Comments on: Is your motorcycle street legal?

By: DirtLegal

DirtLegal — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 04:37:24 +0000

This was a great blog. Very informative, and definitely a great starting point for anyone trying to figure out how to make their bike street legal.

But the fact of the matter is; because of a lack of a centralized DMV database what is street legal in one state may not be street legal in another.

This works in one of two ways:

1)- You could end up spending hundreds of dollars on equipment you don’t need such as a kickstand, speedo, etc when all you really needed was a few lights and a mirror.

Or…

2)- You could be misinformed, and get one mirror when you really needed two, then get pulled over by a cop who hates dirt bikes and have a bad day.

This is where I plug my website: http://www.dirtlegal.com

Just head over to:

https://dirtlegal.com/conversion/

We make dirt bikes street legal. We walk you through the process. Give us a call, or shoot us an email for a free consultation:

Info@dirtlegal.com 800-994-7513

Make your dirt bike street legal today.

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 13:06:05 +0000

MA also requires a DOT approved headlight…and that I tape over Yamaha’s “off road use only” rear fender sticker on ’78 IT-175E. Bike sees rural use so prob risk using up my year of VT reg while prepping for MA inspection with DOT tires, LED brake light, horn…& printing up a “DOT” headlight decal. Ripped all around New Haven, CT & to high school on my unregistered ’79 IT-175F through the mid ’80’s but now huge crackdowns with mega fines & confiscations for BikeLifers

By: Chris francione

Chris francione — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 03:23:20 +0000

I don’t meet any of Ed’s former criteria….see you on the road!

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 15:06:49 +0000

Hahahaha thats awesome

By: D car

D car — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 14:10:57 +0000

Got pulled over by a cop who was off duty in his Audi once. Told me that I was jamming too hard around the city. He told me that if I wanted to race, that I should take it up the boulevard where it’s safer (wtf?). Then told me about how much “sick chrome” he had on his sport bike. Last thing he told me was to “keep the front wheel down”……. On my sportster.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 12:31:24 +0000

I got pulled over on Broad after jumping onto the shoulder of 95 south by the stadiums to avoid the bridge traffic. Let me go with a warning but told me I’d get ticketed if I got pulled over without an inspection again.

By: Mike Ashleigh

Mike Ashleigh — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 22:23:14 +0000

-Horn fell off on the way to Kentucky last year
-Never had any of my bikes inspected (Has anyone ever gotten shit for this?)
-Dual Sport has a motocross only tire on it.
-Exhaust is probably too loud on both bikes

Also not mentioned is a chain gaurd. The GPz lacks that.

When I wired up my bike from scratch, I made the choice to run turn signals. With a bike that I commute on and ride almost daily, turn signals are important to me. Wish I had a horn sometimes too. Wonder what it looked like when it broke off the bike as I was riding.

By: ed

ed — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 20:44:26 +0000

@Mike
Don’t kid yourself. That cop almost gave you a ticket for something. He was probably a dick.

By: Mike K.

Mike K. — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 19:20:11 +0000

I’ve always wondered what the actual rule with turn signals was. A cop next to me at a stop light said “cool bike, do you need turn signals?” I said “nope” and he asked “you sure?” I said “nope.” and laughed and drove off. If only they were all that cool.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 18:45:21 +0000

Some more info on turn signals.

Turn signals are not required on any bike. However, to pass inspection, turn signals are required.

While riding it is required to signal when turning via either lamps or hand signal.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 18:22:22 +0000

Cops cannot “legally” impound a bike for no inspection. In fact state law says the penalty for no inspection is “up to a $25 fine”.

I know I paid a $41 fine for expired inspection on my car a few years ago. Looks like I overpaid. Although it is possible Philly has its own rule or there were other bullshit fees attached. I should look into that.

Ed is correct bikes can only be impounded if you lack valid insurance, registration and license.

However, as we learned the hard way, cops don’t always follow the rules. They have the badge and gun. If they want to take your bike they will. But as long as your paperwork is legit you will get it back.

By: ed

ed — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 18:03:39 +0000

@Ben
I’m not sure about cops elsewhere, but regarding Philly cops:
Lt. Stanford of the Philly police states twice; “Police can only confiscate a dirt bike under two conditions — if the operator doesn’t have a license or the bike is not registered.”
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Confiscating-All-Terrain-Vehicles-in-Philly-Not-Easy-205435671.html

Short answer though – cops can do whatever they want and if the cop is being a real big dick, they’ll take it regardless of it’s within their right to do so. Thats my experience… but you can just go get it back the next day.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 17:55:44 +0000

Last time I got pulled over [on 476] the cop looked for my [non existant] inspection sticker. Luckily he let me pass with a very stern warning, but he threatened to impound without it.