The Dreaded DMV.

[andtheacademics]

Obviously I am a newb here, so let me begin by saying; Though I routinely curse the jerk who sold me Betty, I should probably thank him because she has led me to this forum. I have learned more here in the past week than I have probably learned in the four years since I graduated from college. GSR is an amazingly friendly and welcoming community with eons of knowledge just waiting to be pulled upon and I am forever grateful for that.

Now for my story (I'll try to keep it short)

I moved to California from New York about a year ago, and brought my SV1000S with me. After a modicum of investigation, I decided to keep my New York plates & license as long as would seem believable (wore my 2011 sticker all the way till I sold the bike in March, 2012) because I've heard some horror stories about bringing bikes to the state (also I didn't meet the dreaded 7,500mi restrictions)


I sold the bike to a nice German fellow who lives in San Jose and works for Michelin (FREE TIRES!). I think I gave him a pretty fair price and he was willing to deal with the DMV work. So we agreed that I would hold the cash in escrow and, were he unable to complete the registration, we would reverse the deal.

This ended up being a very long process. He had to travel to three different DMV's who all gave him different reasons why the bike couldn't be registered. When he made a rebuttal of their misunderstanding of the rules they would simply send him packing. Ultimately it came down to the "federal emissions sticker" having been removed from the frame. [...That may have been me...] He had to call Suzuki and get them to mail him a letter confirming the vin & engine & their conforming to federal law. Took about two weeks, I feel a bit bad because what a headache for this guy...

So, fast forward two months. I get Betty, who is running intermittently but can't legally be taken on the road. I limp her over to the Corte Madera DMV (north of San Francisco), my stomach rumbling with unease at my impending visit to purgatory.

I get my forms (had to get a new license too) fill them out, and returned to a brief altercation about having been misdirected to leave them in some incorrect express form box. I weaseled my way out of that one by grinning like an idiot.

Now for the interesting part - here in CA you bring your bike to the DMV and they check it there. Most newer bikes must be checked out by the California Highway Patrol (a miserable added step). So, after filling the forms I drove a plateless betty around the back of the DMV and waited in line to get checked out.

Now I'm the last person here, only bike/ car in the line, and he really gave the woman in front of my the third degree. "TURN OF YOUR HEADLIGHTS! PUMP THE BRAKE THREE TIMES! LEFT TURN SIGNAL, RIGHT TURN SIGNAL! THIS CAR CANNOT BE REGISTERED AT THIS TIME." ouch.

I pull up and he says "Sounds pretty nice, ok Here's what I need to see Vin Number, Engine Number, Federal Emission Sticker, and blah blah blah some other things." GULP.

Find the first two, no problem. Now, we're taking off the panels, opening the seat, pulling the gas tank, inspecting the frame for these other items that I KNOW are not there.

MR. DMV: "Well, it looks like whoever did this work had a lot of pride in this bike." (BAAWWHAHAHAHAHA)

Me: "Yeah, the whole frame was bead blasted and powder coated, they heat painted the engine and repainted all of the body work."

MR. DMV: "Yeah, that's what I thought, so I'm just going to put on these forms that I can't locate any of these things, take it back in to window 16 and she'll give you your registration."

You really had my back on that one Betty!


In conclusion:
"Hey I've got a newer fuel-injected high-tech motorcycle in immaculate condition..."

California: "Get that crap out of my state."

"Hey I've got a 34 year old motorcycle that someone spray painted, I've been banging on it with a hammer for the last week..."

California: "That'll be $140."

-------
Things they did not check

Horn
Headlights
High beams
Turn Signals
Tire tread depth
Brake lights
Emissions
Exhaust volume (Betty ain't quiet)

[Gonzo]

Cool story (I like to hear about small victories against "The Man") and sharp bike. Keep wrenching on her and get her screamin because I'd hate to hear that a bike that sexy isn't running like a scalded dog everyday.

[1_v8_merc]

I'm glad my state ditched all that inspection/emission crap.
Costs too much time and money!

I seriously don't know how you guys put up with that ****!

[mrbill5491]

Here in NM something like that we just ask for a custom cycle rebuild form, they look at the bike, horn, lights and couple other things, and here is your registration and sometimes a new title!

[andtheacademics]

Back in NY you'd take your bike to any "approved inspection facility" AKA gas station & they'd check for safety stuff - horns, lights, tires, etc. I think the inspection was like $14 and the reggie renewal was around $27

CA motorcycle reg is ~$90/yr!

[mike_of_bbg]

Here in VA we have to have annual safety inspections at $15, though those were on the chopping block (but I guess were saved) during the last budget deliberations. If you're in the DC Metro area of VA you also have to have emissions inspections every two years, but it's been so long since I've lived there that I have no idea what they cost any more. Failing the safety inspection can't prevent you from registering your vehicle, though (the emissions inspection can). You're just not allowed to drive it

A Libertarian friend of mine who likes to read about these things pointed out that VA does not have a lower rate of highway fatalities as compared to neighboring states which don't have annual safety inspections. Food for thought I guess. In my youth I had many friends from MD and they would talk about how tough the MD safetu inspections were - but they only needed to be done once, when you bought the vehicle.

[Mr Splashy Pants]

Walk into the DMV with a title and 2 bills of sale. Give them $34. Walk out with registration get title in 6 to 8weeks.

Took 5 minutes. I do like Washington.

[DevanJones]

Walk into the DMV with a title and 2 bills of sale. Give them $34. Walk out with registration get title in 6 to 8weeks.

Took 5 minutes. I do like Washington.

I second him, although mine was like 100something.

[andtheacademics]

So exactly one week later I get a call from who? THE CALIFORNIA DMV. (I've never gotten a phone call from the DMV, I almost felt special)

It's the woman who processed my paperwork (one of five different people I went through to get my registration)

"Hi, is this Alexander?"
-"yes."
"Well, upon further review we have found that your vehicle cannot be registered at this time."
-"I'm sorry? I don't understand - I already have a plate and registration documents?"
"Yes, you're going to either have to provide proof of Federal Emission Inspection, or your vehicle can only be titled for 'off-road' use."
-"Off-road use?! That's not going to do me any good."
"Perhaps you can call the manufacturer and get a new sticker?"
-"This is a 35 year old motorcycle."
"I'm sorry but if you can't provide the documents you'll have to come back to the DMV and return the plates and registration."

Which is exactly what I did. Also - They scribbled all over my NY title free of charge - so now I get to call the PPO for a title reissue.

WOW. Looks like I wrote this story too soon...

[FreshmanJoe]

oh my god! Mad props on not just compleatly wigging out and going postal on that chick. I think that would of been my breaking point. Just remember... take deep breaths and keep your cool and all will be well....eventually.

[arblebang]

We are moving to California in a few months from Florida (a wild and lawless state, as far as vehicle regulations goes). After reading this I just ran outside to see if my 20-30 year old bikes had emissions placards... they both do. Whew.

Thanks for the warning.

[sedelen]

Perhaps you shouldn't have answered your phone.
What the hell is a Federal Emissions Test?
I live in Florida (a wild and lawless state, as far as vehicle registrations go, I read somewhere).
I took my '79 GS1000E to the DMV with my out of state title (I was told that if it was titled in Florida I wouldn't have to even bring the vehicle).
All the guy wanted to check was that the numbers matched on the title and vehicle, all they really want is your money anyway. They did away with vehicle inspections here many years ago.

[jesustheplumber]

you sir, have more patients than I.

i would have went absolutely ape s#!t crazy on that poor woman. then i would move far far away from cali. just the emissions laws would be enough to push me to murder. but should you decide to stay in cali, best of luck with getting that thing legal.

[andtheacademics]

Well - As I understand it, California is the most highly populated state, and also has some of the lowest wind movement (stagnant air) in the US. So smog is a big issue here... Unfortunately they do very little to support motorcyclists - who are riding the most effecient, lowest environmental impact vehicles on the road.

My qualm is not with the regulation here, but the miserable methods of enforcement. Motorcycle are exempt from "SMOG" regulation, but still require a federal emissions stickers as long as they have been relevant - a sticker mind you! That's like requiring original paint to register a vehicle!

You can register applicable 2-stroke dirtbikes for road use - there is no way my GS is putting the same crap into the atmosphere as an engine designed to burn oil.

Anyway, moving on from my rant that has solved nothing;

I called Suzuki and of course they cannot provide any information on a bike this old.

They are sending me a letter stating roughly "Any Suzuki motorcycle imported for sale in the United States in 1978 met all applicable federal emissions standards for that year."

Is there ANYONE who knows of a way that I can prove my bike (VIN# GS750E14789) was a US model?

[1_v8_merc]

Just slap an official-looking USA sticker somewhere on the frame, then rough it up with a piece of sand paper or something, to age it.

If they're not smart enough to know every 78+ Suzuki had emissions requirements, then they are probably not smart enough to notice a fake sticker, lol.