Questions

[Macsr71]

Hi all, with the youngest getting out of college I find myself for some reason with a few "extra" 10's of thousands of dollars available per year and started to look around for a new vehicle. Thought about a Prius or civic and then really got to thinking about what I really use a second car for and with a little time on the net found the VV - wow, just the ticket for me as I would be a single driver (wife has her SUV which I would have to pry from her cold dead hands) going back and forth to work in the city.

When it's dry up here in Seattle I usually ride the Suzuki Burgman 400 I have, nice polite little step through, 65mpg, 100mph, full fairing and lot's of storage or I take the Metro when it's wet.

So, questions: Is this thing a motocyle or a car? If a motocyle can I use the carpool lane? (no lane splitting I'm sure) If a motocycle do you need/have to by law - wear a helmut? What about endorsement, since the motor is small would you just need the small displacement endorsement or a full large cycle endorsement? What about insurance? Washington does not require motocycle insurance (buy only a fool would not have any)

and, I guess the real question is will this thing ever really get built in numbers to make it up to Washington?

Thanks in advance, I thought riding the bike would be the closest to flying I'd get but I think this could be even better than the Burger I ride(fly)

Mark

[JoeU]

Mascsr71
Welcome to the club. =y: It is classified as a motorcycle. The helmet issue is a state thing and would depend if there was an exclusion for enclosed motorcycles like afew other states. Again depending on the HOV rules it could be allowed as a motorcycle or a Hybrid vehicle. Again check the states rules. There are three memebers for that area. Check out the google map at the top. There are quite a few members that aren't listed. I'm down in Tucson.:Beer:

[rogwild]

Mascsr71, if you check the FAQ's :IDEA:(lots of basic info there); it states 'no helmet=n:, motorcycle endorsement=y:' for WA. Some of the information on the V~1 may be 'dated' but will be updated as Vv officially releases more current info.:RADAR:

[MHARVEYM]

On the insurance thing! Progressive Insurance Company has endorsed the "X" Challenge
and am sure they will be offering coverage as they do cycles and what-not. Trek rider!

[MVRacing]

Hi ya Macsr71,
I'm just south of Puyallup. From the research I've done ... Carpool ok, no helmet required, but by far the worse - we "currently" are required to have not just a motorcycle endorsement, but also a trike endorsement. I'm hoping this will change by the time I have my V1 (Q2 09?), but have planned on getting my motorcycle endorsement soon anyway. Seems many insurance companys charge extra if you've had the endorsement less than a year.

[Macsr71]

Thanks all, MV Racer - let me know when you go down to pick up yours, I'll go along and we can fly in formation back to the land of grey skys.

As to the insurance costing more with under a year, I'll admit it, I drove my suzuki for about a year without and endorsement but had full insurance from Geico - no extra charges, in fact, they didn't even ask if I had a license, just had I taken a saftey class.

[Miracleman89]

I say off the wife and sell the SUV! LMAO You would save even more money!:LOL:;)

[rexscates]

so get out, sign up for a basic motorcycle class, get licensed. and buy a cheap starter bike to tie you over tell this vehicle is released.

your insurance will be cheaper (you will have more time riding a motorcycle) and this your insurance will be less. In california you will need a motorcycle license to drive one.

ttyl
rex

[luckylindy]

Welcome as the 300th member... you have some catching up to do.

The subject of motorcycle licence has come up and the hope is....
because the driver is enclosed with an airbag, rollcage, side door impact bars etc..
that California will not require the special license or helmet. Apperently Vv
has had some contact with the state of Cal about this. Let's hope no helmets or special license will be needed. Many more people will buy them if that is the case.

luckylindy

[rexscates]

if they go so far as to call it a car then the vehicle will not pass side crash tests and emissions issues and us in California will lose out on getting the vehicle to drive.

its a fine line to which category it fits under.

also if its under the car category (which it better not be) then emissions issues will destroy the vehicle.

and yes I read that it might not be under helmet law but if its a motorcycle then you should need a motorcycle license. Insurance costs for motorcycle insurance are also much less.

unless California is going to create a special category.If they do that then that will be yet another delay.

my hope is under the motorcycle category but a helmet is optional :)

if its my hope then yah gota have a motorcycle license.

ttyl
rex