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

a66auto makes a good point. My old CBR600F4i was brought in from out of state, but had more than 7500 miles on it. I don't recall the inspector guy ever even looking at my speedo, but it has been a few years now...

Why don't you find the guy who sold it to you under the false statement that it was a CA model, and kick his ass!

A66auto wrote:

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.

I have only one shot at it to get it right. If they reject it, DMV will blacklist the bike and it will never be able to be sold in the state of CA.

CA Joe wrote:

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

Can the PO still register it without any hastles? Then have him "sell" it to you?

You mentioned that it came from Oregon so I doubt there is any real hope for it being a CA model but, I'm curious as to which parts you used for the comparison. Perhaps it really is one but it had the canister removed.

I would contact the local dealership. They may be able to do something in order to allow it to be registered. If it is brought up to spec?? worth a phone call. That is shitty bud.

Our laws have provsions for privately built vehicles...as long as they are up to code. maybe you can get your vehicle re-registered?
If not, I'ld put my effort into liquidating/bartering it...otherwise you got a heavy dirt bike that works well, but still a heavy ohv.
Sounds simple to fix mechanicaly...legal registration is your problem.
I think cheatin the system will ruin the experience it should be...cause if it don't...it may backfire on ya.Unneeded stress.
Even with the CA specs ...the bike would do anything as a dual sport.
Without enjoying the legal part, you might miss half the value.
Good Luck with that.

I guess you guys don't read - in CA, the DMV goes by the VIN. The installed equipment makes no difference at rego time, only in the field if some LEO wants to check the bike for compliance. The only way around the used non-CA restriction is with 7,500+ miles on the odo (and bill of sale).

ramz wrote:

I guess you guys don't read - in CA, the DMV goes by the VIN. The installed equipment makes no difference at rego time, only in the field if some LEO wants to check the bike for compliance. The only way around the used non-CA restriction is with 7,500+ miles on the odo (and bill of sale).

Believe non of what you hear and half of what you see...

IAmABug wrote:

I would contact the local dealership. They may be able to do something in order to allow it to be registered. If it is brought up to spec?? worth a phone call. That is shitty bud.

I called them. They told me I'm screwed.

Have you contacted the PO?

~mike

socalmike wrote:

Have you contacted the PO?

~mike

Yes. He would help if he could but there is really nothing he can do. He doesn't have the money to buy it back because he still owed quite a bit on the loan. I payed his credit union for the payoff amount and him for the remainder.

mucker wrote:

Our laws have provsions for privately built vehicles...as long as they are up to code. maybe you can get your vehicle re-registered?
If not, I'ld put my effort into liquidating/bartering it...otherwise you got a heavy dirt bike that works well, but still a heavy ohv.
Sounds simple to fix mechanicaly...legal registration is your problem.
I think cheatin the system will ruin the experience it should be...cause if it don't...it may backfire on ya.Unneeded stress.
Even with the CA specs ...the bike would do anything as a dual sport.
Without enjoying the legal part, you might miss half the value.
Good Luck with that.

Yep. However much this sucks I want to stay within the law. It's just not worth it to me otherwise.

As for the "experience", trust me it's ruined already.

Do you have any family or good friends in other states?

~mike

ramz wrote:

I guess you guys don't read - in CA, the DMV goes by the VIN. The installed equipment makes no difference at rego time, only in the field if some LEO wants to check the bike for compliance. The only way around the used non-CA restriction is with 7,500+ miles on the odo (and bill of sale).

You would be surprised by how inconsistent the clerks are at the CA DMV. You never know what the outcome is going to be....

You can try and sell it out of state. Isn't there a box on the pink slip to indicate that the mileage on the odometer isn't true? Maybe the previous owner forgot to check the box and write the true mileage.

CA Joe wrote:

mucker wrote:

Our laws have provsions for privately built vehicles...as long as they are up to code. maybe you can get your vehicle re-registered?
If not, I'ld put my effort into liquidating/bartering it...otherwise you got a heavy dirt bike that works well, but still a heavy ohv.
Sounds simple to fix mechanicaly...legal registration is your problem.
I think cheatin the system will ruin the experience it should be...cause if it don't...it may backfire on ya.Unneeded stress.
Even with the CA specs ...the bike would do anything as a dual sport.
Without enjoying the legal part, you might miss half the value.
Good Luck with that.

Yep. However much this sucks I want to stay within the law. It's just not worth it to me otherwise.

As for the "experience", trust me it's ruined already.

Sounds like it sucks, you know that.
You may get clever and make up for a bit of that...its a great bike.

Hopefully you can manage another legal model, I'm sure you wouldn't be dissapointed.

You could move to Utah. We're allowed to own multiple bikes.

This may be a long shot, but check out some forums for local racing clubs. Racing organizations don't care about ca. only models (unless things have drastically changed) and many people who race might actually be looking specifically for a non-Ca. model.

Maybe.

https://wr250rforum.forumotion.com/t6457-2009-wr250x-just-got-it


Check this out

At one point i was going to buy an out of state bike. I went to DMV to find out if i could, and found i would run into the same problem you're having. The chick told me that the bike would have to have a vehicle emissions control sticker on it for it to be registered in the state. She was very specific on what it had to say. It must read this, "This vehicle conforms to US EPA and California regulations." I went to a couple different motorcycle shops to try to buy the sticker and finally found someone who looked hard enough and found it. Its for a WR250 and is legit. The lady at the DMV acted as if the vin number didn't matter and that all she was interested in to see if it was a Ca legal bike was this sticker. I ended up not buying the out of state bike because another WR popped up that was closer and already registered in Ca. Ill send you this sticker and you can try putting it on. I'm confident it will work. The people at DMV don't know to look for charcoal canisters and what not. I believe the sticker goes on the left swing arm but I'm not 100% sure. It probably doesn't really matter where you put it. Message me your address and ill send it out for you. Let us know if it works.

way to go LANDCRUISER,,,,,,that was very nice of you to offer your sticker to help CA JOE,,,,,,this forum seems to bring out the best in some of us........this forum has made my expirience with my wrr so much better.......................................good luck CA JOE,,,,,,,,,Jason

toyota_landcruiser wrote:

At one point i was going to buy an out of state bike. I went to DMV to find out if i could, and found i would run into the same problem you're having. The chick told me that the bike would have to have a vehicle emissions control sticker on it for it to be registered in the state. She was very specific on what it had to say. It must read this, "This vehicle conforms to US EPA and California regulations." I went to a couple different motorcycle shops to try to buy the sticker and finally found someone who looked hard enough and found it. Its for a WR250 and is legit. The lady at the DMV acted as if the vin number didn't matter and that all she was interested in to see if it was a Ca legal bike was this sticker. I ended up not buying the out of state bike because another WR popped up that was closer and already registered in Ca. Ill send you this sticker and you can try putting it on. I'm confident it will work. The people at DMV don't know to look for charcoal canisters and what not. I believe the sticker goes on the left swing arm but I'm not 100% sure. It probably doesn't really matter where you put it. Message me your address and ill send it out for you. Let us know if it works.

Thank you for your kind offer. I have the sticker (you can purchase them from any Yamaha OEM parts dealer), but I've come to realize after speaking with the Yamaha dealer and some other people that the DMV can tell whether the bike is CA legal simply by looking at the VIN number. If the 8th character in your VIN number is an "E", then it is a 49 state bike. If it is not an "E" then it is a CA bike. I asked the local Yamaha dealer if I retro-fitted the bike with all the appropriate stickers and equipment if DMV would register it and they told me no. They said the only way it would get registered would be if it had over 7500 miles on it.

Thanks again for your generous and kind offer to help.

CA Joe wrote:

toyota_landcruiser wrote:

At one point i was going to buy an out of state bike. I went to DMV to find out if i could, and found i would run into the same problem you're having. The chick told me that the bike would have to have a vehicle emissions control sticker on it for it to be registered in the state. She was very specific on what it had to say. It must read this, "This vehicle conforms to US EPA and California regulations." I went to a couple different motorcycle shops to try to buy the sticker and finally found someone who looked hard enough and found it. Its for a WR250 and is legit. The lady at the DMV acted as if the vin number didn't matter and that all she was interested in to see if it was a Ca legal bike was this sticker. I ended up not buying the out of state bike because another WR popped up that was closer and already registered in Ca. Ill send you this sticker and you can try putting it on. I'm confident it will work. The people at DMV don't know to look for charcoal canisters and what not. I believe the sticker goes on the left swing arm but I'm not 100% sure. It probably doesn't really matter where you put it. Message me your address and ill send it out for you. Let us know if it works.

Thank you for your kind offer. I have the sticker (you can purchase them from any Yamaha OEM parts dealer), but I've come to realize after speaking with the Yamaha dealer and some other people that the DMV can tell whether the bike is CA legal simply by looking at the VIN number. If the 8th character in your VIN number is an "E", then it is a 49 state bike. If it is not an "E" then it is a CA bike. I asked the local Yamaha dealer if I retro-fitted the bike with all the appropriate stickers and equipment if DMV would register it and they told me no. They said the only way it would get registered would be if it had over 7500 miles on it.

Thanks again for your generous and kind offer to help.

While I'm not doubting what you've been told by a dealer that's in California, I would still just play the ignorance card and see if I could get the bike through the DMV as it is.

Unless it's a major time constraint thing you may find the one dude/dudette that doesn't follow the code to the letter.

YOU MAY GET LUCKY

Sort of the nothing ventured nothing gained thing.

At this point you need direct communication with somebody at the DMV. At least that's my take on it.

I know in Delaware, which is NOT California by any means, the people at the DMV can be very erratic in how they operate.

Have you actually been to the DMV with the bike and paperwork and just tried to get it through?

Does trying that cost you anything other than maybe an hours worth of time?

Is there a way to keep it registered in Oregon until you can get the miles right?

~mike

Hate to throw a wrench into this conversation, but even if you DO get the bike registered, won't there be an issue when you go to get the bike inspected???

(Midnite171, California doesn't do vehicle safety inspections per se, like some other states do. Before registering, the DMV checks the VIN but really doesn't do a safety inspection on a street bike. Maybe on a dirt bike that is being plated for the first time, yes, but not for a street bike.)

And, to correct what I posted above, all I can find on this is that CA does 'random safety inspections'. I couldn't find a specific CVC though.

Some of the options you have:

1 - Putting on a lot of miles in a short amount of time. Easier said than done unless you go on a road trip.
2- Swapping out the speedo/odo. If you do this, don't get caught
3- Selling it to an out of state buyer. May not be a bad idea. Just post it up on eBay. People buy bikes from different states all the time. Buyer would pay shipping.
4- Registering it out of state, say with a friend or relative and riding it within CA. If you do this, don't get caught.
5- Moving out of state. Probably not realistic to do this on short notice.

If you lived out of state and moved to CA, you can import your vehicles, even if they have less than 7500 miles.

Good luck