Registering a custom built bike

[XClemX]

Hi, Like some/most of you guys I watch the biker build off and OCC stuff, now how do they go about registering those bikes on the street?

Is it that easy in the US to get a custom on the street?

I was thinking of building something over here in Australia, but I want to grab parts from all over and put it together.....
I know I will have to go to the local law and get them to pass it for noise and emissions and safety, but it seems you guys just build and ride....

[jdcustom]

OCC is a manufacture of motor vehicles, so they have the license to build the bikes and register them.

It varies from state to state on what is required, some are a pain some are not. But we don't by any means get to just build and ride.

[XClemX]

yeah i was thinking that most of the companies that are putting out customs have gone thru road transport and had all equipment passed...

but say for a small company that is making bikes and the likes, they then have to go thru the local road transport laws and get bikes on the road that way..

i huess what i am not seeing is the bit where the frame and the motor are matched, emissions are checked and then away you go once you have passed...

[Bluzmn59]

One other thing - once in awhile on American Chopper you will hear them mention that the bike has to be street legal so they put on turn signals, etc. A lot of the bikes that you see them build on the show are not legal for the street and can't be licensed.

On another note, has anybody else noticed that they are not building many of the weird, impractical exhausts any longer? I have seen a couple of bikes lately with 2-1's on them.

[DoomBuggy]

I have never built a "new" custom, but back in the 70's and 80's I put together a few choppers using older Panhead or Shovelhead motors. Basicly back then in Illinois or Arizona all you had to have was a title that matched the motor you were using. Everything else could be custom fabricated including frames and transmissions. I have been stopped a few times on the bikes and never hassled about ownership, including once in Texas where the LEO was a bit of a hard case. ( Four tickets out of that one! )

If you are building "new" bikes as a business like OCC I imagine the whole process is a lot different. Didn't Jesse James get into trouble for not meeting emmsions on the bikes he was building?

[Dr.Hess]

Yeah, it varies depending on what state you are in. I'm in Arkansas and I'm building a car from scratch, as in starting with a pile of stainless tubing. I have a title. I could have a license plate if I put insurance on it. I'm not ready yet.

In general, if you're building a vehicle from a kit or from purchased parts, you will get a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin on the frame. Depending on your state, that and maybe a picture or some receipts will get you a title. Registration after that sometimes involves an inspection.

Lots of people in Oz build cars like I'm building. They would know exactly how to go about getting a title there. Search for "Locost" or "Locost Seven" in Oz. Oz has more inspections than we do, including the need for an engineer to sign off on the frame. If you start with a pre-built frame, you will probably be ahead. I also think it varies a little depending on what part of Oz you are in.

[AlanS]

For California, you need to do the following if you build a bike from scratch:

1.) Obtain a "Light/brake" inspection from a certified light inspection station. They inspect headlight, brakelights, brakes, turn signals, etc. for proper operation.
2.) Make an appointment with the California Highway Patrol, and take your bike in for a 'numbers' check. They will run the tranny, engine and frame numbers to ensure they're not stolen.
3.) Register your bike with the Department of Motor Vehicles, after you get the documents related to '1' and '2'. Actually, the DMV is the first and last stop. You have to pay tax on the estimated worth of the bike.

I did one in 2006. There was no smog requirement, noise inspection, or anything else beyond the above.

From your description, it sounds like Oz watches this issue closer at this time than does Cali. Which I find pretty amazing, given Cali's tight-assed approach to such things.

[route66paul]

Originally Posted by AlanS

For California, you need to do the following if you build a bike from scratch:

1.) Obtain a "Light/brake" inspection from a certified light inspection station. They inspect headlight, brakelights, brakes, turn signals, etc. for proper operation.
2.) Make an appointment with the California Highway Patrol, and take your bike in for a 'numbers' check. They will run the tranny, engine and frame numbers to ensure they're not stolen.
3.) Register your bike with the Department of Motor Vehicles, after you get the documents related to '1' and '2'. Actually, the DMV is the first and last stop. You have to pay tax on the estimated worth of the bike.

I did one in 2006. There was no smog requirement, noise inspection, or anything else beyond the above.

From your description, it sounds like Oz watches this issue closer at this time than does Cali. Which I find pretty amazing, given Cali's tight-assed approach to such things.

Remember that that is a "one time only" build. This is so that the owner builder can create hi/her owm masterpiece, and not someone building to resell. If you are building more than 1, you have to use a pre approved engine, gearing combo.

[hungryeye]

Mentioned above about the Certificate of Origin is usually all you will need but it may be considered an import downunda if you buy a USA frame from Pachco Jammer etc.

[newultraclassic]

Originally Posted by AlanS

For California, you need to do the following if you build a bike from scratch:

1.) Obtain a "Light/brake" inspection from a certified light inspection station. They inspect headlight, brakelights, brakes, turn signals, etc. for proper operation.
2.) Make an appointment with the California Highway Patrol, and take your bike in for a 'numbers' check. They will run the tranny, engine and frame numbers to ensure they're not stolen.
3.) Register your bike with the Department of Motor Vehicles, after you get the documents related to '1' and '2'. Actually, the DMV is the first and last stop. You have to pay tax on the estimated worth of the bike.

I did one in 2006. There was no smog requirement, noise inspection, or anything else beyond the above.

From your description, it sounds like Oz watches this issue closer at this time than does Cali. Which I find pretty amazing, given Cali's tight-assed approach to such things.

Your information above is correct. I've done the same thing a couple of times.

As to which country or state is tighter....that's an interesting question. California doesn't do smog testing on bikes but Arizona does. If OZ is tight, they are probably using a system similar to that in England. They have a certificate for almost everything in the UK. Someone from UK can speak to that.

In general, I would say that the US is more liberal with regard to docmentation on motorcycles than many countries. .

[Dst123]

I built one in Missouri and you have to have a MSO for the frame the moror and the tranny. (Manufacturers statement of orgin). Then save reciepts for every nut bolt and washer. You then have to go to the highway patrol and have it inspected. The first one I did was a snap. I was told by several shops which patrol stations had knowledgable people on staff that understood how it all worked. The second time I ran into a bit of A hard a** lady that wanted every reciept and wanted it unloaded and started before she would sign off. No safety or emmission testing just making sure nothing stolen. Now the state law here says you can only build 1 in a lifetime. I still get one and my wife and daughter will probably end up building one. No build and ride here.

[XClemX]

I must say it sounds a touch easier in the States, then over here..

But...you guys have raised an interesting point in that any frame, engine and transmission I buy will be passed before hand by the RTA (Road Transport Authority). Exhaust will be easy enough as I will use a stock one to start with that will pass emisions for the engine...then move on from there...