news that Iowa is on the path to permit motorcycles in the state to legally use TRAINING WHEELS;
Motorcycles with two detachable rear wheels would be legal on Iowa’s roads under a bill approved Tuesday by the Iowa House Transportation Committee.
No Training Wheels Please
In the late 70s, early 1980s Iowa once considered changing the official state slogan to “A State Of Minds.” (“Fields of Opportunities” eventually won out.) After reading this next story, there may be some new suggestions coming forward.
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Comments (159)
LadyIzShy
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:51pmis IOwa one of the states that isnt in debt? if so who cares except those who NEED training wheels.. if they are in debt then someone needs to go kick them in the rear
Report Post »barbaraw62
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:46pmAh, now the kids can start riding Motorcycles earlier… I think it should be called the “I AIN’T GOT ANYTHING BETTER TO DO” State?
Report Post »hillbillyheartthrob
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:44pmwhat im wondering is why you all care……..if someone wants training wheels on their bike, well by god its their bike isnt it. and if your not from iowa then it realy dosent affect you. yet… you seem to feel the need to criticize and make fun of other people you know nothing about. nice.
Report Post »confederacyofdunces
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:33pmIn the end the only thing car drivers need to do is pay attention to the road HALF as much as motorcyclists do.Stop making left hand turns into oncoming traffic (motorcyles with headlights on) and causing Tbone accidents. That is not an accident, it is wilfull neglegence.
Probably nobody is going to actually buy those silly training wheels except for a school for intimidated new riders.
As far as helmets go, if you have health insurance, its your life to risk. Its nobody business. Nobody openly comments on a strangers safe sex habits, but its more deadly than the potential to have an accident without a helmet.
What you should be worried about is a liberal controlled legislature making training wheels manditory, taking away your choice because they deem it to be in your best interest.
Report Post »C. Schwehr
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:52pmAnd if we were talking about equal safety…then I believe that cage drivers should ALSO be forced to wear helmets…they actually suffer many more head injuries in car accidents.
Report Post »Fudd the wabbit hunter
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:29pmNo wonder Iowa stands for “ I Oughta Went Around”…..
Report Post »etetetet
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:28pmNext – Training wheels on tractors, then Combines, where will it end……….
Report Post »cavalla
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:24pmwell we know none of these people ride motorcycles. training wheels at 60 mph wow? trikes do not have the center drive wheel. you lean a motorcycle, you drive a trike. these people must have something better to spend time on. this should not even be given a thought.
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:24pmChill out blazers. I think i see in the background a horse. A black horse and hes carrying something in his hand
Report Post »moriseiki2002
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:23pmThat would be a Quad
Report Post »ottb
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:11pmMe too C.Schwehr…..Blame that idiot Gronstal(grandstand) for balking on anything he personally doesn’t like. He’s our defacto gov., not just Senate majority numbskill.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:06pmHey here in Florida they can ride without a helmet and become mindless after a wreck.
Report Post »cavalla
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:28pmok so whats the problem with that?. you may need an organ donor.
Report Post »C. Schwehr
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:48pmI see we already have two volunteers for training wheels….anybody who is stupid enough to rag on bikers about helmets or “organ donors” is stupid enough to NEED the wheels…
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 7:48amFlorida rationality:
If you are under 16 you need to wear a helmet on a bicycle. This means my 3 year old, on his spidy man bike with training wheels, riding in circles on a 10‘ x 10’ slab at 1/16th of a mile per hour needs to wear a helmet…
But my 18 year old on his Suzuki Hayabusa can ride with no helmet…
Note though that I am not complaining about the motorcycle helmet law. I do not ride as much as I used to, and I wear a brain bucket when I do…usually…But we should have the freedom to decide…
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:05pmIf I had to ride a bike with training wheels, I’d go ahead and ride it over a cliff.
Report Post »Gabby Johnson
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:07pmThelma & Louise, Gonzo style.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:19pmIf I had to have training wheels on a bike, especially a harley, I would include a rocket motor on the thing and destroy it in style…Mythbusters style while someone off to the side played taps in a final salute to the great American machinery she would have been.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:04pmQuote from the Des Moines Register:
“We just want to clear this up so that they are not harassed by a patrolman,” said Rep. Walt Rogers, a Cedar Falls Republican.
Okay, I just gotta know…Is someone really using training wheels on their hog?
Report Post »C. Schwehr
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:45pmThey weren’t in danger of being harassed by patrolmen anyway….any cop seeing a motorcycle with training wheels is going to be too busy laughing his @ss off to worry about anything else!
Report Post »Randeecobra
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:03pmNext….instructions on toilet paper, including the advisement to not ingest after use.
Report Post »C. Schwehr
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:03pmI am now officially ashamed to be from Iowa…..Thank God I don’t live there anymore!
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:22pmYou and me both!
Report Post »RN MOM
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:01pmOh great, now the libs will be able to ride.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 12:11amoh nooooooooooooooooo
Report Post »LOL
This was a good one .
Bravo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marylou7
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 5:38amditto
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:00pmThis has to be a joke.
Report Post »BuckOfama
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 9:59pmThey most likely already wear helmets all the time………
Report Post »2bheard
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 9:59pmyour joking, nothing better to do?
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:44pmReminds you of Rome and Nero doesn’t it?
Report Post »etetetet
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 9:59pmA Mind is a terrible thing to Field – well, unless you have training wheels
Report Post »Come on Blazers – I’m tired, I know you have some perfect new slogans for Iowa
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:21pmI will give it a go:
IOWA “Its Only Wheels America”
IOWA “Hey ma, look no hands!!!”
IOWA “Where does the mouse go to start this thing…”
IOWA “Where city kids go to learn to ride…”
Hope that is a start.
Report Post »Gabby Johnson
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 9:57pmObama is still using training wheels. He had no real experience and is scared to deal with other countries due to his lack of experience.
Hillary as Sec. of State? Really???
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:36pmOh, but Gabby, HILLARY said, “The government of Egypt is stable.”
I miss Bush and Condi Rice!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:16pm@Gabby
Let me pose this question to you:
Between Clinton and Obama, who is the puppet and who is the puppet master, aside from Soros.
Report Post »dfree
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 9:57pmwow, thats really important, nothing else more important to do?
Report Post »Arminianism
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 9:57pmWhy were they illegal in the first place?
Report Post »C. Schwehr
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:02pmBecause they’re unnecessary for any person who is learning to properly ride a motorcycle…and they’re actually quite dangerous…..
Report Post »Republic
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:25pmI ride a motorcycle (Harley) and the idea of people with training wheels is absurd. Besides, they would be dangerous too. They have a great tendency to tip when cornering.
Report Post »Arminianism
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 12:08amIf the man or woman isn’t hurting anyone else or taking money from my pocket, why should anyone care what they put on their motorcycle?
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 5:06amBecause they won‘t stop you from falling over if you don’t balance properly, and the illusion that they might will encourage a false sense of security in the minds of incompetent drivers.
Report Post »Snake
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:01amThere sure are a lot of big talkers on her that dont know a damn thing about what they are talking about. These are not your training wheels that you put on your kids bike for goodness sake. Yes they will hold the bike up at a stop light. No they are not any more dangerous than any other trike rolling on only 3 wheels. If you dont ride or own a bike…shut up!
Report Post »etetetet
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 9:55pmA state of minds – well, in training
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:04pmA state of Training Wheels! “The Training Wheels State”
Report Post »etetetet
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:20pmVery Funny – getting ready to hit the hay – thanks for the laugh
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 12:00amIsn’t this what we used to do when we were learning how to ride bicycles & other kids made fun of us .
Report Post »Real bikers will be so pissed @ this .
Hey if you’re a sissy & afraid to ride a bike stay @ home & play a video game with bikes in it , or let your daddy hold you while riding your bike .
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 9:55pmI will state it simply “MY God WHAT next!!!”
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:05pmSo its a tricycle , right ?
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:09pmHey Iowa,
Report Post »Put a helmet on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tORJe37MMOs&feature=related
mcfinch
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:13pmYeah I guess it would be like a three wheel bike I see those all the time.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »NancyBee
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:19pm“Born to be Wild” with training wheels!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:22pmThe official outfit for a 3- wheel-biker :
Report Post »http://daddytypes.com/archive/BMW-K1200_leather_diaper-thumb.jpg
npbreakthrough
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:37pmhmm……after about 5-10 mph, the bike pretty much holds itself up,
i think its called angular momentum…..
i really dont see how these wheels could help, ………except maybe at stops
i wonder which lawmaker had a family member drop his brand new shiny Harley muffler on his leg??
Report Post »HappyStretchedThin
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:38pmIowa. Now home to CAREFUL rebels without a cause.
Report Post »If you legislate it, they will come???
NickDeringer
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:41pmWhat? No air bags???
Report Post »anutter
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:44pmDo the training wheels come with the little thumb bell and handle streamers?
Report Post »Patrick in AZ
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:45pmI’m just curious; why was it illegal before?
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:54pmJust in time for the upcoming 2012 presidential election, after all I don’t believe there is a politician out there that has enough sense or capabilities to be able to balance..ANYTHING
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:59pmLOL .. I remember what we called the kid with “training wheels” on his bike in my neighborhood .. wienie! Didn’t these riders learn to ride a “bike” when they were kids … goodness I have never heard of such a thing .. BTW .. NEVER had training wheels .. went down got back up and pretty soon I was riding (and I am a “girl”) .. these guys would have never made it out in the country where I lived!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:11pmLooking forward to seeing training-wheeled-bikers sitting with their legs crossed while riding their bikes , you know like a proper lady ……….
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:14pm@CatB
I learned to ride a regular bike and a small motorized honda two wheeler here in the deserts by my grandfather; no need for training wheels either, just a lot of nifty bruises and a nice helmet and gloves with more ‘buff marks’ caused by rocks and trees than polish.
Learned to ride, learned to roll, learned to love every minute of it head on.
Also trashed a few bikes in the process as well, yet that goes with the territory.
Report Post »SignPainterGuy
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:21pmNC already allows training wheels on motorcycles…..and yes, they look every bit as dorky as you might imagine ! They cause the “bike” to handle basically like a “trike”, except they are not as rigid, therefore, the motorcycle actually leans the wrong way in turns !
Full fledged trikes or bikes w/ sidecars are way less dorky; even cool !
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:23pm@CatB ~~
Report Post »When I learned to ride a bike, no one had thought about helmets! I named mine “Bessie Carol” because it was the Best Christmas I’d ever had. I was 12.
right-wing-waco
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:35pmI seem to recall some years back that some legislator suggested a law requiring seat belts on motorcycles. These people… duh!
Report Post »joseph Fawcett
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 11:45pmNo, it would have four wheels three on back and one in front. the two side wheels are smaller and help the bike stay up-right. They are called training wheels because they help while the driver is learning to keep the bike from falling over.
http://www.josephfawcettart.com western artist
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 12:10ammy husband has been trying to get me on that bike of his for years…maybe now that theres training wheels available…hmmm…naw!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 12:13amWill training-wheeled-bikers get atomic wedgies @ Sturgis ?
Report Post »:D
Robert-CA
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 12:15amWhat about a basket in the front ?
Report Post »judg724
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 12:16amHow pointless. A motorcycle is even easier to learn how to ride than a bicycle. What is really needed is the legalization of ATVs for the street. Europe already allows 4 wheelers with D.O.T. tires, horn, and turn signals. Arizona is the only state here to allow licensing of any “motorcycle” with more than 3 wheels. Many states may wish to not open a can of worms because a 4 wheeled motorcycle does not need seat belts, airbags, or crash testing. If all states did this they may think it would blur the line between motorcycles and automobiles.
Report Post »Grandpa Harley
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 12:35amTell cheeswhiz that four wheels is not a tricycle. This will not happen. You get a motorcycle license for a two wheel or three wheel motor vehicle. This story has to be bogus. No biker would remotely contemplate this scenario.
Report Post »npbreakthrough
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 12:46am@judg724
street legalized 4 wheelers,
Report Post »i think that is a brilliant idea, that way those people who may be intimidated about riding a motorcycle could have an alternative………and still be able to be more economical, seems completely reasonable to me, cant beleive something like that hasnt been implemented more
BidBerthaDotCom
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 12:48am@ judg724,
You can see four-wheelers with license plates on them on the streets of Wyoming as well. Even in town, at least in Casper. Haven’t seen one on the interstate though…
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 1:00am@cheezwhiz
Report Post »Actually, a motorcycle with training wheels is a 4 Wheeler. I have 2 of them, great fun. But mine are proper, not a woosified motorcycle.
dr_funk
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 1:16amCorrect me if I’m wrong, bikers, but…isn’t leaning into turns required at high speed?
Report Post »Deuteronomy22
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 5:47amHey you morons I know a veteran who lost both legs in 2005 and uses the wheels here in Az. He knows how to ride, had a suicide shifter installed and ran dual break lines to his hand brake. He can‘t hold the bike up when stopped because his right prosthetic leg can’t get down fast enough from his foot boards. Training wheels are a bad label. His are more like outriggers that keep the bike upright when he stops. Anyway it‘s funny how you all are so righteous for state’s and individual rights but make jokes about allowing people the liberty to ride motorcycles who may otherwise not be able to because of numerous circumstances that have the extra wheels helps alleviate.
Report Post »jhonjhonson1
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 5:58amIf you need training wheels to ride a motorcycle, I suggest you find another hobby. But if you think that you can handle it, there will always be a need for organ donors!!!
Report Post »jbl8199
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 6:03amHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This made my day. I needed a laugh.
Report Post »eddvoss
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 7:10amI have seen some bikes with training wheels and they look almost exactly like the ones for a bicycle. It blew me away.
Report Post »ozz
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 7:15am/waiting for the law to follow that requires all riders to wear them in Komifornia.
Report Post »Because government must contro….er ah keep us safe. :(
Cobra Blue
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 7:44amI guess these are for the old biker dudes that can no longer “get it” ….I mean hold it up. Rome is burning and they are worried about training wheels. Might be a slight case of misplaced priorities. Ya think?
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:49am@NickDeringer.. NO airbags??? NO SEAT BELTS either..LOL.. HOW could the government allow these on the streets??? same for the tons of pick up trucks with people riding in the back..in IL the only time they stop them is IF they are not sitting.. Guess it’s safer to be thrown form a moving truck than to get hit IN a car..
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:52am@CatB.. Well to be honest this WOULD help with a SHORT girl like myself..stops were a nightmare so I gave it up before I really got into it..
Report Post »hifi74
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 11:16amCheezwhiz, it is technically a quad, you have the obvious two wheels of the bike one up front and one in the rear and then a set of smaller tires about half to a third of the size of the bikes wheels on each side of the rear wheel.
To the ones not sure, they are primarily used either by people who are brand new to riding and are short on confidence. Or the more predominate use of older folks or those who might have a less then stellar muscular strength (previous injuries, musculo-skelatal diseases, etc) and don’t have the strength to hold the bike upright especially at stops.
Report Post »mamastitch
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 11:24amHere is a link to the DMRegister article – http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/02/15/house-panel-oks-detachable-rear-wheels-for-motorcycles/
Motorcycles with two detachable rear wheels would be legal on Iowa’s roads under a bill approved Tuesday by the Iowa House Transportation Committee.
Under current law, the term “motorcycle” is defined as a vehicle with no more than three wheels. The bill doesn’t change that definition, but it allows a motorcycle designed to travel on two wheels to be equipped with detachable stabilizing rear wheels to be operated as a motorcycle.
Questions about detachable wheels had arisen both with the Iowa Department of Transportation and law enforcement officers because a four-wheeled vehicle is not considered a motorcycle. The bill now goes to the House floor.
“We just want to clear this up so that they are not harassed by a patrolman,” said Rep. Walt Rogers, a Cedar Falls Republican.
Report Post »Tifn8r
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 3:52pmBoooooorn to be Miiii-iii-iii-iiiiLD!
Report Post »waggie
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 4:26pmAlso, don’t forget the baseball cards to flap against the spokes!
Report Post »YellowFin
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 4:50pmI think anyone wanting to buy a motorcycle already knows how to ride a bike.
Report Post »Training wheels are for three year old kids.
cjwymore
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 7:16pmIowa = Idiots Out Wandering Around
Says it all
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:22pmhey… my mom was born in Iowa…but that was funny
Report Post »