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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Ry_Guy on September 25, 2008, 09:19:27 AM

Title: California laws...
Post by: Ry_Guy on September 25, 2008, 09:19:27 AM
I have a custom fabricated headlight assembly with drivelights and It's pretty much just bolted on the front. Anyone run into trouble getting this kinda stuff to pass inspection? I'm new to California, not really looking forward to all the nit-pick laws.
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: jchc413 on September 25, 2008, 09:21:59 AM
just register it in another state is what I would do
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: The Buddha on September 25, 2008, 09:24:45 AM
CA has no yearly inspection.
They have a vin verification for titling out of state vehicles, but it is 1 time.
Lane splitting baby ... northern ca or southern ca ?
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: starshooter10 on September 25, 2008, 09:29:37 AM
yeah im also from CA (north bay)

and you dont really have to do shaZam!...

no inspection no smog

just pay the 30$ a year for reg + your insurance =-D
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: Ry_Guy on September 25, 2008, 09:57:36 AM
Awesome!! I just assumed the worst, but sounds like it won't be a problem.
Quote from: The Buddha on September 25, 2008, 09:24:45 AM
Lane splitting baby ... northern ca or southern ca ?
Southern - Los Angeles area  8)  Definately looking forward to lane splitting
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: The Buddha on September 25, 2008, 10:07:46 AM
Also, you have 1 bike, liability is say $75 a year, add another bike of lower risk, like a cruiser, and your bill goes up to 80 ... for both ... add a third, and its 82 ... just dont go up a risk category and buy a GSXR ...
CA is a very common sense state ... however sheite is $$$ and economy is literally dead right now there ... so Ry_guy what kinda work you do ???
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: fred on September 25, 2008, 11:11:50 AM
Quote from: Ry_Guy on September 25, 2008, 09:19:27 AM
I have a custom fabricated headlight assembly with drivelights and It's pretty much just bolted on the front. Anyone run into trouble getting this kinda stuff to pass inspection? I'm new to California, not really looking forward to all the nit-pick laws.

Yeah, there are no inspections. When I got my bike it had these terrible dual headlights that had no high beams, technically illegal, but no one ever knew or cared. I'm also currently riding around without a right front turn signal and I haven't gotten an flack for it, I just use hand signals to turn right and everything's fine. California is kinda annoying about car emissions laws, and has super strict weapons laws, but other than that it isn't any worse than anywhere else as far as I can tell...
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: The Buddha on September 25, 2008, 11:22:23 AM
NC is a POS ... I'd love to have the insurance rates and laws that CA does ... no common sense based stuff in NC ... and insurance is heavily regulated, you wont get lower quotes from competetion either ... they all are the same $$ ...
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: starshooter10 on September 25, 2008, 11:26:21 AM
irode my GS for almost a month with no mirrors >_<

now i have "short stem" mirrors so i stare at my arms half the ride...

and they viberate soo much they are ALMOST useless

stupid cheap aftermarkets!
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: respite on September 25, 2008, 11:28:11 AM
Quote from: starshooter10 on September 25, 2008, 09:29:37 AM
yeah im also from CA (north bay)

and you dont really have to do shaZam!...

no inspection no smog

just pay the 30$ a year for reg + your insurance =-D

No fair. DMV charged me 90 on my 07 gs.
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: fred on September 25, 2008, 11:45:17 AM
Quote from: respite on September 25, 2008, 11:28:11 AM
Quote from: starshooter10 on September 25, 2008, 09:29:37 AM
yeah im also from CA (north bay)

and you dont really have to do shaZam!...

no inspection no smog

just pay the 30$ a year for reg + your insurance =-D

No fair. DMV charged me 90 on my 07 gs.

Yeah, my 94 was like $80....
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: Juan1 on September 25, 2008, 02:08:54 PM
You do have to have the bike inspected if you bring it in from out of state.  I have no idea what it entails.

As everyone else has pointed out, annual inspections are not required.
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: Roadstergal on September 25, 2008, 02:57:53 PM
Quote from: The Buddha on September 25, 2008, 09:24:45 AMLane splitting baby

Lane splitting isn't legal - lanesharing is.  *halo*   :icon_mrgreen:

When I moved to CA, they did inspect my bikes.  They cared more about the VIN and engine number than the lighting, though.
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: fred on September 25, 2008, 03:12:43 PM
Quote from: Juan1 on September 25, 2008, 02:08:54 PM
You do have to have the bike inspected if you bring it in from out of state.  I have no idea what it entails.

As everyone else has pointed out, annual inspections are not required.

The inspection for bringing the bike into the state is easy, all they do is make sure your engine number and VIN are good and then they make sure your bike has more than 7500 miles on it. This is the critical part, if you ever try to register anything from out of state with less than 7500 miles on the clock they blacklist your VIN forever and you can never register it in California ever again under any circumstance! You have to make sure your odometer reads more than 7500 before you go through this inspection. This is supposedly to keep people from buying stuff out of state without the California approved emissions stuff and then bringing it in to the state right away. I have a buddy who's dealing with the fact that his bike is pretty new and doesn't have enough miles on it. I think his current plan is to go get a junkyard instrument cluster that shows over 7500 miles on it just for the inspection, then switch back to the original one... Other than that you should be fine.
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: Roadstergal on September 25, 2008, 03:14:27 PM
If your bike has a CA emissions sticker - i.e. if it's a 50-state bike - you don't need the 7500 miles.  Both of my bikes were under 7500 miles at the time I moved; since they were 50-state bikes, no problem at all.

The 7500-mile thing is just a loophole to let you bring a 49-state bike in.

There are other loopholes for bringing in a 49-state vehicle, but probably none of them apply.
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: Ry_Guy on September 25, 2008, 04:55:04 PM
Quote from: fred on September 25, 2008, 03:12:43 PM
Quote from: Juan1 on September 25, 2008, 02:08:54 PM
You do have to have the bike inspected if you bring it in from out of state.  I have no idea what it entails.

As everyone else has pointed out, annual inspections are not required.

The inspection for bringing the bike into the state is easy, all they do is make sure your engine number and VIN are good and then they make sure your bike has more than 7500 miles on it. This is the critical part, if you ever try to register anything from out of state with less than 7500 miles on the clock they blacklist your VIN forever and you can never register it in California ever again under any circumstance! You have to make sure your odometer reads more than 7500 before you go through this inspection. This is supposedly to keep people from buying stuff out of state without the California approved emissions stuff and then bringing it in to the state right away. I have a buddy who's dealing with the fact that his bike is pretty new and doesn't have enough miles on it. I think his current plan is to go get a junkyard instrument cluster that shows over 7500 miles on it just for the inspection, then switch back to the original one... Other than that you should be fine.
Good to know!  :thumb:
I'm bringing the bike in from Wisconsin. It has over 7500, so not worried there. Does the inspection cost $?
Quote from: The Buddha on September 25, 2008, 10:07:46 AM
so Ry_guy what kinda work you do ???
Behavior therapy. The job outlook in CA is pretty good. Not the best payin' job, but it's fun. I'll use the $ that the GS saves me to accomodate the more expensive lifestyle. Let's see...won't need the truck anymore. Might as well get another GS for back-up. Only $5 more per year in insurance anyway  :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: Roadstergal on September 25, 2008, 05:10:05 PM
I don't remember there being a separate fee for the inspection, but maybe I just forgot because it wasn't enough to notice against the other fees.  :p  You'll be charged 'use tax' - basically, sales tax on the current value of your bike - title transfer, and registration.  The use tax shouldn't be too much on an older GS, though.

You'll need to take a written test to have your moto license transferred.
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: mach1 on September 25, 2008, 05:11:02 PM
cali is chill when it comes to bikes. I rode my GS without mirrors blinkers tail light and plates and passed cops in malibu and they didnt even look back. come down have fun and split as much as you can.
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: The Buddha on September 25, 2008, 07:05:16 PM
Behavior therapy - OK they better be paying you serious coin. So Cal is great for some types of careers, but you have to deal with insane commutes in spite of lane splitting, serious crime and gangs, lots and lots and lots of neighborhoods to avoid even venturing in after dark, and some seriously high real estate that in fact is dropping like a rock.
And being from wisconsin they figured they got your number ... they wave sunshine at you and you start seeing hollywood stars.
Hope you like it ... and now figure your upcomming cylinder head replacement labor cost just shot up 150% ... unless you swap it your self.
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: gaspy on September 26, 2008, 06:55:12 AM
Quote from: Roadstergal on September 25, 2008, 02:57:53 PM
When I moved to CA, they did inspect my bikes.  They cared more about the VIN and engine number than the lighting, though.

What if you've done an engine swap? (sorry for thread jack  :nono:). What are they checking against the engine number? emissions, or theft?
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: Roadstergal on September 26, 2008, 08:21:31 AM
As I understand it, in order to put an engine from Bike A into Bike B, you have to have a title for Bike A and Bike B.  Then take both titles to the CHP post-swap, and have them inspect and sign off.  Then DMV.

Not that I've looked this up with the thought of putting a big bang engine into my FZ6 as soon as some squid totals a new R1, or anything like that.   :laugh:
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: fred on September 26, 2008, 08:30:26 AM
Quote from: gaspy on September 26, 2008, 06:55:12 AM
Quote from: Roadstergal on September 25, 2008, 02:57:53 PM
When I moved to CA, they did inspect my bikes.  They cared more about the VIN and engine number than the lighting, though.

What if you've done an engine swap? (sorry for thread jack  :nono:). What are they checking against the engine number? emissions, or theft?

You can't put an older engine in a newer bike, they really don't like that, even for things like the GS where the engine has never really changed...
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: gaspy on September 26, 2008, 08:40:33 AM
Quote from: fred on September 26, 2008, 08:30:26 AM
Quote from: gaspy on September 26, 2008, 06:55:12 AM
Quote from: Roadstergal on September 25, 2008, 02:57:53 PM
When I moved to CA, they did inspect my bikes.  They cared more about the VIN and engine number than the lighting, though.

What if you've done an engine swap? (sorry for thread jack  :nono:). What are they checking against the engine number? emissions, or theft?

You can't put an older engine in a newer bike, they really don't like that, even for things like the GS where the engine has never really changed...

What about a newer engine in an older bike? My motor was knocking so I had to go to ebay for a replacement. The replacement is actually a California model, but I don't have a title for it. Uh-oh. This could be a hassle if I actually move to CA next year. Or I could just get a different bike...
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: theUBS on September 26, 2008, 10:02:35 AM
Not sure how strict things are in CA, but I know when I bought my bike in WV and titled it in OH, I had to get it "inspected" at the BMV.  I was sort of nervous about it, but in the end, the "inspection" consisted of one of the clerks walking out and writing down the VIN off the frame.  Didn't check it against anything else.   :dunno_white:
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: The Buddha on September 26, 2008, 10:22:49 AM
VIN verification for out of state bikes are common. They dont do engine numner check at all.
Now CA title does have the vin # in it, but if you have a CA title and do a motor swap, there is no reason you would go back to the dmv at all ... so R'gal you're fine ... R1 in FZ6 not a problem.
Now if you had a bike from a state that does have the engine number in it and you have swapped the engine and not put it in the title, and move to CA, will they then verify that also and then toss you in jail ... I ahve my doubts. They will probably verify the frame number, and totally ignore the other numbers.
Newer older bla bla bla applies only to cars. CA only checks vin in the title against the frame for out of state vehicles in a 1 time check type deal. Every subsequent year at registration, and at sale time or if you buy a in state vehicle, it totally is of no consequence. No one checks nothing.
I dont see why you cannot stuff a hayabusa motor in a GS and ride on ... of stuff a 2 stroke in a gs ... may cause some issues there, though I dunno how ... maybe if stopped by a cop and ... I dunno have no experience there.
If you want to swap the engines and have it put in the title correctly ... then that whole donor bike title business etc etc comes into play.
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: California laws...
Post by: Roadstergal on September 27, 2008, 02:58:52 PM
Quote from: The Buddha on September 26, 2008, 10:22:49 AMNow if you had a bike from a state that does have the engine number in it

That's the issue - CA titles have the engine number on 'em.