heavy motorcycle, that is, heavy motorcycle , is a term often mentioned in the motorcycle circle.
When talking about it, it is always easy to think of the deep roar of the huge engine and the red taillights of the chasing boy.
Heavy Machinery in Your Eyes
It is true that these cars are indeed "heavy machines" with a high probability. However, if I say "Motorcycles with a displacement of more than 50cc already belong to the category of "heavy motorcycles"" this is a legally correct conclusion, I am afraid it will subvert most people's understanding.
This is indeed the case, but it is based on the current regulations in Taiwan, where the term "heavy machinery" originated.
Taiwan Province’s definition of heavy-duty motorcycles (displacement exceeds 50cc, and is divided into three grades according to 250cc and 550cc)
In contrast to the mainstream understanding in the world, motorcycles with a displacement of less than 250cc are generally called "small motorcycles" ", motorcycles with a displacement of less than 50cc are called " light motorcycles ".
Some people use "like electric wheelchair " to describe the driving experience of a 50cc motorcycle. Although it is exaggerated, we cannot be too demanding on a fuel-powered baby with a top speed of only about 60km/h.
So why did Taiwan enact such "counter-intuitive" regulations?
preconceived 50cc
Everything starts from 1968.
This year, the Taiwanese government promulgated two regulations, the "Road Traffic Management Punishment Regulations" and the "Road Traffic Safety Rules", which were officially implemented on May 1. Among them, the "Road Traffic Safety Regulations" clearly states:
(1) Light mechanical bicycles refer to those with a total cylinder displacement of less than 50 cubic centimeters.
(2) Heavy-duty mechanical bicycles refer to those whose total cylinder displacement exceeds 50 cubic centimeters.
This year, the mainstream "large-displacement" motorcycles in Taiwan do not exceed 150cc; Taiwan's first fully homemade motorcycle has just been completed;
It is also the same year that the government issued a ban on motorcycles under 50cc that cannot carry passengers. It almost led to the death of the popular Shin Sandong and Gongxuesha ( Yamaha helped them change the engine to 52cc and survived the danger).
Comprehensive analysis shows that 52 years ago, using 50cc as the median to distinguish light and heavy motorcycles was in line with social reality.
Vehicles exceeding 150cc are not allowed on the road
If the early regulations in 1968 only left a preconceived seed in people's minds, then this ban further strengthened the concept that 50cc is a heavy machine.
In 1979, in view of the long-term oil supply shortage on the island, in order to ensure the supply of industrial energy, the Taiwan government banned the driving of motorcycles above 150cc on the island. The following year, the production and sale of such motorcycles was banned.
This situation lasted for more than 20 years, until the first day of 2002, when Taiwan Province joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a "Taiwan-Penghu-Kinjin-Malaysia Individual Tariff Area".
In order to fulfill the accompanying commitments, Taiwan finally officially liberalized the import and registration of motorcycles with a displacement of 150cc or above in July of the same year. This 23-year-long "large-discharge ban" era finally ended.
Over the course of several generations, motorcycles with a displacement of more than 150cc have completely disappeared from the eyes of Taiwanese people, and the local government has only opened a small space for them.
Funny scene
Back to the present, the definition of heavy motorcycles in Taiwan’s laws and regulations is obviously outdated. Even when some Taiwanese media called motorcycles with 50cc or above as heavy motorcycles, local Taiwanese netizens also expressed doubts.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the concept of "ten thousand yuan household" became very popular and became the strongest description to describe a person's wealth.Now, can you imagine that today’s mainland law still calls people with “deposits of more than 10,000 yuan” a wealthy person?
I have never been to Taiwan, nor have I deeply studied the laws and regulations in Taiwan, so I don’t know why such embarrassing laws can exist openly. However, this obviously reflects the current governance situation of Taiwanese society from the side, and I can’t help but subconsciously feel sorry for them. A trace of worry, a trace of vigilance.
In Taiwan, there is obviously more than one similar "pitfall". The biggest one among them, they have always wanted to change, but have not dared yet.
If this article is useful, please like + read + forward to support me, thank you!
Now, can you imagine that today’s mainland law still calls people with “deposits of more than 10,000 yuan” a wealthy person?I have never been to Taiwan, nor have I deeply studied the laws and regulations in Taiwan, so I don’t know why such embarrassing laws can exist openly. However, this obviously reflects the current governance situation of Taiwanese society from the side, and I can’t help but subconsciously feel sorry for them. A trace of worry, a trace of vigilance.
In Taiwan, there is obviously more than one similar "pitfall". The biggest one among them, they have always wanted to change, but have not dared yet.
If this article is useful, please like + read + forward to support me, thank you!
