How to make my Honda xr400 street legal by Ivan Opalka

"I was told it would be very difficult to get a street license for a off road bike, but I did it. "

How I did it: I have a 2001 Honda xr400. This model has no battery or electric starter. The standard OEM stator produces only 100W of electric power. I was debating to buy an after market 200W stator. That would supply enough power to all lights, but that was adding another $150 plus installation to the price. After doing some research I have decided to by a Dakar Dual Sport Kit from http://www.electrosport.com. It has a small battery build in it to keep the lights from flickering when there is not enough electric power being generated.  This comes handy if you have OEM stator and your brake and a blinker lights are ON the same time.

So far I am very happy with the kit. It's very robust and compact.  It took me about an hour to install it. For around $450 I was able to convert my bike to street legal one. Once I installed the kit I went to my local licensing office and registered the bike as street legal. It cost me another $75 dollars for the new title but now I am legal on all roads.

Lessons & tips: The best check with your local licensing office before buying the kit and find out what is required to convert off road motorcycle to street legal one. Each state has different law in this regard. I am from WA.

Resources: World wide web.


 

Sep 10, 2008, 11:36AM PDT | 5 comments | 3 cheers


Comments:

xr400rider

hi, i see you successfully dualsported your xr400. I was just wondering how you did it!? I have a 2001 XR400 and have all the components to meet street use, but the DMV said they stopped issuing plates to original dirtbikes like 8 years ago. Also wondering if you took in your Washington title because my Washington title reads “Not elegible for road use” in red on it. I’d appreciate some feedback cause I’ve been tryin to get mine legal for about 3 months now

Thanks,Tom

Sep 12, 2009, 03:46PM PDT | Thread | Respond to this

Ivan Opalka loves mx and fruit

Hi Tom,
I live in Kitsap county. Initially I came to my local DMV office to find out and make sure before I committed myself to buying enduro kit if it’s even possible to make my 2001 xr400 street legal. I was told, that once I install street legal kit I could come back and new title with a plate would be issued to me. Exactly that happened. I came without the bike, explained that I just installed street legal kit and without any inspection they issued a new title with street plate for me. I have to say I was surprised. I expected much more scrutiny. My friend living in King county has the same bike, got a different response from his local DMV office. In his case he needed to pass an inspection before a new title could be issued. At least he could make it street legal. It seems like a lot depends on a local DMV office. I wish I could help you more.

Sep 14, 2009, 10:26AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this

xr400rider

Thanks for the reply. Thats really interesting. The office you went to said yes, your friends said you have to pass inspection, and mine says its not even possible anymore, but she said if I brought in an out of state title and it didn’t say anthing about being dirt only she could give me a street title. Well, if it all comes down to what county I have to go to maybe I’ll drive up to Kitsap county on the weekend and get it licensed up there! Way easier than transfering titles and stuff between washinton and oregon. Which office did you go to? I’ll give’em a call and see what they say.

Thanks again,Tom

Sep 27, 2009, 06:46PM PDT | Thread | Respond to this

Ivan Opalka loves mx and fruit

Hi,
I went to DMV office on Bainbridge Island. Good luck.

Sep 28, 2009, 10:51AM PDT | Respond to this

(This comment was deleted.)

Nov 30, 02:32PM PST


Ivan Opalka has gotten 3 cheers on this entry.

 

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