Please Help! - Just bought out of state bike in Cali

Last Friday I picked up my first bike, a beautiful '09 WR250X with only 1300 miles on it. I was exited to get it home. The bike is from Oregon. When I arrived to pick it up the seller said it was the California model and at the time of purchase I didn't know that there was a California model and a 49 state model. Now I do :( After I got home and started looking at the DMV website to figure out the correct paperwork to fill out for a motorcycle purchase (never purchased one before) I noticed a warning about purchasing out of state motorcycles (or any vehicle for that matter) with less than 7500 miles on them. It reads like the following:
"NOTE:California law prohibits California residents or businesses from importing and/or registering a new vehicle with less than 7,500 miles at the time of purchase unless it meets or is exempt from California emission standards. If you acquire a 49-State vehicle (manufactured for all states except California) from another state or country, you may not be able to register your vehicle in California."

My heart sunk as I compared the CA bike to mine and realized that it was not the CA version (like the seller had told me). This has gone from a joyful occasion of purchasing a long sought after and awaited first bike to a complete and total nightmare.

What do I do? Can anyone help?!

Get a temporary tag, then take a long trip to Newfoundland, Florida, Baja, Washington State, then home to CA. Register the bike the next day back.

Swap odometers with someone - it's not as easy as it sounds; look up security bolts (someone replaced their broken odometer already).

Unhook the odometer and tell the DMV that the WRR has 12,000 miles on it and get a letter from the seller sayin the odo has been broken for a year.

I just noticed that you bought an '09, so you can say it's been broken for 2 years!

I'd still look for a swapper and deal with the bolts. Gonna cost ya...

ramz wrote:

I'd still look for a swapper and deal with the bolts. Gonna cost ya...

Could you explain what you mean?

ramz wrote:

Get a temporary tag, then take a long trip to Newfoundland, Florida, Baja, Washington State, then home to CA. Register the bike the next day back.

Swap odometers with someone - it's not as easy as it sounds; look up security bolts (someone replaced their broken odometer already).

Unhook the odometer and tell the DMV that the WRR has 12,000 miles on it and get a letter from the seller sayin the odo has been broken for a year.

Can't do that, the seller already wrote down the odometer miles and signed.

Swap the odometer with another bike that has over 7500 miles on it. The odometer is mounted with two security bolts - they don't just unscrew, you have to cut them out. Search on this forum or the WRR mega thread on ADVrider to see the description of how to remove the bolts.

Swap : swapper

Add a 1 to the beginning of the number.... use pen with same color ink.


Sell the bike to me and I'll put 7,000 miles on it in a month, then sell it back.

Wha city are you in?

A66auto wrote:

Wha city are you in?

Modesto

I think the only thing you need is the charcoal canister that sits right behind the front wheel and almost looks like a black engine protector (skid plate).

I also think many people in Cali, once they passed inspection remove it.

Try an eBay search for "250x charcoal canister" or "250x Ca. model" and see if there's some parts you can buy.

Or is the issue more with the title for the bike itself?

In CA, the DMV checks the VIN; if it isn't a CA or 50-state model, you are subject to the 7,500 mile rule. Doesn't matter what equipment is on the bike, they go by the VIN. Supposedly, the CA and 50-state models will have the proper equipment. If you remove any of the required equipment, you may get caught when riding at the OHV areas (Hollister etc); speaking of green and red stickered bikes now, although they may also check street-legal motos also, like plated KTMs etc. They check the bikes at the entrance and have learned what to look for. Of course, it's hard to catch the marble in the smog hose

ramz wrote:

In CA, the DMV checks the VIN; if it isn't a CA or 50-state model, you are subject to the 7,500 mile rule. Doesn't matter what equipment is on the bike, they go by the VIN. Supposedly, the CA and 50-state models will have the proper equipment. If you remove any of the required equipment, you may get caught when riding at the OHV areas (Hollister etc); speaking of green and red stickered bikes now, although they may also check street-legal motos also, like plated KTMs etc. They check the bikes at the entrance and have learned what to look for. Of course, it's hard to catch the marble in the smog hose

Sounds like the OP is fucked.

The seller was a douche too, or perhaps ignorant, but I'm thinking douche.

OP has little choice then but to sell bike and try to find a Ca. model, correct?

No. All he needs to do is get 7500+ miles on the odo. He can do that by riding a whole bunch real quick (you have 30 days to register), swap odos with a bike that has 7500+ miles on it, or add an extra leading "1" to the mileage on the bill of sale.

ramz wrote:

In CA, the DMV checks the VIN; if it isn't a CA or 50-state model, you are subject to the 7,500 mile rule. Doesn't matter what equipment is on the bike, they go by the VIN. Supposedly, the CA and 50-state models will have the proper equipment. If you remove any of the required equipment, you may get caught when riding at the OHV areas (Hollister etc); speaking of green and red stickered bikes now, although they may also check street-legal motos also, like plated KTMs etc. They check the bikes at the entrance and have learned what to look for. Of course, it's hard to catch the marble in the smog hose

Wow, OR is a long way to go to get a bike. You must have got a smoking deal on it!

I live in Sacramento and I was going to mention the same thing about the VIN. DMV will check the VIN with cars, but it may not be the same with bike. Here are some things you can try:

1-Talk to someone at the DMV and find out if there is a way around the law
2-You can turn around and sell it and lose a few $ and just call it a lesson, or maybe sell it back to where you bought it from
3-Buy a wrecked CA WRX and swap the parts from the OR WRX onto the CA WRX frame and register it
4-Part it out, if you got a good deal on it, you might make a little money
5-Get some type of temp registration and put as many miles on it as possible. This dry winter has given us lots of good riding days.

A66auto wrote:

ramz wrote:

In CA, the DMV checks the VIN; if it isn't a CA or 50-state model, you are subject to the 7,500 mile rule. Doesn't matter what equipment is on the bike, they go by the VIN. Supposedly, the CA and 50-state models will have the proper equipment. If you remove any of the required equipment, you may get caught when riding at the OHV areas (Hollister etc); speaking of green and red stickered bikes now, although they may also check street-legal motos also, like plated KTMs etc. They check the bikes at the entrance and have learned what to look for. Of course, it's hard to catch the marble in the smog hose

Wow, OR is a long way to go to get a bike. You must have got a smoking deal on it!

I live in Sacramento and I was going to mention the same thing about the VIN. DMV will check the VIN with cars, but it may not be the same with bike. Here are some things you can try:

1-Talk to someone at the DMV and find out if there is a way around the law
2-You can turn around and sell it and lose a few $ and just call it a lesson, or maybe sell it back to where you bought it from
3-Buy a wrecked CA WRX and swap the parts from the OR WRX onto the CA WRX frame and register it
4-Part it out, if you got a good deal on it, you might make a little money
5-Get some type of temp registration and put as many miles on it as possible. This dry winter has given us lots of good riding days.

Thank you for your suggestions. I appreciate you taking the time to try and help me out.

I bought it in Fairfield, CA. The seller bought it in Oregon and moved to California.

If DMV will be able to tell it is not CA version just from looking at the VIN I really am screwed like the other poster said. Option number 1 is the only non-screwed option here but the likelihood of there being some way around it is slim to none. I actually can't just turn around and sell it because nobody in this state will want it and I'm not going to screw the next buyer like I got screwed. The other options to me really aren't options.

Looks like I'm just going to have to put it up for sale and offer to pay for shipping which will end up being between $500-1000 depending on which state it ships to. I rented a U-Haul to go get it too at a total cost of $300. So basically I have the hassle of a sale on my hands with a ton of lost money and even then I'm back to square one again looking for another used WR250X. Fun.

motokid wrote:

I think the only thing you need is the charcoal canister that sits right behind the front wheel and almost looks like a black engine protector (skid plate).

I also think many people in Cali, once they passed inspection remove it.

Try an eBay search for "250x charcoal canister" or "250x Ca. model" and see if there's some parts you can buy.

Or is the issue more with the title for the bike itself?

The title doesn't specify whether it is a 49 state bike or a CA model. It's possible that this would come up on DMV screen when the look up the VIN.

CA Joe wrote:

The title doesn't specify whether it is a 49 state bike or a CA model. It's possible that this would come up on DMV screen when the look up the VIN.

At this point do you have much to lose by trying to get through Ca. inspection? Maybe a little time?

There's a few members here from California.

Maybe somebody has some tricks you could use? Or a family member at the DMV?


mordicai is a cali resident....maybe he can chime in and help?

CA Joe wrote:

The seller bought it in Oregon and moved to California.

Is there a loophole here? Did the PO register it in California when he moved there? Can you purchase a bike register it another state and move to CA and not have it meet the regulations about 7500 miles or a CA bike? I am just saying if the PO registered it then it might be legal. Someone confirm or refute this.

duanew wrote:

CA Joe wrote:

The seller bought it in Oregon and moved to California.

Is there a loophole here? Did the PO register it in California when he moved there? Can you purchase a bike register it another state and move to CA and not have it meet the regulations about 7500 miles or a CA bike? I am just saying if the PO registered it then it might be legal. Someone confirm or refute this.

PO did not register it in CA. He could have without any hassle according to DMV regulation.

Dude, go buy a speedo on ebay that has more than 7500 miles on it. Install it, and go get your tags.

motocrossmann wrote:

Dude, go buy a speedo on ebay that has more than 7500 miles on it. Install it, and go get your tags.

It looks like that is my best option. I looked but there is only one speedo on ebay and it has 3400 or so miles on it.

Would anyone here be so kind as to loan me there's for a few days?

I've only got 3500 miles on mine, sry I can't help out.

CA Joe wrote:

PO did not register it in CA. He could have without any hassle according to DMV regulation.

Oh well. That sucks!

What part of California are you in? You could try http://bayarearidersforum.com if you are in Norcal to try and find someone.

motokid wrote:

CA Joe wrote:

The title doesn't specify whether it is a 49 state bike or a CA model. It's possible that this would come up on DMV screen when the look up the VIN.

At this point do you have much to lose by trying to get through Ca. inspection? Maybe a little time?

There's a few members here from California.

Maybe somebody has some tricks you could use? Or a family member at the DMV?


mordicai is a cali resident....maybe he can chime in and help?

I agree, you really should try to register it before you give up. Maybe it's different for a bike and it might work.