Minnesota defines an off-highway motorcycle as a motorized, off-highway vehicle traveling on two wheels with a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control, including a vehicle registered under chapter 168 for highway use if it is also used off-highway on trails or unimproved terrain. The definition uses the word "motorized". It does not include an electric-assisted bicycle as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 27.
Unless exempted, a person may not operate an off-highway motorcycle unless it has been registered under section 84.788. Exempt are off-highway motorcycles: owned and used by the United States, an Indian tribal government, the state, another state, or a political subdivision; registered in another state or country and not within Minnesota for more than 30 consecutive days; registered under chapter 168, when operated on forest roads to gain access to a state forest campground; operated on state or grant-in-aid trails by a nonresident possessing a nonresident off-highway motorcycle state trail pass; operated in an event with a commissioner's special-use permit; or operated on boundary trails and registered in a state or country giving equal reciprocal exemptions. The owner must display a registration decal, except while operated on private property or competing in a closed-course competition event. A nonresident, or a tribal member exempt under the 30-day clause, may not operate on a state or grant-in-aid off-highway motorcycle trail without carrying a valid nonresident off-highway motorcycle state trail pass, except: a nonresident's motorcycle registered under section 84.788; a government motorcycle exempt from registration; or operation only on the portion of a trail owned by the person or the person's spouse, child, or parent.
A person under 18 may not operate an off-highway motorcycle on public land, public waters or a public road right-of-way unless wearing a safety helmet approved by the commissioner of public safety. Separately, a person may not operate an off-highway motorcycle without an eye-protective device.
A person six or older but under 16 operating an off-highway motorcycle on public lands or waters must possess a valid off-highway motorcycle safety certificate issued by the commissioner; a nonresident under 16 may instead have in possession evidence of completing an off-road safety course offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation or another state. Except for operation permitted under section 84.795, subdivision 1, a driver's license is required to operate along or on a public road right-of-way. A person under 12 may not make a direct crossing of a public road right-of-way, may not operate on a public road right-of-way, and may not operate on public lands or waters unless accompanied by a person 18 or older or participating in an event with a commissioner's special-use permit. Except for interstate highway rights-of-way, a person under 16 may make a direct crossing of the right-of-way of a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway, or operate on public road rights-of-way under section 84.795, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), only if accompanied by a person 18 or older who holds a valid driver's license. A person under the age of 18 may not register an off-highway motorcycle.
A person may not operate an off-highway motorcycle within the right-of-way of a town road or a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway unless the right-of-way contains a commissioner-administered trail designated for off-highway motorcycle or multiple use, or a designated corridor access trail, and may not operate at any time within the right-of-way of an interstate highway or freeway. Operation upon a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway requires at least one headlight, one taillight and brakes meeting the commissioner's rules. Except for operation permitted under section 84.795, subdivision 1, a driver's license is required to operate along or on a public road right-of-way. A direct crossing of a public road right-of-way must be made at about 90 degrees where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing, after a complete stop, yielding to oncoming traffic that is an immediate hazard, on a divided road only at an intersection with another public road, and with front and rear lights on from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise or in reduced visibility. These limits do not apply to vehicles registered for public road use under chapter 168 when operated on a traveled portion of a public road; an off-highway motorcycle registered under section 84.788 may also be registered as a motorcycle under chapter 168 for use on public roads and highways.
An electric-assisted bicycle is a bicycle with two or three wheels that has a saddle and fully operable pedals for human propulsion, meets the federal bicycle requirements in 16 C.F.R. part 1512, has an electric motor with a power output of not more than 750 watts, meets class 1, class 2, class 3 or multiple mode, and has a battery or electric drive system tested to an applicable safety standard by a third-party testing laboratory. A multiple mode electric-assisted bicycle has switchable or programmable modes that operate as two or more of those classes. Class 1 and class 3 motors assist only when the rider is pedaling and cease at 20 and 28 miles per hour respectively; a class 2 motor is capable of propelling the bicycle without pedaling and ceases to assist at 20 miles per hour. A vehicle designed, manufactured or intended by the manufacturer or seller to be configured or modified so that it does not meet those requirements is not an electric-assisted bicycle.
This page restates state law in plain words and links the text it came from. It is not legal advice. Cities, counties and the agencies that manage federal land (the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service) add rules of their own, so check with whoever manages the ground you plan to ride.
