Maine Riders

Thanks.

Shoulda opened a can on him!

As with a lot of the laws pertaining to land usage in Maine. I think it will depend who you run into and where. What one law officer see's as ok others may not.

It's all up to Interpretation

In my opinion if there are no signs banning motorcycles then a plated bike can be ridden anywhere motor vehicle traffic is allowed. And I also feel we can double dip and ride atv trails to boot.

But thats just my opinion and until I get a "driving award" saying different then thats how I will ride.

we'll ride sometime this season if you are still in the Bangor area.
in the meantime, if you can, get a $10.88 copy of the maine atlas at Sam's Club. Pull the pages apart for ease of use if you want color or just get use of a copier with 11x17 sheets and photocopy the pages and stay off the roads with numbers...

Just an fyi folks, just because its an atv trail doesn't mean a green light for us! I happen to work for the Dept of Cons. and spent many days updating trails systems in a GIS (atv, snowmobile, and multi-use) for the state's RTP (rec trails prog). So we might think "hey I can ride here" when in fact it might not be the case. So we need to make sure the trails we ride are ok for us, or we might just be shooting ourselves and privledges in the foot! I know I'm the newb here, but I just wanted to give my $.02!

Hopefully I'll get to meet up with some of you here soon and get some miles on this new beemah!

brew

Welcome aboard!

We're talking about it because we want to know the facts. Those are seriously lacking.

Why are ATV trails not always accessible to 2 wheel ATV's? Why does the states RTP not always include us?

Appreciate the insights.

Ok so here's where it becomes fudged up! The state has nothing to do with trail designation on those that happen to be on private land (only state owned lands) the RTP is a grant program for basically anybody who wants to create or improve a trail system regardless of use. If any of you are members of atv or snowmobile clubs you probably have heard how this works. So basically the request for funds (a whole lot of paperwork) is sent to the BPL(bureau of parks and lands). If it is approved the state designates $$$ from the fed DOT to fund the project. Since most of these trails run on and through private lands, the club/org has right to designate the use for the trail. This usually is due to the fact that the land owner says atvs are ok, but thinks bikes are too noisy (eg. 2 strokes with hella loud pipes). Or that side by sides are too big, or... Well you get the point! Bottom line is...if the trails are on private land then they can decide who gets to play in their sandbox! This is why it is important to become an active member in a local club. That is where the power lies! When I first saw our atv map I was suprised and pissed to see how many trails were open to 4 wheels and not two! One other factor is that when your riding respect where your riding, and if your in the public view, mind your p's n q's! Public outlook on off road motorcycles is the primary reason we are kept off some really great trail systems!

Just another $.02!

brew

ATV trails are closed till May 22nd here in Eustis, still in mud season. Loggers are not back in the woods yet and talking with my buddies that work in the business might not be for a couple more weeks yet especially if the weather is wet this weekend. The gate on the K&B road is a mud gate like few of them in the area, closed for a reason! (Going behind them and getting stuck for example) The paper companies are tolerant of the public but are losing their patience fortunately they still allow us to travel their roads but I have seen more and more roads gated and access denied through the years. We even lost 30 plus miles of ATV trails here in Eustis last year due to ATV'rs ditching the Tribal Wardens in Alder Stream. American Forest Management (old IP) still does not allow 2 wheel vehicles of any kind in the area, technically that goes for the ATV trails as well. The key is permission. Not exactly sure why but something to do with politics and lawyers as to no 2 wheeled vehicles. There are a couple of newer Wardens patrolling the area as the two in Kingfield moved on. Have not talked with them on their thoughts of 2 wheels yet. Tslapper I have a 300 not 400 ~Cheers

This is exactly what's wrong today!!!!!!!!!!!!! "the state has nothing to do with trail designation" BUT THEY TAKE OUR MONEY TO IMPROVE PRIVATE LAND! Then use the rules to generate revenue (fines).
These large landowners recieve tax credits (tree growth) with the reasoning that it is good for the state's economy at large. Then want gate fees etc. to go along with it. I say if they take the credit and I'm subsidizing them I should have access. If they don't like it they should be required to pay taxes just like the rest of us on private property. Once again the state has charged fees and provided no service--- why should I pay the state to regester an atv to ride on another persons private land? (cart before the horse again) just like early days of snowmobiles! The greenqueers are taxing us into extinction. Take a quick accounting of how much you pay in licenses in the course of a yr. Hunting, fishing, boats, wheelers, bikes,etc. Then ask yourself what the state does to enhance these activities. Kind of makes ya all warm and fuzzy don't it? Got kids? how in hell does one afford to raise kids today when a weekend in the woods costs as much as a day in disneyland???????????

When did the people of Maine change the charter of the warden service?
I thought they were created and funded to protect and promote wildlife.
Not to be revenue generators for the State by enforcing bullshit rules of private landowners. They are quick to point out they don't enforce tresspassing laws, but want to be traffic cops on dirt roads?????????

If they don't get their act together they are going to become extinct themselves. Most folks that I talk to are so fed up that they have stopped buying licenses because they don't support the way the state is heading.

Not that I typically ride trails anyway, but if there's a green ATV sign with nothing saying bikes aren't allowed, I'm in. According to the state's definition, we're the same. If clubs or property owners want to separate us out they'll have to sign it accordingly.

Did they change the ruling regarding street registered bikes needing ATV registrations?? I swear we used to be included in the exceptions:

A. The following exceptions apply.

* Registration is not required for an ATV operated on land on which the owner lives of on land on which the owner is domiciled, as long as the ATV is not operated elsewhere within the jurisdiction of the State.
* Registration is not required for an ATV operated by a commercial ski area for the purpose of packing snow or for rescue operations on the commercial ski area, unless the ATV is required to cross a public way during that operation.
* An ATV owned and operated in the State by the Federal Government, the State or a political subdivision of the State is exempt from registration fees but must be registered and is required to display registration numbers.
* An ATV registration for the farm use specified in Title 29-A, section 501, subsection 8, paragraph E is not required for a vehicle registered with the Secretary of State under Title 29-A, section 501, subsection 8.
* An ATV registered in another state or in a Canadian province may be operated without being registered pursuant to this section at a special event organized to occur in this State if the special event organizer submits a request in writing to the commissioner 60 days prior to the special event and provides the commissioner with a map of the trails to be used during the special event and the commissioner approves the request.

Pat

Well on another subject....

I got my Doo kit in the mail today so I am ready for the 17th.

I also ordered a lowering link from Eagle Mike as well. I am slightly inseam challenged on the KLR. It would be nice to have my feet a little closer to the ground in off camber positions.

Geobrew - Thanks for the .02. I figured this was it and it's good to see it in plain english.

Robbie - Points are taken and the view is shared.

frkldpkr - Hey dude, how's that 300 treating you? Maybe the wife and I will wait another two or three weeks before coming up, appreciate you weighing in. Maybe I'll see about some June fishing then in Little Jim. Those square tail cruisers are awesome to see and its been a few years. I used to live in Coplin plantation and miss the routine.

I guess I knew this would get some hackles up and didn't intend that we air our dirty laundry here in this fun forum but yeah we need to fix this and get some solid rules in place. Public perception is bullshit and as usual based on feel good politics and not facts. If the "public" saw what some ATV trails looked like the public would be screaming bloody murder and they'd all be closed. That's how it goes here in Maine.

I think dual sporting has grown enough that there would be a positive econmic impact for those towns that hosted us.

I agree that a warden escorting somebody off private land because he's on a bike is bullshit. The major land owners aren't kings but they sure get the benefits as if they were. People need to understand everything these companies do is for themselves and these access roads have only been traditionally available to the public. Traditional doesn't carry much weight these days when you look at the econmic condition of our state and how the state has treated the businesses here. We also have a good number of dinks that don't respect others land. It's not hard at all to see why landowners are closing off access.

I wish I had the extra energy to work with ATV clubs and legislators but I'm pretty damned busy working and taking care of myself. I'd love to turn my dual sport off road at times and not feel as if I'm in the wrong.

Something could change but it won't be based on honest discourse and common understanding. It will be about greasing skids and how much political capital the decision generates.

here is a good link for rules and regs, and email addys to folks in the office here!!! (if you want to send a happy-gram!)

http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/ATV/atv.html

Good, all the more quiet undisturbed fishn for me....

Planing to head out Rt9 in search of trouts on 5/17 while others play with doohickeys

and headed out the Reality Rd towards 9 mile bridge checking trout populations in streams we cross in June

I appreciate those nice public boat launches too. They even allow camping at the launch area on Portage Lake...if your ever out doing an adventure ride its a nice stopover...

This is what I can't understand about people allowing quads and not bikes. Growing up we had dirtbikes and would struggle to clear a new trail through the woods - and even after going over it a bunch of times it was still hard to tell where it went in places. So we'd get a friend with a quad or 3-wheeler to go through - after one pass it was clear. I'd think we do a heck of a lot less damage.

My local ATV club was planning a whole new set of trails last year - 'no bikes allowed'. I never did get an answer as to why. I'll have to ask again.

I can't understand why it isn't bigger. Back in NH I've ridden a few different areas that allowed ATVs - that were completely isolated from any major trail network. What a waste - trailer your quad there for one 3 mile stretch of road? Fun.

Does Maine have a classification system for roads? Something like NHs Class VI road designation - still a public way, but not maintained? Those are what I'm really after, personally...and even those can easily go way over the Tigers head sometimes...

Correction (I knew I read this somewhere!):

Under the FAQ section (last updated in 2005):

8. Do I have to register my Dual Sport Motorcycle as an ATV? Not if it is registered as a motorcycle

I'll probably register it anyway just to give some money to the snowmobilers.

Hoping the "Maine Local Roads" thread would help in that area. Some of those double dashed lines in the maine atlas are town roads some aren't. Would be nice to know which are, so I guess its up to us to go ride em and report..

Yup, you have a good idea there. I'll be sure to make an effort this year to save some tracks.

Mudhen, I've been running laps in the woods around my property on an RM250. I still wind up in the freakin swamp on a certain right hander because I can't make out my tracks.

Yeah, I believe bikes are much less of an impact but it isn't about that.

My son is looking for his first motorcycle. He seems to be taking after me abit looking for a bike that can do some longer miles (not a crotch rocket).
His budget is in the $1000-1200 range. He is open to a d/s type bike but wants more of a passenger seat than the KLR offers. He is a little over 6' and probably sits on the middle of the KLR like I do...The problem seems to be that many of the d/s bikes are relatively new and so the prices are still up out of his range. VStrom, Versye, etec. He does not want too much engine, hard to believe for a 21 yr old but he'd be happy with 500-600cc
Would like something that would do ok on town dirt roads with 90/10 tires. He will be working in Barre, Vt area for the summer and there are plenty of dirt roads over that way...
He feels the Tiger has more engine than he wants to handle at this point.
Any recommendations on what to look for?