I just purchased keith U's great 1975 250. I went to get it plated today and the state says it needs to have a federal sticker that says that the bike is street legal. Does anyone have one of these on their bike that they can take a picture of? I know they were legal in 1975 in Iowa. They said that the sticker might be located under the tank and I said that was probably correct. So I will want to "find" it there when I make my appointment to get the bike inspected by the state dot.
thank you for any ideas
Joe Murphy
I went to transfer a title and do the same thing last month on a vintage bike. You're probably not going to find one of the stickers on the bike. If you look inside the driver's door pillar on your car, you'll see a black and white(silver) sticker that has the vin. number, gross vehicle weight, ect. They started putting these on street legal vehicles in the early 70's. In Arizona if you want to street legalize a bike that doesn't have one, you just have to have it inspected at DMV. They looked for DOT tires, horn, head light/tail light, and brake light that works. Arizona is a pretty easy state to license vehicles. All the retired communities have golf carts with license plates on them. Talk about traffic jams. Your state might also require turn signals too. Call the DMV and asked what they're looking for on the bike and if they do the inspection. I've also heard that some states make it near impossible to tag. Hope this helps and good luck. Skip
Hi Joe I'm in Nebraska now but from Iowa. Look on the Iowa DOT web site to see what you really need. I think someone is feeding you a line. Do you have a title?
In Nebraska if you go through the DOT all they do is take your old title match up the VIN numbers and your golden. All them guys are looking for are stolen motorcycles.
Rod Whitman
1972 Six Day (Rider)
1972 Six Day (Project)
I just sent an e-mail to the state of Iowa asking how I can get a sticker..they passed a law in 2006 requiring a federal sticker to be licensed.. Maybe I need to ask John Penton for a stick it note to put on my bike for the state of iowa
thank you,
Joe Murphy
I just went to the Iowa DOT website and it seems your right, but I would still check deeper. Their telling you you couldn't license a for instance any antique motorcycle. Theres got to be a loophole.
Contact Baxter Cycle in Marne, Iowa. The specialize in old Triumphs, BSA and Norton motorcycles. They would know how to get around this.
By the way where do you live in Iowa.
Rod Whitman
1972 Six Day (Rider)
1972 Six Day (Project)
thanks Rod,
I am in Iowa City. I hope this works out.
I will contact baxter
Joe Murphy
I am truly surprised that you can't simply transfer the title, Joe. Michigan recognizes two types of titles- the first is an "off-road" title which is not much more than another form of Statement of origin and the second, which you possess, is an honest-to-gosh, unrestricted, "street" title. When I purchased the bike, I transferred a similar Ohio title with ZERO difficulty or question.
Maybe if you were buying a combine or a manure spreader, Iowa would be a bit more reasonable[:p]
Keithuu
Joe,
Keith has a point on transfering titles from state to state. The only problem I have had is when I had to get a bike inspected prior to getting the new title. As Rod said, contact the dealer and see if he can help you with direction. I have found that the smaller the town the less problems I have had with getting bikes street legal as long as I minded my manners....;).
Just keep plugging and you should be able to get this done. If not you can always register it in another state if you own property in that state...even if the property is the size of dime.[:0]
Ron Carbaugh
I have had some friends register (title) their enduro bikes in either Maine or Vermont (can't remember for sure)so they could be street legal with that states tags. They do not own property in the state.
This was possible a few years ago, so the loophole may have closed since then.
Tony