CA Bay Area. Seeking Information on Motorcycle Inspections

Igofar said:
You’re so over thinking this.
Many years in California, building choppers, and registering bikes with salvaged titles etc.
Simply take it to either a CHP station, or make an appointment with your local DMV.
A person will simply walk out and give the bike a once over, check for mirrors, horn, and lights, and sign you off.
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You’re so over thinking this….
I believe you’re mistaking the VIN and Chassis inspection with the actual VSSI inspection. It’s easy to get them confused.

Like I said before THE VSSI TABLE OF CONTENTS IS 2 1/4 PAGES LONG. Does that sound like a 5 minute kick the tires 70’s inspection?

The Daly City shop said the cost was $365+. Does that sound like a 5 minute tire kicker? At $365+ why aren’t more shops jumping on that gravy train?
 
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Igofar said:
You’re so over thinking this.
Many years in California, building choppers, and registering bikes with salvaged titles etc.
Simply take it to either a CHP station, or make an appointment with your local DMV.
A person will simply walk out and give the bike a once over, check for mirrors, horn, and lights, and
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One person reported that out of 46 telephone calls he found no place that did the inspection.

My guy said that he would do the brake and light inspection for me meaning he didn’t want to do it as a regular thing…because the DMV shouldn’t take it. And may not take it.

I’m done here.
 
Danger said:
They said that to inspect the rear brakes the muffler had to come off. That required unbolting it and cutting a weld. There may have been more but I honestly have forgotten.

I sincerely wish there was another place to go but I’m left with one location.
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Who are “they”, and why would any weld have to be cut?
This makes no sense.
 
I have first hand experience with this when my 2005 ST1300 was totaled. I bought it back, repaired it myself and registered it as salvage. The “safety” inspection was done by the local Honda dealer for free. I was in and out of there it probably 15 minutes. Their tech came out, checked the lights, horn, signals. He visually inspected the brakes without disassembling anything.
When I returned to the DMV to complete the registration they told me I needed a CHP inspection too. The CHP said to bring a list of replaced parts and where I obtained them. Turns out if you installed any used parts you’re supposed to have to have the VINs of the bike(s) that the parts came from. It seems like they were more interested in stolen bikes and parts than anything else. Of course I never asked for any VINs on any of the used replacement parts I bought. Needless to say my liST of parts were all identified as new or repaired when I arrived at my appointment. Again this was a 15 minute affair, a quick glance at my DMV paperwork and an even quicker glance at my bike, a few easy questions and I was done. I don’t believe there was a cost. If there was it wasn’t significant.
With both the dealer and CHP inspection forms in hand I was finally able to register my ST.
 
When I had to get the 04#2 inspected back in 2014, I found some local place in Murrieta (Riverside area) that did the lights, signals and horn inspection and I don't remember how much that was. My shocker was when I took the bike to DMV and they hit me for $900+ because the guy never registered the bike after the auction he bought from. I think CA just likes to make it as much impossible to get salvaged titled vehicles back on the road!
 
Not only that Bob, but insurance companies apparently don't like to insure salvage bikes/vehicles either. When I got my renewal the premium went up more that double. This was an accident that was clearly and admittedly the other driver's fault as well.
 
SupraSabre said:
My shocker was when I took the bike to DMV and they hit me for $900+ because the guy never registered the bike after the auction he bought from. I think CA just likes to make it as much impossible to get salvaged titled vehicles back on the road!
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the registration fee has nothing to do with salvage title, you would have paid that even if the bike had never been salvaged.

Its a known CA DMV practice. If you don't register a vehicle for one or more years, and don't file the non-operational certificate for each of those years, then when you bring the registration up to date you pay for all the previous years that weren't paid, plus additional late fees. I'm not defending their practice, but its been their SOP for decades, and it catches a lot of people by surprise.

moral of the story to anyone reading this, don't buy a used vehicle in CA unless the registration is up to date because the registration follows the vehicle, not the owner. So, by taking ownership of the vehicle you inherit any past registration costs associated with the vehicle.
 
wjbertrand said:
I have first hand experience with this when my 2005 ST1300 was totaled. I bought it back, repaired it myself and registered it as salvage. The “safety” inspection was done by the local Honda dealer for free. I was in and out of there it probably 15 minutes. Their tech came out, checked the lights, horn, signals. He visually inspected the brakes without disassembling anything.
When I returned to the DMV to complete the registration they told me I needed a CHP inspection too. The CHP said to bring a list of replaced parts and where I obtained them. Turns out if you installed any used parts you’re supposed to have to have the VINs of the bike(s) that the parts came from. It seems like they were more interested in stolen bikes and parts than anything else. Of course I never asked for any VINs on any of the used replacement parts I bought. Needless to say my liST of parts were all identified as new or repaired when I arrived at my appointment. Again this was a 15 minute affair, a quick glance at my DMV paperwork and an even quicker glance at my bike, a few easy questions and I was done. I don’t believe there was a cost. If there was it wasn’t significant.
With both the dealer and CHP inspection forms in hand I was finally able to register my ST.
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This has always been my experience as well.
 
My guess is that the OP is searching for someone to take his money, and inspect his bike.
I’m sure he will find someone willing to do so:rofl1:
The last few comments are what I have experienced in the past 50 years dealing with DMV, non-op’s, and inspections.
Again, you are over thinking this.
What have you got to loose?
Take it to DMV or CHP and ask them to inspect it, you may be surprised.
 
dwalby said:
the registration fee has nothing to do with salvage title, you would have paid that even if the bike had never been salvaged.

Its a known CA DMV practice. If you don't register a vehicle for one or more years, and don't file the non-operational certificate for each of those years, then when you bring the registration up to date you pay for all the previous years that weren't paid, plus additional late fees. I'm not defending their practice, but its been their SOP for decades, and it catches a lot of people by surprise.

moral of the story to anyone reading this, don't buy a used vehicle in CA unless the registration is up to date because the registration follows the vehicle, not the owner. So, by taking ownership of the vehicle you inherit any past registration costs associated with the vehicle.
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Yes, living in Kaliforniastan for most of my life and having to deal with DMV many, many times, I understand their crap about registration and all of that.

I'm sure glad Utah doesn't put you through all of that. Before I got the 2004 registered in Utah, I asked them if I needed to register it with them and they said no. They didn't want to know about it until it was ready for the road.

I'm building that AZ05, by swapping out the engine with a 06 ST1300P. I have yet to contact the Sheriff dept to come out and verify the VIN(s). I have had the 06 since June 2024 and the 05 since December 24, both from Arizona. We'll see what hoops I have to jump through to get it registered,
 
wjbertrand said:
I have first hand experience with this when my 2005 ST1300 was totaled. I bought it back, repaired it myself and registered it as salvage. The “safety” inspection was done by the local Honda dealer for free. I was in and out of there it probably 15 minutes. Their tech came out, checked the lights, horn, signals. He visually inspected the brakes without disassembling anything.
When I returned to the DMV to complete the registration they told me I needed a CHP inspection too. The CHP said to bring a list of replaced parts and where I obtained them. Turns out if you installed any used parts you’re supposed to have to have the VINs of the bike(s) that the parts came from. It seems like they were more interested in stolen bikes and parts than anything else. Of course I never asked for any VINs on any of the used replacement parts I bought. Needless to say my liST of parts were all identified as new or repaired when I arrived at my appointment. Again this was a 15 minute affair, a quick glance at my DMV paperwork and an even quicker glance at my bike, a few easy questions and I was done. I don’t believe there was a cost. If there was it wasn’t significant.
With both the dealer and CHP inspection forms in hand I was finally able to register my ST.
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When was this? What year? When exactly did you have this safety inspection performed? What Honda Dealership. Who was the tech? Where are they located?

My point is that this inspection was probably just a brake/light inspection before the inspection requirements were changed. And No, I don’t know what year things changed but it was recently.

To be clear I don’t care about the CHP inspection. That’s nothing.
 
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Igofar said:
My guess is that the OP is searching for someone to take his money, and inspect his bike.
I’m sure he will find someone willing to do so
The last few comments are what I have experienced in the past 50 years dealing with DMV, non-op’s, and inspections.
Again, you are over thinking this.
What have you got to loose?
Take it to DMV or CHP and ask them to inspect it, you may be surprised.
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Never heard of an inspection for free. Can you hook me up with your person?

I didn’t know that they had inspections 50 years ago. Was it carved on a stone tablet? Could it be possible that perhaps, maybe things have changed in 50 years? I was told by a reliable source that this is the digital age. I wouldn’t know—that would be “over thinking” on my part. It’s just hear say.

Try to keep up. My local DMV doesn’t do inspections. They referred me to CHP. CHP referred me to BAR. There is a place in Daly City, the price is approximately $357 plus a digital (there’s that word again) certificate. CHP informed me that a VSSI certificate is required before the chassis/frame inspection is performed. In our 45 minute discussion CHP was not surprised to hear that very few places inspect motorcycles. He said there has been a significant crackdown in recent years.

This is a link to the VSSI Handbook.
https://www.bar.ca.gov/pdf/manuals/vssi.pdf
Try not to overthink it.
 
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Igofar said:
Who are “they”, and why would any weld have to be cut?
This makes no sense.
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STILL beating the dead horse? I gave you the short answer but since you’re unwilling or unable to let go of this idea here we go. It makes perfect sense when you have a different bike than a ST. Perfect sense when it’s a salvage vehicle with a modified frame that prevents the inspector from seeing the rear brakes clearly. My understanding is that the inspector wants to make sure the brakes are in working condition but don’t ask me why.

Happy to spell it out for you.
 
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SupraSabre said:
When I had to get the 04#2 inspected back in 2014, I found some local place in Murrieta (Riverside area) that did the lights, signals and horn inspection and I don't remember how much that was. My shocker was when I took the bike to DMV and they hit me for $900+ because the guy never registered the bike after the auction he bought from. I think CA just likes to make it as much impossible to get salvaged titled vehicles back on the road!
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Was it a salvage title? If not then a simple brake/light five minute inspection will suffice. Sorry for your $$$ loss.
 
Danger said:
Was it a salvage title? If not then a simple brake/light five minute inspection will suffice. Sorry for your $$$ loss.
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Yes, it was a salvage title. From the three bikes I restored, 2004 in 2012, 2010 in 2013 & this 2004 (#2), it was the only one with a salvage title.

I rode that bike for 50K miles, and sold to a buddy of mine. So I figured I got my money's worth. :)

The other two bikes, since they were registered in CA, never required any inspections, just transfer of title.
 
SupraSabre said:
Yes, it was a salvage title. From the three bikes I restored, 2004 in 2012, 2010 in 2013 & this 2004 (#2), it was the only one with a salvage title.

I rode that bike for 50K miles, and sold to a buddy of mine. So I figured I got my money's worth. :)

The other two bikes, since they were registered in CA, never required any inspections, just transfer of title.
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Interesting. In your opinion would it be possible that inspection requirements could have changed since you titled your salvaged bike? So the inspection was done in 2010, correct?
Thanks for being so patient with me.
 
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Danger said:
Interesting. In your opinion would it be possible that inspection requirements could have changed since you titled your salvaged bike? What year was that?
Thanks for being so patient with me.
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No problem.

That was in 2014. I have no idea if anything has changed, other than what they are charging. I don't think I paid but $35 for it.

2004#2 restoration
 
Danger said:
When was this? What year? When exactly did you have this safety inspection performed? What Honda Dealership. Who was the tech? Where are they located?

My point is that this inspection was probably just a brake/light inspection before the inspection requirements were changed. And No, I don’t know what year things changed but it was recently.

To be clear I don’t care about the CHP inspection. That’s nothing.
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This was admitedly about 10 years ago. Inspection was done by Santa Barbara Motorsports in Goleta, CA. Don’t know the tech’s name. I was not aware that anything changed with these inspections.
 
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