What Michigan law says about riding an electric dirt bike, question by question. 6 of 6 answered from official text.
Michigan's ORV law defines an ORV as a motor-driven off-road recreation vehicle capable of cross-country travel without benefit of a road or trail, and says a motorcycle or related 2-wheel vehicle may be an ORV. The definition names no power source.
MCL 324.81101(u), checked . Official text for Michigan, MCL 324.81101(u), external site
An ORV needs an ORV license to run on a street, county road or highway unless it is registered under the vehicle code. Counties may authorize ORVs on county roads by ordinance; on such roads a rider under 18 needs a driver's license, or a parent's or guardian's direct supervision plus an ORV safety certificate, and no one under 12 may ride there.
MCL 324.81115(1)(c); 324.81131(2), (13), checked . Official text for Michigan, MCL 324.81115(1)(c); 324.81131(2), (13), external site
An ORV must be licensed with the Department of Natural Resources or a dealer before it is ridden on land, snow, ice or other natural terrain, on a forest trail or in a designated area. A license runs from April 1 to the following March 31. No license is needed when riding solely on private property by the owner, family or invited guests, or on the state's free ORV-riding days.
MCL 324.81115(1)-(2); 324.81116, checked . Official text for Michigan, MCL 324.81115(1)-(2); 324.81116, external site
Anyone operating or riding as a passenger on an ORV must wear a crash helmet and protective eyewear approved by the United States Department of Transportation. The rule does not apply to the owner of the property being ridden, a family member who lives there or the owner's invited guest, but that exception never covers anyone under 16, a 16- or 17-year-old without a parent's or guardian's consent to ride without a crash helmet, or an organized ORV riding or racing event where the owner is paid for use of the property. The law lists a few other narrow exceptions.
MCL 324.81133(2), checked . Official text for Michigan, MCL 324.81133(2), external site
A child under 16 may not operate an ORV unless under the direct visual supervision of an adult and carrying an ORV safety certificate.
MCL 324.81129(12), checked . Official text for Michigan, MCL 324.81129(12), external site
Under the Michigan Vehicle Code an electric bicycle has a seat or saddle, fully operable pedals for human propulsion and an electric motor of not greater than 750 watts, and must fall within one of three classes. Class 1 and class 3 give assistance only while the rider is pedaling, class 1 cutting out at 20 mph and class 3 at 28 mph; class 2 propels the bike to no more than 20 mph whether the rider is pedaling or not.
MCL 257.13e, checked . Official text for Michigan, MCL 257.13e, external site
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.
For a young rider, the before-you-ride checker puts the helmet and age rules first.
The makers' power, top speed and pedal figures for the electric dirt bikes in the Garage sit beside every state's e-bike wording on the e-bike line.
Official riding areas and the permits Michigan asks for: where to ride in Michigan.
Statutes change. Each answer carries the date it was checked; the page is re-checked at least every 180 days and says "Review due" if that slips.
