Making my dirt bike street legal

[ghost recon88]

Alright, summer time is upon us here and I'm looking to make my dirtbike dual-sport without completely neutering it for the trails :awe:

According to Michigan Law, I need:

Your motorcycle must have the following equipment, which must be in good condition: front and rear wheel brakes, headlight, taillight, stop-light, muffler, horn, rear-view mirror, and permanently attached seat.

I've already got front and rear wheel breaks and the seat of course. I've got a headlight but it doesn't have low/hi capability, just low. I think getting high beams would be a good idea. Also I have no tail light or breaklight yet. I can get a mirror and horn pretty cheap.

So basically what I need is a new headlight setup, and a taillight/breaklight setup. And even though it isn't required, I figure I'd better play it safe and get a speedometer. This is going on a 97 KLX300R. Also has anyone heard any law requiring the lights to be on for x amount of time after the engine cuts?

 

[jlee]

Also has anyone heard any law requiring the lights to be on for x amount of time after the engine cuts?

None that I've heard...my SV650 shuts the headlight off immediately when the ignition is off.

No turn signals required? That's odd.

 

[ghost recon88]

OK, maybe I don't need the lights on for any time after the engine turns off. My boss thought I did, but I didn't read it anywhere on the michigan.gov site.

And nope, no turn signals required. They say you can either use electronic ones or hand signals. I'm gonna use hand signals as I don't want the electronic ones getting clipped off when I go trail riding, plus they look tacky all bright and orange D:

 

[jaha2000]

here in mi we have it easy.
Lights do not have to work if the engine stops running. That would require a battery which you obviously dont need in a dirtbike. No signals required is a fact for sure.
I have been tossing around the idea of getting my cr500 street legal, but i would have to rewind that stator for more juice to run the headlight.
If you get a dick cop that inspects your bike, i would recommend that you have the stock muffler, if it says for off road use only on it you could be in trouble.

For the lights and switches, just pick up a dual sport kit. Probably around 150 or so for that bike.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

How are you going to plate it?


I dunno about your state, but in mine (and I imagine - most) you cannot just 'street legalize' a dirtbike and get reg/plates for it.

Also jlee, many states don't require turn signals on bikes.

 

[ghost recon88]

here in mi we have it easy.
Lights do not have to work if the engine stops running. That would require a battery which you obviously dont need in a dirtbike. No signals required is a fact for sure.
I have been tossing around the idea of getting my cr500 street legal, but i would have to rewind that stator for more juice to run the headlight.
If you get a dick cop that inspects your bike, i would recommend that you have the stock muffler, if it says for off road use only on it you could be in trouble.

For the lights and switches, just pick up a dual sport kit. Probably around 150 or so for that bike.

Alright sweet man, sounds like a plan I've heard most kits are overpriced and suck though, which is why I was just gonna buy the individual components.

@ SpatiallyAware, right now the title is for "off-road" only, but I can get that changed to a "street legal" title once I get the required stuff put on.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Alright sweet man, sounds like a plan I've heard most kits are overpriced and suck though, which is why I was just gonna buy the individual components.

@ SpatiallyAware, right now the title is for "off-road" only, but I can get that changed to a "street legal" title once I get the required stuff put on.

I would be 110% sure before spending any money, I've read tons of threads like this on bike forums where people end up having title issues. I live in a state that used to be the easiest in the country to register a dirtbike and in the past 2 years they've made it almost impossible.

Good luck!

 

[Demon-Xanth]

My cousin has a street ridden 1992 DR350, so it can be done. (in California no less!)

 

[ghost recon88]

I've read plenty of forums where guys in Michigan have gotten them street legal, and I even found the form online that the officer uses when he comes out to inspect it.

I found out what I'm gonna do for the lights, so I'm good there.

I do have a question regarding a key though. Right now it's a kick start, so no key is required to steal, er I mean start it :hmm:

Is there any device I could buy, that would hook into the starter and require a key to be inserted to start it?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

My cousin has a street ridden 1992 DR350, so it can be done. (in California no less!)

A lot of those (DRXXX) came street legal

I believe the OP is taking a complete dirt bike (i.e. no MSO/Title) and get it titled. Very very very different from taking a dirtbike purchased with a title or good VIN and getting it inspected and back on the street.



....I'm definitely no expert on this, while I've dealt with a few title issues I haven't taken on one of these. All I'm pointing out is that I've seen 10+ threads just like this (titling a never reg'd dirtbike) and many of them end up having issues.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I've read plenty of forums where guys in Michigan have gotten them street legal, and I even found the form online that the officer uses when he comes out to inspect it.

I found out what I'm gonna do for the lights, so I'm good there.

I do have a question regarding a key though. Right now it's a kick start, so no key is required to steal, er I mean start it :hmm:

Is there any device I could buy, that would hook into the starter and require a key to be inserted to start it?

Yes, I've seen them at regular 'ole bike shops, I believe designed for 4 wheelers and dirtbikes.

 

[ghost recon88]

A lot of those (DRXXX) came street legal

I believe the OP is taking a complete dirt bike (i.e. no MSO/Title) and get it titled. Very very very different from taking a dirtbike purchased with a title or good VIN and getting it inspected and back on the street.



....I'm definitely no expert on this, while I've dealt with a few title issues I haven't taken on one of these. All I'm pointing out is that I've seen 10+ threads just like this (titling a never reg'd dirtbike) and many of them end up having issues.

I've got a title for it and everything, it's just the title says "off road only" as of now. I wouldn't even legally own the bike unless I had a title.