American bureaucracy and cafe racers

[Nuno]

Hi DoTheTonners,
I'd like to know what american laws think about cafe racers and modded bike.
Here in Italy we are not allowed to make any kind of mods to our motorbikes...for the simplest ones (like just changing the exhaust) there is just a fee, for the biggest ones (like cutting the frame, changing tires size...) we are surely going to face a lot of troubles with police and insurance companies (that are not going to pay in case of accident...) and for sure the bike documents will be confiscated until the bike goes back to its original shape...so, a big mess.

How is the situation in US? Are you REALLY allowed to ride your creations or you just do and hope not to get stopped?

Cheers!

 

[Dyrden]

Its not bad in Florida, however some states like California are putting in legislation to regulate things especially engine, exhaust, emission and noise related items.

I run straight exhaust on my fighter, no signals or windscreen, modded frame, no keys and I dont have any issues.

 

[Big R]

Each state has its different laws. Here in Pennsylvania, the inspection calls for a mirror, working brakes, a horn, etc, etc. It is pretty slack........

You're not allowed to change anything at all? I swapped out parts from different years, not too many aftermarket parts. My wheels are from a GT750, forks from a GS650, tank from a GS450, etc.

 

[Chimera Moto Works]

In my state, Tennessee, they don't care WTF you have so long as its registered, has insurance, and functioning brakes and headlights. I'd never think twice to ride anything i've built so long as the lights worked.

 

[mindactivated]

In Canada I don't think there are issues with chopping this and that off, as long as you don't damage the integrity of the frame, though maybe this could be debated. I think you can designate your motorcycle to be modified or custom but you could always work with the insurance company on that.

When you register a motorcycle you have to have a "safety" done by a mechanic to ensure the motorcycle does not fall apart on you while you ride it, and that the signals and other things work. That being said, at many places it's more of a "kick the tires" thing and they sign away your paper.

There are certain issues with specific mods, such as exhaust: If it's too loud, then the cops can pull you over, and certain areas may have specific bylaws with set DB ratings. With lights, there are specific rules on white balance colours (I think?), and modulated lights. With the license plate it has to be visible and illuminated as per the motorcycle's original spec (i.e. my cx500 doesn't have a license plate light). Can't think of anything else, but yeah you can customize them for the most part.

 

[Nuno]

You're not allowed to change anything at all? I swapped out parts from different years, not too many aftermarket parts. My wheels are from a GT750, forks from a GS650, tank from a GS450, etc.

If you really wanna be 100% legal...no. you can change just small bits like mirrors (but they have to have the european omologation), slip-on exhaust (again...omologation required and not every can has it)....for other parts (like wheels) no, the law says you can't change them...at the end of the day police only care if you use the same size of tyres like the one written on the documents, but if you have an accident and the insurance company wants to check your bike they can decide not to pay if your vehicle is not 100% omologated or exactly like just built.
the point is that it's very hard for them to tell if you are using different parts or not, but if they want they can inspect your bike for as long and as detailed as they want.

just an example...in theory, we are not allowed to change the sproket with another one with different number of theets...

 

[killian101]

In Canada I don't think there are issues with chopping this and that off, as long as you don't damage the integrity of the frame, though maybe this could be debated. I think you can designate your motorcycle to be modified or custom but you could always work with the insurance company on that.

When you register a motorcycle you have to have a "safety" done by a mechanic to ensure the motorcycle does not fall apart on you while you ride it, and that the signals and other things work. That being said, at many places it's more of a "kick the tires" thing and they sign away your paper.

There are certain issues with specific mods, such as exhaust: If it's too loud, then the cops can pull you over, and certain areas may have specific bylaws with set DB ratings. With lights, there are specific rules on white balance colours (I think?), and modulated lights. With the license plate it has to be visible and illuminated as per the motorcycle's original spec (i.e. my cx500 doesn't have a license plate light). Can't think of anything else, but yeah you can customize them for the most part.

In my state, Tennessee, they don't care WTF you have so long as its registered, has insurance, and functioning brakes and headlights. I'd never think twice to ride anything i've built so long as the lights worked.

Basically the same in LA. If the big honkin HD's get away with running stright pipes...so do cafe's and street bikes

 

[Nuno]

In Canada I don't think there are issues with chopping this and that off, as long as you don't damage the integrity of the frame, though maybe this could be debated. I think you can designate your motorcycle to be modified or custom but you could always work with the insurance company on that.

When you register a motorcycle you have to have a "safety" done by a mechanic to ensure the motorcycle does not fall apart on you while you ride it, and that the signals and other things work. That being said, at many places it's more of a "kick the tires" thing and they sign away your paper.

There are certain issues with specific mods, such as exhaust: If it's too loud, then the cops can pull you over, and certain areas may have specific bylaws with set DB ratings. With lights, there are specific rules on white balance colours (I think?), and modulated lights. With the license plate it has to be visible and illuminated as per the motorcycle's original spec (i.e. my cx500 doesn't have a license plate light). Can't think of anything else, but yeah you can customize them for the most part.

this seems to me like if you REALLY check if something works, you are not just comparing what's on the documents with what's under your eyes...
In Italy we have the safety inspection every 2 years and they usually just let you go not caring of what you have...but then that has no value if police/insurance companies decide you are not legal so basically the safety inspection is just a tax...I should say an other tax since we already have to pay a "ownership tax" yearly for every bike/car that we have (even if we keep it in the garage and never use it...).
So basically it's a good thing I'm moving to US in september

 

[Redbird]

In my state, Tennessee, they don't care WTF you have so long as its registered, has insurance, and functioning brakes and headlights.

Pretty much the same here in Louisiana.

 

[Reddy]

In general California is pretty laid back. Approved head and tail lights. Side reflectors required. If the cycle originally came with turn signals they must be functional. A horn.

Next year they will be just about outlawing any exhaust change. As long as the bike has been registered they are hardly ever inspected. Insurance companies are usually not a problem.

Yeah, we got rules but most people enforcing them don't know enough about bikes to say yes or no.

 

[Nuno]

As long as the bike has been registered

that's the point...how hard is to get a bike registered?

 

[cencalballer]

Where you moving to? In cali it needs paperwork and a t least 7500 miles if it's out of state. There are some otehr rules as well but ot too many.

As for mods anything goes pretty much as long as you ahve one 3" mirror, lights, and brakes. Exhaust is legal on al bikes till 2013 then they just have a db requirement from what I understand. In reality you already have to meet this. As an example most track days at Laguna Seca are 92/94 db. A stock new R6 or honda s2000 will not pass.

Another example for you: I daily a klx650. Full exhaust, airbox gutted, and a rejet. no reflectors. I haven't been pulled over for anything but there are several laws that I'm violating. Exhaust is obnoxiously loud I'm guessing based on my time around other race bikes and cars on club weekends with 104/8 limits that I'm at 108 maybe a little more.

 

[teazer]

I think that in the US you have to tell the insurance company if the bike is stock or modified and I suspect that if they wanted to get snarky they could refuse a claim if the bike was modded.

Most of the time that's not an issue, but one day someone is going to get hurt and it will be in the papers and the agent will rwad it and put two and two together and will deny the claim and the poor biker will end up way out of pocket and possibly in jail for riding without insurance plus fraud (lying to the insurance company).

I'm no attorney, so let's all hope I got that wrong before we end up in the same way as some other countries and we lose the ability to get away it. That would not be good.

 

[beachcomber]

Here in the UK there's a compulsory annual roadworthiness check called the "MOT" [ test ].

There's also -in the past 10 years or so - a directive for construction.

There always has been a general "Construction and Use", covering things like lights, brakes, exhaust, horn etc. , but WAS pretty lax until 15 years or so ago.

The UK has been under pressure [ cars and bikes ] to reach the compliance edicted by Germany [ the TUV test ] for almost 20 years now.

Cars were the first to suffer - hot rods, specials, etc. - but equally applying to imported cars - especially the US where things like lights and windscreens [??] had to be changed to UK specs.

Things took a little longer for bikes, and for years you could build what you wanted and as long as it passed the annual MOT you were OK.

Now if you build something radical, you have to apply for a much more stringent test [ MSVA ].

Either way - even changing seats, tanks, bars [ ie Cafe Racer ] you have to inform your Insurance Company to be certain the bastards don't wriggle out of paying !!

 

[Speedfiend]

* Firstly, you gotta remember that we still have many states that don't require helmets, so...

Here in NC, cars and bikes older than 35 years are not subject to any inpsections.
As for insurance, I have basic liability. They do not care what my bike(s) is or has been done to it.
You can chop frames, remove things, even brakes, suspension, lights and signals.

For newer bikes, they must pass a yearly saftey inspection. Must have a high beam w/ indicator, low beam, tail light/brake light, a horn -the little rubber ball honkers will pass, a speedo- but it doesn't have to work, a mirror- size not specified,( I've passed with a dental mirror zip tied to the bar).If turn signals are present, they must all work. Pipes must have some sort of baffle. ( could be a wad of chicken wire stuffed into a strait pipe) Good tires. And thats about it. You can chop them up any way you like, hard tail whatever, as long as you can pass the short safty list.


Never been there, but it sounds like Italy sucks (about motorcycles anyway), You should move to a country that's friendly to customizing motorcycles. ;D

 

[teazer]

Italy sucks (about motorcycles anyway).!!!

I think I know what you mean, but really, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, BiMoTa etc sucks...... And Italian women ...........................You should visit Italy and then come back and tell us what you think.

 

[Speedfiend]

I heard someone say "Italian bikes are like Italian women, sometimes they stab you for no reason" Ha!

 

[benarmour]

The way that most italians drive/ride, i'm not surprised the government isn't too eager to let you all go wild with modding your vehicles!

 

[Nuno]

Honestly I don't like too much this talking about Italy (the way we drive...) from people that usually don't know a bit about Italy....
as for italian bikes...well, I've got 4 japanese bikes in my garage, from '82 to '06, 1 cafe racer, 1 MX, 2 supersport...but I have to admit that Italian bikes are always 5 years ahead of japaneses...for the reliability of our bikes it's an old urban legend given by old Ducatis where the projects were really good but the production processes of the first '90s were not of the same quality....it was weird that standard bikes were full of problems while the "fancy" models (SP, R...) never had an issue. Don't forget that when Ducati was producing the 916/748 series the four Japanese sisters had nothing better than the YZF 750 OW1 or ZX7rr.....
Nowadays it's pretty hard to see a Ducati or an Aprilia on the side of the road.

p.s. talking about women...the only time I've been stabbed by a woman was by a girl from Dallas, TX....

 

[Reddy]

All of us obnoxious americans likely don't know squat about Italy but alot of us really love Italian motorcycles. Seems funny that in Italy modifications are frowned upon while over here I have rarely seen a Ducati that was not modded. I bought the bike below my name from a dealer and included in the original invoice was a new Termi exhaust.