'Pocket bikes' are little but lethal.

Trial, September, 2005 by Porter, Rebecca

It's an age-old sight gag, a surefire boffo joke: At the circus, a clown rides into the ring on a tricycle, hunkered over the tiny handlebars, knees hunched up around his ears. The crowd roars. It's fun to see grown men riding on tiny transport.

Miniature motorcycles, all the rage with teenagers and young adults, draw the same response. Also known as pocket bikes or pocket rockets, these small versions weigh between 45 and 90 pounds and seat their hunched and bunched riders 18 to 24 inches off the ground.

But these are no toys--and they can be deadly. People think that because they're both small and and fast, they can be ridden anywhere--on sidewalks, in bicycle lanes, and on the street. Gas-powered models that have been modified can achieve speeds of...

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