Making Bobber Motorcycle Kits Street Legal
Some bobber motorcycle kits, like the Kikker 5150 Hardknock Bobber, come with most of the equipment needed to make your finished bike street legal. Others are simple rolling chassis without any of these extras. Whatever the case, it's your responsibility to make the finished bike street legal.
Some bobber motorcycle kits, like the Kikker 5150 Hardknock Bobber, come complete with with a brake light kit, headlight, horn, DOT tires and MSO (upon request). So they can be titled and registered as street legal vehicles in most states. Some states will also require the addition of a license plate bracket, which you will need to purchase separately. On the other hand, some bobber motorcycle kits are simple rolling chassis and will not include any of these extras. In any case, remember that you are buying a kit (i.e. parts), not a motorcycle. So it is your responsibility to make the finished bike street legal, not the supplier of the kit.
Since each state is different, always check with your local DMV for information specific to your area. Here are specific points that typically need special attention to make your custom bobber street legal:
- Tires. Typically they must be DOT approved for street use. No racing tires.
- Exhausts. Open pipes of any kind are generally out. If you can’t attach a legal aftermarket muffler, then your bobber is a very loud showpiece, not a street bike.
- Mirrors. You'll need at least one rear view mirror.
- Turn signals. Turn signals are not required in every state, but they are nevertheless a smart thing to have (if you use them).
- Headlamp and Tail Light. A DOT approved headlight with Hi/Low beam and a tail light that lights upon application of the front and the rear brake.
- Horn. Another safety feature that may one day save your life.
- License plate brackets. Not required in every state. Check local regulations if you wish to forgo.
- Manufacturers Statement of Origin (MSO). Some states will require an MSO or MCO (Manufacturers Certificate of Origin) specifically stating that the vehicle is intended for highway use. Some bobber motorcycle kits will provide this upon request.
As you might expect California has some additional emissions restrictions that should be investigated if you live there. Suppliers that specialize in street legal conversion kits and related accessories for MX bikes, like Baja Designs, are a good general source of information too.
Comments
sam said on 2.02.2009 at 8:09 PM
great info really answered a lot of questions that i wasn't even aware i had.
Capt. Phillips said on 5.03.2009 at 6:14 PM
You would be best advised to also look up federal laws regarding registering "kit bikes" with non-EPA approved motors & drive train. Since Jan.06 you can only own and register one non-EPA approved bike once in your lifetime and furthermore, you cannot sell that bike for five years or suffer sever federal penalties. So, in a nutshell,if your bike is stolen, totaled or sold, that's it. You have had your one "custom built" motorcycle in your lifetime.
This is the link to MRF regarding the current EPA rulings:http://www.mrf.org/articles/2006/06NR1406nr14epaletterofguidance.htm
This is why you don't see many kit bikes or bikes in a box like in recent years past.
Capt.
dave harper said on 5.24.2009 at 4:50 PM
are you saying that the kikker 5150 can't be sold assembled and sold?
Rene Romero said on 6.22.2009 at 12:29 PM
Looking to purchase a Hardknock Bobber.Does anyone in California own one and if so have you made it street legal.Please let me know.
Thank You
John Bushmeister said on 7.04.2009 at 2:09 AM
Hi! do anybody have experience to make legal this kit bike in europe?!
Thank you
Ramiro Maldonado said on 8.23.2009 at 4:09 PM
Looking to purchase a Hardknock Bobber, Does anyone in Michigan own one and if so have you made it street legal. Please let me know.
Thanks a million
skyler said on 8.29.2009 at 11:45 PM
those lookin to get hardnock the guy runnin the shop there is a complete doosh ive been tryin for a year and a half to get the mso from him he says they dont come with them at all ive also had to do a bunch of extra work with the lights cause the motor burned them out every two minutes
Cliff Tudor said on 1.16.2010 at 6:02 PM
Got my Hardknock 200 kit street legal this month. I get lots of attention riding it around. I live in the Houston, Texas area. It can be done. Got my MSO and went through the necessary steps to meet the necessary laws. Lots of fun.
Paul Hemenway said on 1.26.2010 at 3:56 PM
Cliff, where did you find the federal statutes for making this bike street legal? I have my state statutes for Idaho and those do not appear to be a big deal so long as I can get the MSO. My understanding is the frame does not have a 17 digit VIN number, just a serial number. Was that a problem at all once you got your MSO?
MM said on 2.17.2010 at 12:34 PM
Bobbers are in essence a "stripped down Harley" with a big motor. The reason being is "speed"
Note;
Not all motorcycles are bobbers and not all Bobbers are "Bobbers"
It must have a large motor and be stripped to the bare essence. No horn, no speedometer, no signals no handle bar controls.
Todays bobbers and metalurgy with use of miniatures, leds, and plastics make it possible for a bobber to be street legal.
Do not purchase a bobber "style" with a small engine, less than 1340 cc. unless you're tiny tim and only want it to cruise the beach.
You will regret it and spend more dollars upgrading in the long wrong.