Well, live and learn - Yesterday morning, after assurances from the owner of the FE650 in Grants Pass OR that his bike was labeled in conformity with CA's street-legal emissions standards and should therefore license easily, my wife and I jumped in the car, trailer in tow, and headed North on the 800 mile round trip.
Just to confirm, an out-of-state bike can be licensed in CA only if it has 7500 miles on the clock or if it has the conformity label.
On the way, the license plate came off the trailer, so we stopped at DMV Mt. Shasta City to replace it. It was around 2pm and, believe it or not, we were in and out in 5 mins with the plate in hand. While the DMV lady was transacting the plate, I asked her about DMV Form 31, the Vehicle Verification Form supposedly required by CA. She kind of chuckled and said something to the effect that "one of us just goes out, checks the label, and that's all we do." Then and there my wife and I decided this is the office where we will license the bike on our return trip.
So, on to our 5pm meeting in Grants Pass.
And,......... of course................the label reads "OFF ROAD USE".
Receiving very little from the owner in the way of an explanation, I offered very little in return (thought a LOT, but offered little), got in the car and headed back to Ashland to spend the night with my wife's mother (...this trip just kept getting BETTER!!)
Got an early start this morning returning home. On the way, I began taking stock of my current options regarding the 650's now available within in CA; and decided to stop off in Sacramento to reconsider Trevor's 05 650. We agreed on a package and I bought my first Husaberg.
I paid considerably less than the asking price of the Grants Pass bike, which was a very nice bike, but likely overpriced. So, the difference can be used to spruce up my "new" bike and fix some minor issues.
So, that's the latest; and I'm looking forward to learning from my Husaberg.
Thanks everyone for all the help and encouragement that have started me on my way.
Steve
Just to confirm, an out-of-state bike can be licensed in CA only if it has 7500 miles on the clock or if it has the conformity label.
On the way, the license plate came off the trailer, so we stopped at DMV Mt. Shasta City to replace it. It was around 2pm and, believe it or not, we were in and out in 5 mins with the plate in hand. While the DMV lady was transacting the plate, I asked her about DMV Form 31, the Vehicle Verification Form supposedly required by CA. She kind of chuckled and said something to the effect that "one of us just goes out, checks the label, and that's all we do." Then and there my wife and I decided this is the office where we will license the bike on our return trip.
So, on to our 5pm meeting in Grants Pass.
And,......... of course................the label reads "OFF ROAD USE".
Receiving very little from the owner in the way of an explanation, I offered very little in return (thought a LOT, but offered little), got in the car and headed back to Ashland to spend the night with my wife's mother (...this trip just kept getting BETTER!!)
Got an early start this morning returning home. On the way, I began taking stock of my current options regarding the 650's now available within in CA; and decided to stop off in Sacramento to reconsider Trevor's 05 650. We agreed on a package and I bought my first Husaberg.
I paid considerably less than the asking price of the Grants Pass bike, which was a very nice bike, but likely overpriced. So, the difference can be used to spruce up my "new" bike and fix some minor issues.
So, that's the latest; and I'm looking forward to learning from my Husaberg.
Thanks everyone for all the help and encouragement that have started me on my way.
Steve
