Motorcycle, Moped and Motor-Vehicle

So what exactly is a motorcycle?

• Road Traffic Act 1988 s.185:
  • “motor cycle” means a mechanically propelled vehicle, not being an invalid carriage, with less than four wheels and the weight of which unladen does not exceed 410 kilograms.

And what is a moped?

• A moped is a motorcycle that has the following features:
  • Maximum design speed not exceeding 50 kilometres per hour (km/h) (about 31 miles per hour (mph).
  • An engine capacity no greater than 50 cc.
  • It can be moved by pedals, if the moped was first used before 1 September 1977.

Finally, a motor vehicle,

• Road Traffic Act 1988 s.185, Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 s.136(1)
  • “motor vehicle” means, subject to section 20 of the M1Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (which makes special provision about invalid carriages, within the meaning of that Act), a mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads.

But what is a mechanically propelled vehicle? – There is no legal definition!

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