Street legalizing bikes in KS

Tye · Post by **Tye** » 31 Dec 2006 10:31

Did A LOT of research on this myself only a couple of weeks ago, so the information is current. I'm not sure how this applies to surrounding states, though.
I spoke with the inspection department at our local DMV, and the process there is ONLY to insure your vehicle is not stolen. They match up the VIN#'s on your title to your bike, that's it.

Now, with that said, there is a BIG difference between getting your bike TITLED and making it STREET LEGAL! Doing the inspection will get you a title but won't keep you from getting pulled over by Johnny Law!

These are the things you MUST have to avoid being ticketed during what they call a rolling safety inspection:
Functional brake light - on all the time and brightens when you brake
Horn
(1) left side mirror - I'd get both for safety
Hi/Lo Beam headlight
Turn signals
DOT approved tires - they can be full knobby, just have to be DOT

I'm getting my '01 400 EXC next Monday, and will be making it street legal by the end of January. There is a variety of d/s kits to choose from:
http://www.sicassracing.com/shopping...=Lighting_Kits

http://www.drcproducts.com/index.html

http://www.trickdualsport.com/NewFiles/Kits.html

http://www.rickystator.com/pages/KTM...XC_stator.html

http://www.enduroeng.com/onlinecatalog.asp

http://www.procycle.us/main/dskit.htm

I'm going with the procycle one because it is the least expensive, and I've heard good things. For $400, which is $50 less than trickdualsport, you can get better flush mounted turn signals on UFO plastics. That's the route I'm going, although you can get it done for less than $200. It's up to you.

Hope this helps!!

Tye

slimtrader · Post by **slimtrader** » 31 Dec 2006 16:25

Keep us posted on how it goes. I don't think anyone said it was difficult to get a title, but the difficulty was trying to get a title that didn't say "for offroad use only". However I think somewhere I also heard that KTM didn't have that designation on the title.

Happy new year!!

Tye · Post by **Tye** » 31 Dec 2006 16:27

That's one of the beauties of KTM. The titles only say "mc", so titling them is not an issue. All you need is the proper stuff on it, and away you go!

I'm not anticipating any problems. I know other guys who have done theirs here, too.

Tye

Hank Moody · Post by **Hank Moody** » 01 Jan 2007 12:21

Hey Tye,

I too got a kit from procycle and be aware that it is "generic" conversion kit for all bikes. From a painful and costly experience I would suggest taking your bike to LetKo and have them do the conversion for you. I believe they have factory parts that will hook right up and keep you from splicing. I wish that I would have spent the extra $100.00 and got mine from Husky.

If it is too late be sure and get the brake light switch for european bikes the one that comes with the kit is for jap bikes.

Daryl

Tye · Post by **Tye** » 01 Jan 2007 12:54

Yeah, I wondered about it fitting right. I noticed it was a universal kit. Do you think it would be worth the extra $50 to go with the trick dual sport kit then? Would you stay away from the procycle one?
Tye

Hank Moody · Post by **Hank Moody** » 01 Jan 2007 19:06

I would call Lee at letko and talk with him about what you want to do. Their number is 913-334-2410. I know of another KTM dealership in Topeka I think it is called cyclezone and I have heard good things about their shop too. Another good resource is the KTMtalk webiste, I'm sure there is someone there who has converted an 01 450 EXC and will tell you everything you need to know about the conversion.

There is nothing wrong with the procycle stuff(it is on my Husky), but it is not factory and you will run into issues like the brake switch. You may save $100.00 now, but for my money next time I will go with the factory parts. This is just my 2 cents and my advise is usually over priced

Daryl

safiri · Post by **safiri** » 01 Jan 2007 21:36

A couple of questions you have to ask yourself:

- "How good am I at fabricating and troubleshooting electrical issues?"
- "What price is "plug and play" (as in OEM stuff) worth in terms of my time?"

Any generic kit is going to require that you do some wire / circuit tracing in order to hook into the right wire. A lot of people are not good at RR of electrical stuff. (Note: I don't know your skill so this is not a comment aimed at you ... just that I get called by a lot of friends to do their electrical stuff for them. Mechanics they do well, electrical they don't.)

Good luck no matter what you decide.

Mike.

Tye · Post by **Tye** » 01 Jan 2007 21:38

Ok, thanks. I'm still trying to decide on which kit to get. Actually, the Trick kit is about $150 more than procycle, when you add in the extra cost of the tail piece with the flush mount turn signals, which I really want to try to avoid damage. I don't know if plug and play is worth the extra $150.

How do the plastics match up?

I ran across another one at California Dual Sport, but it's about $450 by the time you buy mirrors, horn, and brake actuator, which don't come with the kit.

Expensive!!!!!

Maybe I should have just got the LC4 and skipped the trouble??

Tye

safiri · Post by **safiri** » 01 Jan 2007 21:42

Some questions I don't know the answer to:

Brake actuator: rear only? or does KS require front and rear? Seems a simple part (P actuated banjo bolt, available from dealer).

Horn: A crappy one from Radio Shack will make you legal. Heck, you could get a small piezoelectric buzzer and mount it behind the headlight.

Mirrors: I believe that only one (L side) is required. I ride roads with two for safety ... I also run the DualStar handlebar mount mirrors. not good for road riding though.

Tye · Post by **Tye** » 01 Jan 2007 21:46

I thought the brake actuator worked both front and rear. I would hope so, since I use the front about 80% of the time.

Mirrors, yes. Only the left is REQUIRED, but I also will get both.

Horn, I would imagine it would be that easy too. You can get one at that procycle site for $10.

I thought about trying to piece it all together, and did some research, but by the time you go through the trouble of finding everything, then making it all work, it only saved me about $50. I'd rather just get a kit for that. But an extra $150 for plug and play?? I dunno.

Tye

safiri · Post by **safiri** » 01 Jan 2007 22:38

Tye wrote:I thought the brake actuator worked both front and rear. I would hope so, since I use the front about 80% of the time.
Tye

Unlike a car, a bike has two separate brake systems which are totally isolated. I have not DS'ed a bike, but have noted in some kits that they come with a pressure switch for the rear only. Most (all?) front brake actuators mount in the handle bracket and are of a push button variety. The bracket has a threaded hole for the switch.

Tye · Post by **Tye** » 02 Jan 2007 07:03

Yeah, I thought about that after I posted. I'll have to check around for the front one.

Hank Moody · Post by **Hank Moody** » 02 Jan 2007 09:20

I'm heading to Letko this morning to drop off my shock and forks for Lee to rebuild. I will ask him about DSing an 01 400 EXC and the cost.

Tye · Post by **Tye** » 02 Jan 2007 12:35

Thanks!

Hank Moody · Post by **Hank Moody** » 02 Jan 2007 14:50

Dang! I went all the way down there and they are closed today!

I even called and got their v/m and they didn't mention holiday hours. I will stop by later in the week and I will update you what I find out.

Daryl

Harvey Mushman · Post by **Harvey Mushman** » 02 Jan 2007 19:12

Cycle Zone in Topeka has a kit put together w/ factory parts. There is a pic of it on the CZ website. A buddy of mine did his EXC450 and it was turn-key. It might not be cheap but you'll have no hassles and you'll be riding instead of wrasslin' with something that may not fit right.

Call Kevin or Mike and they can fix you up. They are good people. Been doing business there since '98. I'm sure Jim or Leigh at Letko can do it too.

http://www.cyclezonektm.com/

Good luck

-Harvey

Tye · Post by **Tye** » 02 Jan 2007 20:45

Thanks to all for replying. Great responses on this site so far!

I wish it wasn't, but cost is a factor. As with any newly purchased bike, there are many farkles I'd like to get to "make it my own". Of course time has proven to me that cheaper is not always worth the chance, so I have to find an inbetween.

I've emailed a guy at procycle and although he admits the kit is not model specific, he claims the only part lacking from more expensive kits is the absolute full plug and play nature of them. The only ingenuity to the kit, because I'm getting the already built in flush mount turn signals in the headlight and tail, is figuring out where to mount the horn and how to route the wires. If this is truely all there is to it, this is well within my abilities to put it together, and worth the $150 savings. I just hope the components aren't cheap, which would be the main problem for me.

Daryl, or anyone else who've experienced procycle kits, how is the quality compared to others?

Tye

Hank Moody · Post by **Hank Moody** » 04 Jan 2007 07:55

If you go with the procycle stuff a few things to keep in mind. Don't use the connectors they supply; solder all of the connections. Remember your KTM will vibrate and those crimp connectors can come lose. Go buy some shrink wrap and some small flexible plastic conduit. The procycle wires aren't welll protected and you will need to protect them from pinching and rubbing. Also, if you have a smaller diameter handlebar 7/8's the switch won't fit well and you will have to shim it. The turn signals that come in the kit are flexible, but when I break my last two I will go with the flush mounted style.

Tye, good luck with the procycle kit, remember Jeff is trying to sell the kit.... From my experience I wouldn't think twice about spending the extra cash and getting the parts from cyclezone, you will be money ahead in a few months. I can certainly understand the money limitations and let us know how it turns out.

Daryl

Tye · Post by **Tye** » 04 Jan 2007 13:24

I'm going to call cyclezone and letko today and see if they have a kit, which has the flush front and rears. If so, I may spring for it if you think the procycle one really is that cheap. It sounds like the stuff I stay away from because, like you said, it may be cheap now, but will get you in the long run.

The difference between the procycle kit and others, like the trick kit, is about $150. Do you think it's worth that much?

Tye

Hank Moody · Post by **Hank Moody** » 04 Jan 2007 17:23

The difference between the procycle kit and others, like the trick kit, is about $150. Do you think it's worth that much?

Tye[/quote]

Without a doubt! Plus Cyclezone or LetKo will be there for technical assistance if you need it.

Daryl

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Street legalizing bikes in KS

Street legalizing bikes in KS

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