I have recently gone through a long process to get my 05 crf a title... I have all the intermiten paperwork to go down to the DMV and get it registered for off road use only. My question to you guys in the supermoto section is have any of you had any experience getting an mx bike registered for the road. I have not turned in the paperwork to get the offroad only title yet. I have a lot of friends in other states and I live in FL. I'm not expecting this to be an easy task or even posible at all... Just inquiring.
Thank you.
Making it legal... ?
Started by
klxchrisE
, Jan 23 2012 06:34 AM
15 replies to this topic
Posted 24 January 2012 - 12:27 PM
not that this helps at all... but at least you don't live in nazifornia!!!!!!! good luck!
Posted 25 January 2012 - 06:17 AM
Yeah, I used to live in Oregon so I'm well aware of what goes on over there. I think Oregon is even worst. I just see all these people with registered dirt bikes here and I would be willing to give it a shot... Doesn't seem like too many people want to share their secrets
Posted 11 February 2012 - 10:42 PM
I recently got my 2003 WR450F plated for street and off road use. Its set up as a supermoto as well. I know it depends on the state but here in arizona I had to have a head light, tail light, brake light, 1 mirror to make it legal for street use. Super easy I do know some states require turn signals, smog tests, and DOT approved tires. You will have to check with your county. Best bet is to call the DMV and ask a bunch of questions. If FL is anything like AZ it was cake.
Posted 12 February 2012 - 07:42 AM
I would also try to find some Florida based riding groups/forums that may provide some local insite. You may find that the DMV office in another county is "easier" to work with than your local office...
Good luck.
Good luck.
Posted 22 February 2012 - 12:28 PM
I tried getting a crf450x plated one state above you in georgia and it was a no go. Georgia is pretty strick about that. After lots of talking to the DMV and the GSP it didnt seem like it was ever going to happen so i gave up and just bought a drz400s. I'm selling the crf450x and putting that money into making the drz400s faster. Sorry i know this didnt help you out but just giving my experience with this.
Posted 22 February 2012 - 04:07 PM
Sorry to hear that GaDRZ400sMan, I was able to get my 09 KX450F registered in GA. Probably was easier for me than most because i didn't have a Tag Official look at mine. Police officer looked at mine and checked the background info to make sure it wasn't stolen.
Many things are possible. It's just like most things though, its all about who you know or in the DMV case, which office you may go to haha.
Many things are possible. It's just like most things though, its all about who you know or in the DMV case, which office you may go to haha.
Posted 23 February 2012 - 04:57 AM
I'm still gonna try. Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to try looking in the next county over. They are pretty lenient.
Posted 12 April 2012 - 04:43 AM
Just a heads up... No go. I have been trying for a while and can't seem to get anywhere. I did however come across the exact same bike as mine with a tag on craigslist and I gave him a call to see how he did it. Said he bought it like that from a guy in GA. He has no clue how. Not that this helps but hey... It's info right? 
Posted 12 April 2012 - 04:59 PM
i think in most states the first step is to send in paperwork to get a change of use permit or something along those lines. Once you have that just go to your dmv. I also know dealerships have sent brand new crf450x's out the door with tags on them here in VA.
Posted 13 April 2012 - 08:26 AM
My experience in PA is if the title is branded "MC", you go to the paperwork mafia (we call them notary public), pay a fee to have the title transferred to you and while you're at it obtain a plate. You must have paid the protection racket who will provide proof of insurance prior to this step.
They hand you a plate and off you go. This was the case with our TT-R, well, except when the owner of the paperwork mafia franchise noticed that I may have washed the title (in my defense, the idiot PO wrote his name in the new owner space and never finished the paperwork. Illegal but justifiable).
If the title is branded "ORV" on the other hand, you transfer the title at the paperwork mafia, perform all the work required by the DOT, then take your machine to an "enhanced inspection station" who specializes in motorcycles (most do not, so of the 10% of inspection stations who are enhanced, you need to go to the motorcycle enhanced 1%. Simply handing an ordinary inspection station a carton of Enzyte is not enough).
The mechanic then does an ordinary inspection and signs some paperwork. This may cost you $200 for the inspection alone. Then you head back to the paperwork mafia, pay another fee. In six to eight weeks, PennDOT sends you an altered title or they may mail it to the paperwork mafia. You return to the paperwork mafia with more money and they'll give you a plate. Somewhere in this process you must pay the protection racket. In another words, it's not worth the effort most of the time.
The one method to circumvent the process is to "sell" your titled bike to someone in MD who will get an "MC" branded title (MD has no ORV brand), then he "sells" it back to you and you perform the dance in step one. The bad news is this will take months.
The caveat for any and all of these is the DOT/DMV may realize there was a "mistake" at any point in time and take it all away. Reportedly this has happened in Oregon and California.
The extreme, but likely to be cheaper than #3 and definitely cheaper and easier than #2 and less likely to be found out route is to find a bike with the same steering head as yours (i.e. it has a similar steering stem and uses the same races) that is factory street legal, buy a titled parts bike, pay someone to cut the steering head off of both and "repair" the donor steering stem by welding your frame to it. This is illegal according to the spirit of the law, but I'm sure a decent lawyer can pick apart the letter of the law that it was a "repair" not a VIN alteration, since the VIN itself was never modified.
If you have a MSO instead of a title, you may have other options, but I have no idea what they may be. Do not lose the MSO, you can never get another one.
They hand you a plate and off you go. This was the case with our TT-R, well, except when the owner of the paperwork mafia franchise noticed that I may have washed the title (in my defense, the idiot PO wrote his name in the new owner space and never finished the paperwork. Illegal but justifiable).
If the title is branded "ORV" on the other hand, you transfer the title at the paperwork mafia, perform all the work required by the DOT, then take your machine to an "enhanced inspection station" who specializes in motorcycles (most do not, so of the 10% of inspection stations who are enhanced, you need to go to the motorcycle enhanced 1%. Simply handing an ordinary inspection station a carton of Enzyte is not enough).
The mechanic then does an ordinary inspection and signs some paperwork. This may cost you $200 for the inspection alone. Then you head back to the paperwork mafia, pay another fee. In six to eight weeks, PennDOT sends you an altered title or they may mail it to the paperwork mafia. You return to the paperwork mafia with more money and they'll give you a plate. Somewhere in this process you must pay the protection racket. In another words, it's not worth the effort most of the time.
The one method to circumvent the process is to "sell" your titled bike to someone in MD who will get an "MC" branded title (MD has no ORV brand), then he "sells" it back to you and you perform the dance in step one. The bad news is this will take months.
The caveat for any and all of these is the DOT/DMV may realize there was a "mistake" at any point in time and take it all away. Reportedly this has happened in Oregon and California.
The extreme, but likely to be cheaper than #3 and definitely cheaper and easier than #2 and less likely to be found out route is to find a bike with the same steering head as yours (i.e. it has a similar steering stem and uses the same races) that is factory street legal, buy a titled parts bike, pay someone to cut the steering head off of both and "repair" the donor steering stem by welding your frame to it. This is illegal according to the spirit of the law, but I'm sure a decent lawyer can pick apart the letter of the law that it was a "repair" not a VIN alteration, since the VIN itself was never modified.
If you have a MSO instead of a title, you may have other options, but I have no idea what they may be. Do not lose the MSO, you can never get another one.
Edited by Smacaroni, 13 April 2012 - 08:26 AM.
Posted 24 April 2012 - 06:56 AM
Smacaroni, on 13 April 2012 - 08:26 AM, said:
My experience in PA is if the title is branded "MC", you go to the paperwork mafia (we call them notary public), pay a fee to have the title transferred to you and while you're at it obtain a plate. You must have paid the protection racket who will provide proof of insurance prior to this step.
They hand you a plate and off you go. This was the case with our TT-R, well, except when the owner of the paperwork mafia franchise noticed that I may have washed the title (in my defense, the idiot PO wrote his name in the new owner space and never finished the paperwork. Illegal but justifiable).
If the title is branded "ORV" on the other hand, you transfer the title at the paperwork mafia, perform all the work required by the DOT, then take your machine to an "enhanced inspection station" who specializes in motorcycles (most do not, so of the 10% of inspection stations who are enhanced, you need to go to the motorcycle enhanced 1%. Simply handing an ordinary inspection station a carton of Enzyte is not enough).
The mechanic then does an ordinary inspection and signs some paperwork. This may cost you $200 for the inspection alone. Then you head back to the paperwork mafia, pay another fee. In six to eight weeks, PennDOT sends you an altered title or they may mail it to the paperwork mafia. You return to the paperwork mafia with more money and they'll give you a plate. Somewhere in this process you must pay the protection racket. In another words, it's not worth the effort most of the time.
The one method to circumvent the process is to "sell" your titled bike to someone in MD who will get an "MC" branded title (MD has no ORV brand), then he "sells" it back to you and you perform the dance in step one. The bad news is this will take months.
The caveat for any and all of these is the DOT/DMV may realize there was a "mistake" at any point in time and take it all away. Reportedly this has happened in Oregon and California.
The extreme, but likely to be cheaper than #3 and definitely cheaper and easier than #2 and less likely to be found out route is to find a bike with the same steering head as yours (i.e. it has a similar steering stem and uses the same races) that is factory street legal, buy a titled parts bike, pay someone to cut the steering head off of both and "repair" the donor steering stem by welding your frame to it. This is illegal according to the spirit of the law, but I'm sure a decent lawyer can pick apart the letter of the law that it was a "repair" not a VIN alteration, since the VIN itself was never modified.
If you have a MSO instead of a title, you may have other options, but I have no idea what they may be. Do not lose the MSO, you can never get another one.
They hand you a plate and off you go. This was the case with our TT-R, well, except when the owner of the paperwork mafia franchise noticed that I may have washed the title (in my defense, the idiot PO wrote his name in the new owner space and never finished the paperwork. Illegal but justifiable).
If the title is branded "ORV" on the other hand, you transfer the title at the paperwork mafia, perform all the work required by the DOT, then take your machine to an "enhanced inspection station" who specializes in motorcycles (most do not, so of the 10% of inspection stations who are enhanced, you need to go to the motorcycle enhanced 1%. Simply handing an ordinary inspection station a carton of Enzyte is not enough).
The mechanic then does an ordinary inspection and signs some paperwork. This may cost you $200 for the inspection alone. Then you head back to the paperwork mafia, pay another fee. In six to eight weeks, PennDOT sends you an altered title or they may mail it to the paperwork mafia. You return to the paperwork mafia with more money and they'll give you a plate. Somewhere in this process you must pay the protection racket. In another words, it's not worth the effort most of the time.
The one method to circumvent the process is to "sell" your titled bike to someone in MD who will get an "MC" branded title (MD has no ORV brand), then he "sells" it back to you and you perform the dance in step one. The bad news is this will take months.
The caveat for any and all of these is the DOT/DMV may realize there was a "mistake" at any point in time and take it all away. Reportedly this has happened in Oregon and California.
The extreme, but likely to be cheaper than #3 and definitely cheaper and easier than #2 and less likely to be found out route is to find a bike with the same steering head as yours (i.e. it has a similar steering stem and uses the same races) that is factory street legal, buy a titled parts bike, pay someone to cut the steering head off of both and "repair" the donor steering stem by welding your frame to it. This is illegal according to the spirit of the law, but I'm sure a decent lawyer can pick apart the letter of the law that it was a "repair" not a VIN alteration, since the VIN itself was never modified.
If you have a MSO instead of a title, you may have other options, but I have no idea what they may be. Do not lose the MSO, you can never get another one.
Dude your fing awesome!!!!!!!! My cousin lives in MD! Looks like #3 it is! I recommend everyone save this before the "mafia" gets a hold of it
Posted 24 April 2012 - 07:23 AM
Let me know how it works out, I'm not sure how FL does things. There is probably a state closer to you (SC comes to mind?) that does not differentiate between an ORV and MC title.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Posted 01 July 2012 - 09:17 PM
I actually drove to Georgia from NC to buy a crf450x that had a title. thats the trick man you need a TITLE in order to get a tag for your bike. passing inspection comes second but im almost positive florida allows it. Dont give up its so worth it!!!! I'm now working on legalizing my new cr500. smokers are a little more tricky apparently but im hoping Tenn will let it slide. Scary part is,,, you have to sign the bike over to someone in that state, have them do your dirty work, and sign it back to you while transferring the title. but like i said,, Fl will let you get a title easy and then from there the hardest part is getting your sumo wheels to fit hahaha
Posted 03 July 2012 - 07:35 AM
I actually just gave up on my crf... Good news is I found a 2005 klx400 that had a multypurpose title. Took it down to the dmv and had the inspection done. The guy rode an enduro himself!!!! He said he shouldn't pass me without a full light kit and mirrors but he did it anyway. I got really lucky. I asked him if I could request him for inspection on my crf and he said he would never pass a MX bike... No matter how converted it was. Either way I have a really good set up now. I just wanted a dirt bike that had a tag. I love enduros but they are always set up for the road more than the dirt. Know I really have the best of both worlds. I do plan on getting SM wheels and tires for it though... How could I not!!!
