What do you consider a small bore? Most street legal dual sport bikes are at least 250 CC's. Some of the older ones were around 125-175 CC's.I am looking to buy a small bore dirt bike and would like the option to convert it to be street legal with plates. I understand kits are available, but in some states there are legal issues. Has anyone done this in Indiana or is aware of the legalities involved?
Street legal enduro bikes around here are much rarer and command a steep premium in price compared to bikes that can be converted. Thanks for pointing out that I can purchase bikes that are already street legal.
I don't live near Indy so what ever may be for sale in Indy doesn't really apply to me and I am not interested in going through all the Indy motorcycle ads to try to identify the bikes you think I would want. I have been searching craigslist for some time up here and due to the lack of bikes that are already street legal that I am interested in I decided to expand my search. Since your mother knows about this subject maybe she could tell us the procedures one needs to go through. What is not worth your time to go through to convert a bike to street legal may be well worth my time and effort if I found a bike I really like.I just did a quick search and found light kits for $400 and up (I don't know if that's all the parts (horn, fenders, ect) or not.)
On the CL link there are 2 that are under a grand with titles and all lights. For me the bike would have to be free to go through all the BMV trouble. I have passed on a few cars/bikes without titles because the trouble getting new ones. Yes you can do it, but the time and money it takes, not worth it to me
( My mother retired from the BMV after 25 years, even she said its not worth the trouble)
I don't live near Indy so what ever may be for sale in Indy doesn't really apply to me and I am not interested in going through all the Indy motorcycle ads to try to identify the bikes you think I would want. I have been searching craigslist for some time up here and due to the lack of bikes that are already street legal that I am interested in I decided to expand my search. Since your mother knows about this subject maybe she could tell us the procedures one needs to go through. What is not worth your time to go through to convert a bike to street legal may be well worth my time and effort if I found a bike I really like.
Just to play devil's advocate here, you're willing to step through the hoops and take all the time necessary to get title/vin work done, buy and take the time to install lights etc, but aren't even willing to take the time to consider what may be in Indy because it's too far away?
FWIW, to assist your search there are 3rd party search engines for craigslist that are much more functional than craigslist itself.
They are called Dual Sport bikes. I found my 2000 Yamaha XT-350 on Craigslist five years ago and they are as scarce as chicken lips. Honda, Yamaha, Suzika, and KTM are a few out there.
I can understand, but I've found, that in my experience, working with the BMV on stuff that isn't "everyday, business as usual" they don't know which end is up, and you will likely spend multiple trips to the BMV, waiting in line, just to be told that the information you got last time was incorrect. If you can spend a little time up-front to avoid the conversion & licensing, it may save you in the long run.I started this thread because I didn't know what the Hoops are I would need to step through and I was hoping someone here could provide some insight. For all I know the Hoops may be something I can just take care of with one quick stop to the DMV which is 10 minutes from my house. I had hoped that someone would have information regarding that. I can sit at lunch in order all the parts to convert the bike over on the internet. live in northwest Indiana and commute to Chicago every day. Indianapolis is two hours away in a direction that I never travel. Maybe there's something flawed with my logic but it just seems as though it's better for me to look for a motorcycle in an area near where I live and work rather than two hours in the opposite direction just to look at motorcycles that are for sale.. Despite what must be misleading information in my original post I'm really not looking for advice on where to buy a motorcycle, I was hoping that someone here had gone through the steps to register a dirt bike on the street and could lend some insight from their experiences.