Plating a dirt bike in MO?

[CuzinMike]

Any idea how difficult this is (besides just slapping a plate on and hoping for the best!)? I know its possible, but is it too much of a pain to be worthwhile? I mean, I do already have one street legal bike....

[troy]

Last year, I was very interested in this process so I contacted the Missouri DMV and got some questions answered before they referred me to the Missouri Hwy Patrol.

What I learned was that you need to buy a $27.50 Form 551 or "DOR-551" which can be obtained from a DOR office. Once you have filled out the form and met the requirements of the form, you can schedule an inspection with the Hwy Patrol. There is no fee for the inspection.

If the Hwy Patrol says the motorcycle is OK, then they will issue you some kind of paperwork that says you are OK. (If the motorcycle is home made or otherwise does not have a VIN, they will create and attach a VIN plate.)

Then you can go get the standard vehicle inspection from any motorcycle dealer, then go to the tag office to get your tag.

Now I can't find the email reply that confirmed this, but I believe the Hwy Patrol told me that the motorcycle needs a dual filament headlight and a tail light. You need a working brake light. You need a horn, and at least a left hand mirror. The MO law does not require turn-signals, but if you have turn-signals, they must work.

If your bike requires a conversion kit--KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS. Apparently you need some kind of proof of the conversion.

I've NOT gone through the process and I've heard everything from "I just walked into the tag office and they issued me a tag for my dirt-bike without any questions" to "The inspector said there was no way to make my off-road only motorcycle street legal. It cannot be done." So I think like most government operations, a lot simply depends on the people you end up dealing with. It's probably a crap-shoot.

For this reason, I refuse to buy a non street-legal motorcycle without being 100% content with the prospect that it may never be street-legal.

Also, from reports I've heard, apparently the fact that an off-road motorcycle is already tagged in another state has no bearing on the process in your own state.

I've even heard of states coming back after the fact and revoking a tag.

This contact info may come in handy--it's who I talked with:

Public Information and Education Division
Missouri State Highway Patrol
mshppied@mshp.dps.mo.gov

Conversions of "Off-highway" vehicles must utilize approved conversion kits from the vehicle manufacturer or after-market providers. Proof of purchase and installation of one of these kits is required for the DOR-551 examination conducted by the Missouri State Highway. The DOR-551 form may be obtained from a local DOR contract (fee) office for $27.50, there is no charge for the patrol's examination.

Any further information regarding this matter, may be obtained by
contacting the Motor Vehicle Inspection Unit, Troop A, Lee's Summit, at
telephone 816-622-0717 or 0719.

[safiri]

Interesting in that you (the owner) can't peice together a kit on your own ... unless the separate receipts would be taken as a whole? For instance, getting parts off of a junked bike and mounting them on your dirt bike.

[MoRidin]

Mike...MO can be very easy or very hard depending on who inspects it and which tag office you go to.

My dirtbikes all had tags right out of the box. Most I would go through the hassle of puting a headlight and taillight on...just to be semi-legit.

Technically MO requires a headlight, taillight, horn, a mirror and DOT tires. I doubt anyone is going to care about the tires. The rest of the stuff is easy.

For $20 you can bu everything you need for your KDX.

Generally rural counties will avoid "issues" at the DMV.

I had a KDX with a tag in MO. I think I spent $12 for a horn and $6 for a mirror. My $20 dual sport conversion. Even rode around in town a few times...Law never gave me a second look.

[CuzinMike]

Thanks for the info, guys. That answers my question. I have no desire to actually ride the KDX on pavement, but the ability to connect trails via forest service roads in Southern MO and Arkansas would be a plus. I can always take the DR along for those rides though.

[TL*5]

Yeah, I really want to try this but, like Troy I don't want to drop a couple grand thinking I can get it legal and then not be able to. My brother-n-law just bought a KTM 450 and will be going through the process. I will see how it goes for him and decide from there.

[allkidd]

For my KTM 450 I did a very crude job of installing brake light, horn and high beam....only spent about $25 for misc parts from auto store. Was a little nervous taking in for inspection as like I said, very crude set up. Took the bike to a small town shop on a rainy day...it worked, as they never even came out and looked at it. Soon as I got home I took everything off in about 5 minutes. When I need my next inspection on that bike I will again wait for a rainy day.

[John]

Resurrecting this thread. Looking at plating my XR400. Does anyone have any updated info based on experience. I don't see anything about brake lights, mirror etc - the MSHP inspection regs state a headlight, taillight and horn is all I need. It doesn't even state that I need DOT tires - just that they don't say "for offroad use only" and don't have the writing scrubbed off. I would also need to get a new title because I bought my bike without one - it didn't ever have one. Any information would be great. Thanks
J

[Jamee]

I've got a 14 WR450 - Does not come street legal. I ran though a bunch of hoops to get a plate here in MO until I stumbled upon South Dakota. I lived in MN for many years, and they are the same, except you need to be a resident. South Dakota doesn't require any residency. Both states do not require an actual inspection. I've walked several friends through this as well that actually reside in MN and obtained MN plates.

http://dor.sd.gov/Motor_Vehicles/Non_Re ... formation/

The link above is a good place to start. Just fill the forms out, send a little bit of money. No inspection, etc.. Now, the bike does need to be street legal if you are stopped and looked at, so how you handle that is up to you. The WR comes with lights (no turn signals), I just added a switch to the rear brake (cheap) and ran the wire up to the rear tail light (WR has a 3 wire tail light, in the US only 2 wires are used). I've not added a mirror and do not have a high low beam (The WR is street legal from the dealer in parts of Europe and Australia, and you can get all the parts from over seas via Yamaha to kit it). I've been looked at several times here in MO, a couple of times in MN, and once in WI. Never had an issue, they just wanted to see I had a MC endorsement on the license and that it was plated and registered (Tax Paid basically). All times they looked me over I wasn't doing anything to "excite them". Am sure if I was hooning on it their attitude would have been different and things may have gone differently. Several of the stops were more of a curiosity thing then anything else, they wanted to know what the bike was and spent a bunch of time talking to me about it. My understanding is that many people in CA are going this route, because of the difficulties they have there.

Also - while I ride it a lot around my local town, I don't dual sport it. Trailer to where am riding/staying for the weekend and only use it to move between trails, ride in for fuel, lunch, dinner, drinks, etc. in the local area am in. Not sure what would happen if I was cranking down the freeway for extended times in my current setup (I'd probably do the rest of the process, DOT tires, Mirror and move to a high/low beam).

[Jamee]

Resurrecting this thread. Looking at plating my XR400. Does anyone have any updated info based on experience. I don't see anything about brake lights, mirror etc - the MSHP inspection regs state a headlight, taillight and horn is all I need. It doesn't even state that I need DOT tires - just that they don't say "for offroad use only" and don't have the writing scrubbed off. I would also need to get a new title because I bought my bike without one - it didn't ever have one. Any information would be great. Thanks
J

MO became very strict in the last couple of years about this, I was basically told there is no way they will let me plate it because of a digit in the vin, regardless of if it meets the legal requirements. Nor, will they accept the SD registration and just transfer over. My WR never had a title (bought new). SD issued me one from the MSO I got from the dealer. I don't think MO will do that, and be very careful if MO asks you to change the Vin. I know of 2 people who have done that and ran into issues in other states were they feel funny games are being played with the Vin and it is stolen. This can also become a serious pain if you ever decide to sell it.

[John]

Interesting information about SD. In my case though, I don't have an MSO. The one MSHP person I managed to get through to didn't think it could be done, but said the DOR call the shots. The best DOR ref I have is follows: https://dor.mo.gov/forms/Missouri_Titling_Manual.pdf
It specifically states "a dirt bike may not be registered for highway use, unless it
is modified to meet all safety requirements and pass a safety inspection. ", which implies that if mods are made, it can be used on the highway. The manual has a number for info, but forget that unless you have an entire day to wait on hold. I will ask at the license office in Affton - they will probably have to consult Jeff City but at least they have a direct line.

[Jamee]

Interesting information about SD. In my case though, I don't have an MSO. The one MSHP person I managed to get through to didn't think it could be done, but said the DOR call the shots. The best DOR ref I have is follows: https://dor.mo.gov/forms/Missouri_Titling_Manual.pdf
It specifically states "a dirt bike may not be registered for highway use, unless it
is modified to meet all safety requirements and pass a safety inspection. ", which implies that if mods are made, it can be used on the highway. The manual has a number for info, but forget that unless you have an entire day to wait on hold. I will ask at the license office in Affton - they will probably have to consult Jeff City but at least they have a direct line.

Am sorry, you dont need the MSO. Call them, no hold and they will walk you right through it. They register all sorts of stuff with out a title.. It is silly easy. PM me and and we can discuss in more detail.

[MidMissourimotoman]

I plated an XR250R here in Missouri in 2008. Wish I had never sold it. It came with a headlight and tail light from the factory. I installed a brake light switch, cheap ebay mirror, and secured a marine air horn to the handle bars. I also spooned on some DOT tires. It passed inspection at a local shop so I went to the DMV with my "off road only" title, insurance, and inspection. Walked out with plates. Of course the bike had a valid title and I had actually registered the title and had appropriate person tax records.

I moved to KS in 2009 and just moved back. I now have an old DR350e that I use as a farm bike. I am hoping to plate it as well but I don't want to invest a lot of cash in it. I am probably fabricating brackets and using LED lights that have a DOT mark on the lenses. If I can't get it through MO I am going to try the South Dakota deal. I will post again after I move forward.

[John]

I have a Tusk kit on the way and the pre-paid inspection form. Can anyone tell me if they have had better or worse luck at any specific MHP inspection station?

[troy]

I have a Tusk kit on the way and the pre-paid inspection form. Can anyone tell me if they have had better or worse luck at any specific MHP inspection station?

Get as far away from the KC metro as possible. The more rural the better your chance. For sure do not visit the S Olathe inspection office or the one out on I-70. Note, my experience at both are from years ago, but in general, big city = big problems.

[John]

I have a Tusk kit on the way and the pre-paid inspection form. Can anyone tell me if they have had better or worse luck at any specific MHP inspection station?

Get as far away from the KC metro as possible. The more rural the better your chance. For sure do not visit the S Olathe inspection office or the one out on I-70. Note, my experience at both are from years ago, but in general, big city = big problems.

I am in St Louis, so definitely will be avoiding those stations. I will follow your suggestion of looking for somewhere more rural.