Become a Member: Get Ad-Free Access to 3,000+ Reviews, Guides, & More

New York Gets Tough on Non-Legal Road Bikes

Over 900 Confiscated Machines Flattened in Bulldozing Demonstration

New York's demonstration crushes over 900 bikes confiscated after riders were caught with non road-legal bikes. Photo credited to Gothamist.
New York's demonstration crushes over 900 bikes confiscated after riders were caught with non road-legal bikes. Photo credited to Gothamist.

…I mean, can we at least auction them off or try to source the parts first…? 

With Summer now in full tilt and riders countrywide enjoying the thrill of swinging a leg over, many states are buckling down on the law – and if the bike ain’t road legal, it ain’t going anywhere, apparently.

Take this recent demonstration in New York, for example. 

New York's demonstration crushes over 900 bikes confiscated after riders were caught with non road-legal bikes. Photo credited to Gothamist.
New York’s demonstration crushes over 900 bikes confiscated after riders were caught with non road-legal bikes. Photo credited to Gothamist.

According to Yahoo! News, New York’s new mayor approved and dropped the checkered flag on a bulldozing event for which over 900 confiscated, illegal machines were provided by the NYPD. 

All 900 bikes and ATVs were crunched as the city’s office and police force sought to remind citizens of the import of abiding by the law, with the published video’s article stating that the seizure of illegal dirt bikes, ATVs, and motorcycles – which has has risen in New York this year – is “part of a public safety push by the mayor, who assumed office on January 1, 2022.” 

New York's demonstration crushes over 900 bikes confiscated after riders were caught with non road-legal bikes. Photo credited to Twitter.
New York’s demonstration crushes over 900 bikes confiscated after riders were caught with non road-legal bikes. Photo credited to Twitter.

“…[illegal motorcycles], dirt bikes and ATVs…they are not only a nuisance and an annoyance to us, but they are extremely dangerous – and we know that,” proffers a somber Eric Adams, (New York’s City Mayor). 

“We see them all the time, we hear them all the time at night. We see the large numbers that are moving throughout our street, and we want to be clear that this is not acceptable.”

A motorcyclist riding down New York streets. Photo credited to MotorBiscuit.
A motorcyclist riding down New York streets. Photo credited to MotorBiscuit.

The push to take action follows undeniable statistics; apparently, over 2000 vehicles have been seized in 2022, making up ‘nearly over 80%’ increase in seizure compared to the number of bikes taken by the law in 2021. 

The reason for choosing destruction over sourcing or selling?

“…because it keeps them off the street permanently.”

New York's demonstration crushes over 900 bikes confiscated after riders were caught with non road-legal bikes. Photo credited to Fox 13 Memphis.
New York’s demonstration crushes over 900 bikes confiscated after riders were caught with non road-legal bikes. Photo credited to Fox 13 Memphis.

What do you think? What are your states’ requirements regarding seizure of non-road legal bikes, and what, do you think, would have been the ideal demonstration for New York’s issue?

Drop a comment below, subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the best of the latest, and as always – stay safe on the twisties. 

*Media sourced from Yahoo! News, Twitter, Fox 13 Memphis, Gothamist, and MotorBiscuit*
  1. Society has had enough of the behavior of people who ignore the law and have no consideration for others.

    As a life long rider, I believe the mayor of NY is doing what is necessary. The problem is not the motorcycles, the problem is the criminals who are misusing the motorcycles. But if you take away the bikes, that will end the problem at least until the criminals steal another bike, which they certainly will do as soon as possible.

  2. I understand the media event but this is hardly environmentally friendly. Separating out the tyres, aluminium and steel is now a complete b’stard!

    1. I would have removed the wheels, engine and all metal parts to sell them and donate the money to homeless organizations.
      it would have been twice as beneficial for the community.

  3. Keep your damn illegal bikes off our streets!
    But if you mug somebody, that’s fine.

  4. Insane.

    The criminals will get other bikes.

    The bikes that were destroyed should have been auctioned and the proceeds go to charity.

    The Mayor is a criminal waster imho.

  5. its a shame because moto cross is such a great sport when done right It gives kids confidence and they can learn a trade mechanic that can last a lifetime Also most kids who are into moto cross stay out of trouble and away from drugs I live in Brooklyn NY in a nighboorhood where dirt bikes and quads are very popular we have many trails to ride yet its illegal but if ur in the trials amd not on the streets cops usually leave u alone Also most dont realize u can register and get plates and ins on any dirt bike or quad and its relativly cheap 12-16$ a year registration and plates and 120$ liability ins a year I ride and im 55 years old but i dont ride on the street with my dirt bikes I do have a dual sport thats 100-% street legal the problem started when China started importing very cheap inexpensive dirt bikes and electric bikes that are easy to afford and electric need no license or registration at all . Its back to a few bad apples ruining this for everyone else and Mayor Bill D did nothing until it was totally out of control so here we are its not the bikes its the owners sort of like owning a pitbull

  6. While that virtue-signaling idiot of a mayor gets his selfie moment crushing dirtbikes his city is beset by violent crime, homelessness, and despair. This should surprise nobody.

  7. By this logic, they should be crushing cars and guns, too. It seems pretty pointless to single out motorcycles for this treatment.

    1. I have no problem with it. If they seize cars and guns for illegal activity I’m fine with them destroying those too. Moto Cross is a great sport but it doesn’t belong on the streets of NYC.

  8. I agree that these bikes need to be removed from the street, but this is environmentally irresponsible on the mayor’s part. As a motorcyclist who loves all bikes, it hurts my heart to see them crushed. Can they not send them out of state to be properly disassembled, parted out and re-cycled?

  9. Wow. Just…. wow! That’s not ‘tough’, that’s just stupid. Fiscally, environmentally and ethically irresponsible. As others have noted: the machines could have been sold, the money used elsewhere, the bikes left intact so they could be parted out….

    But I wonder about the legality of that little demonstration, as well. These motorcycles were confiscated. What efforts were made to determine whether they were stolen, and to whom they belonged? If the government recovers my stolen property from the thief and then destroys it, is that not an illegal taking under the Constitution?

    That question aside:

    I’ve been riding all my adult life, and I certainly don’t appreciate the wankers who wheelie through traffic and give the rest of us a bad name. However taking their toys away is sufficient. Destroying those toys is a tantrum.

Comments are closed.