My KS DMV experience.....

[Yance]

Just wanted to share some of the things I encountered bringing into KS a 02 KTM 400exc that was MO street legal. I had hunted for one that was already KS plated but the prices were way more than I wanted to spend.

The Back story-
I have been wanting a street legal dirt bike for sometime that was electric start. I had bought an 05 wr250f that had a street legal AR title that I was going to try and get tagged in KS, but found out my wife and I were expecting our first kid and I went on a war path of selling things to put as much cash aside in case of the unexpected. So that bike went to a buddy of mine that was moving to Reno, NV. So fast forward a few months, having my daughter wasnt as costly as I thought it might be (thank goodness for good insurance) and a fairly clean MO tagged 02 KTM 400exc came up for sale. It ended up in the back of my truck....

So I have heard all of the horror stories from this forum and others on the web. I was a bit nervous if I could get the bike tagged or not since KTM's of that era fall into a grey area. So I loaded up the bike in the back of the truck headed to the county courthouse for my inspection with the clerk and to see about that elusive tag.
First off, I had the bike in the back of my truck and the little old lady clerk wasnt about to get in the back of my truck to look a the VIN. I had not brought a ramp to unload it, but did bring a bike stand that she used to try and get a closer look of the VIN. After that was done, she starting asking about a federal cert that is suppose to be on the head race. Mine was mostly gone, due to years of the cables rubbing on it. She was pretty serious about wanting to see that sticker and it this point I thought I was screwed. I didnt offer any additional information and acted like (and I was) pretty clueless on what she wanted. She ended up marking it as illegible on the form, but passed me for the VIN inspection. I was still on the nervous side at this point.

So after the inspection I headed to the tag office to see what was going to happen next. The clerk asked me if I was transferring or was needing a new tag, in which I replied. Looked everything over and started entering everything into the computer. He asked what type or model it was. Where I started to get real nervous again was when he went looking for the model number and couldnt find the description on the computer and asked another clerk to come over. She showed him what to enter and I asked if there was a problem. She replied that there are so many different makes and models that the computer cant keep up with all of it. So after that, we were good to go. Walked out with my plates.

So my helpful hints on out of state plated bikes are-
1.Make sure the bike has all of its safety gear on at the time of inspection
2. Be aware of what your federal cert sticker looks like and says
3. Avoid big city inspection stations
4. Be careful of what you call your bike. My advice is do not call it a dirt bike. Words like dual purpose sound better than some hooligan wanting to plate his dirtbike.
5. If your bike's title says "offroad only" dont waste your time in KS
6. Buy a bike that is already ks plated
7. And if you want to avoid all of this all together, buy a bike that is for certain 50 state legal, but make sure that federal cert label is in good shape. I think that is really going to come into play for bikes in the future in the state of KS. I really dont remember them asking to see a federal cert label on any of the bikes I have had to have VIN inspected in the past. Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

So this was my experience in the last few days. Others experience will probably vary. Maybe I got lucky and maybe I get a letter saying they are revoking the tag. I think KS is missing the boat on making this so difficult compared to other states that surround us. And if I have shared any info that should remain secret, mods please feel free to nuke this post to never be seen again. I just wanted to get some current info out there to maybe help someone like me get through the process.

[stimmer6253472]

Thanks Yance for the info. Got a similar question for the guys on the MO side of things.

I bought a 09 300 xcw this winter from a buddy who originally bought it from Letko (KS) new. When I bought it he said he didn't remember getting a title. Do dirt bikes like this sold in KS get a title? Is there any chance getting this bike street licensed in MO? Another buddy bought the same exact bike about the same exact time from Freedom Cycles (MO). When he went to pay his taxes he was asked if he wanted a plate. He said sure and I think paid like an extra $10 and got a plate. Never even had to get the bike inspected or anything. His bike is bone stock with no rear tail light or blinkers.. I assume this was a mistake or maybe MO is just easy.

Just wondering if anyone has ever tagged a 300 in MO that was bought in KS?? and if I should have received a title or can I get a title after the fact??
Thanks,
Jim

[troy]

Generally, it is much easier to tag a brand new motorcycle than a used one--primarily because of the lack of inspection, and thus no chance for an ignorant safety inspector to get in the way. (I don't mean that as an insult, but literally "ignorant" of the state laws.)

RE: http://dor.mo.gov/motorv/help.php#mso
New vehicles do not come with titles. They come with an MSO (Manufacturer's Statement of Origin). You turn this into the state when you register and they issue a "title".

When you first register a new vehicle, in addition to the MSO, you need your invoice showing the amount you paid to cover sales tax.

I'm not real sure how messy it will be for you to register a "new" vehicle that you are the 2nd owner of.

RE: http://dor.mo.gov/motorv/help.php#safety
[quote=Missouri]Effective January 1, 2010, motor vehicles are exempt from the safety inspection requirement for the first five years following the model year of manufacture. This is true regardless of whether or not a change of ownership occurs during this timeframe.
NOTE: This exemption does not apply to Emissions inspections.
[/quote]

This exemption applies to your 2009 XCW. Your next safety inspection would be due in 2015. You have to turn in this safety inspection when you renew your registration, so you have to hope for a friendly, knowledgeable motorcycle safety inspector who will pass your machine. An off-road friendly motorcycle dealer would be your best bet I'd think.

This is where KS is easier--only have to do the inspection ONCE upon registering an out-of-state used vehicle.