What’s the Smallest Street Legal Motorcycle in Florida?

Bill Allen | April 18, 2022 | Florida Law

What’s the Smallest Street Legal Motorcycle in Florida?

With year-round warm weather, Florida is one of the nicest places to ride a motorcycle. Cool breezes coming off the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico create a serene setting. One of the best ways to enjoy that serenity is to ride a small bike with a quieter engine.

Legally Riding a Motorcycle in Florida

To legally ride a motorcycle in Florida, you either need to have a motorcycle-only license or a motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license. This allows you to operate a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with an engine greater than 50cc.

Additionally, Florida law requires all motor vehicles to possess the following:

  • Service and parking brakes on all wheels
  • A working horn
  • Turn signals
  • Headlights and taillights
  • Mirrors that offer at least 200 feet of rear visibility
  • A steering mechanism that is below the rider’s shoulders

Like a car, all required features on a motorcycle must be regularly inspected to ensure that they are in working order. While a motorcycle is quite a bit smaller than a car, it still has to be safe to ride.

Motorcycles vs. Motor Scooters

Technically, the smallest motorcycle you can legally ride in Florida has a 51cc engine. But this technicality is rather meaningless. Almost every motorcycle in existence has an engine of at least 250cc.

Two-wheeled vehicles with engines between 50cc and 250cc are almost always motor scooters. In addition to engine size, a motor scooter differs from a motorcycle in that a motor scooter has a step-through chassis and a footrest.

Are There Any Motorcycles Under 250cc?

Motorcycles under 250cc are rare, but they do exist. Here are a few street-legal motorcycles with small engines:

Kawasaki Z125 Pro

This urban bike is just shy of 225 lbs and has a 2-gallon fuel tank. Available in bright yellow, black, or blue, it is a sleek bike — perfect for hitting Florida beaches.

Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220

This Indian motorcycle is extremely economical. It looks like a classic Harley but weighs less than half of most Harleys. This is an excellent bike for anyone who wants classic style at a low price.

Suzuki VanVan 200

The name of this bike is a bit of a trick. Despite what the name suggests, this bike only has a 199cc engine. That doesn’t take away from the classic early 20th-century design.

Small Motorcycle Safety

Smaller motorcycles have the same safety guidelines as larger motorcycles. Your motorcycle needs to be regularly inspected, and you must wear eye protection at all times. 

Helmets are optional if you are at least 21 years old and have high enough liability insurance. But they provide excellent protection. Additionally, you should wear gloves, long sleeves, long pants, and boots to better protect you from the effects of a motorcycle accident.

Furthermore, smaller motorcycles are more difficult for other drivers to see. You should add extra reflectors to your bike and your riding clothing to make yourself more visible. 

Where to Ride Your Small Motorcycle

Small motorcycles have small fuel tanks and usually no storage. Even with exceptional fuel mileage, you will want to keep your trips close to home. These bikes are best for short day trips to the beach or just cruising urban areas of Florida. And armed with the information this blog post has laid out, you will be able to do so legally.

Contact Our Gainesville Personal Injury Law Firm in North Central Florida

If you need legal assistance, contact the Gainesville personal injury lawyers at Allen Law Firm at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We have two convenient locations in North Central Florida:

Allen Law Firm, P.A. – Gainesville office
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Gainesville, FL 32608
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