Off Topic » Question for our US members

Just been watching a US motorcycle program where a family of congenitally afflicted idiots build chopper bikes for a variety of customers and causes.
Despite their bickering and churlish tantrums they always manage to produce a nice machine by the end of the show.
My query is that these bikes appear to be road legal despite the lack of any official inspection or certification. In the UK anything meant for road use has to pass a tough government inspection.
I know this as we are trying to get our Dax Cobra road registered this year and its not easy.
Is this the case in the US?
Can anyone build a bike or other motor vehicle and take it straight onto the highway?

Wouldn't want one of the nice program presenters to end up on his arse after losing the back wheel.....

Alan

Zitat von Alda im Beitrag #1

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Just been watching a US motorcycle program where a family of congenitally afflicted idiots build chopper bikes for a variety of customers and causes.
Despite their bickering and churlish tantrums they always manage to produce a nice machine by the end of the show.
My query is that these bikes appear to be road legal despite the lack of any official inspection or certification. In the UK anything meant for road use has to pass a tough government inspection.
I know this as we are trying to get our Dax Cobra road registered this year and its not easy.
Is this the case in the US?
Can anyone build a bike or other motor vehicle and take it straight onto the highway?

Wouldn't want one of the nice program presenters to end up on his arse after losing the back wheel.....

Alan

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If they use the engine and frame from a titled bike and it can pass a state safety/environmental inspection (these can vary from state to state), the bike can be registered for road use. All US states honor the registrations of other states. Additionally, bikes that were approved for road use in years gone by do not necessarily have to meet current requirements. Some states are more restrictive than others. For example, California has very strict emissions tests that must be passed before a registration renewal. My home state of Louisiana has no such program, but we must get a safety inspection (brake tag) every two years. I realize that this sounds like anarchy, but in the world's third most populous country state administration of such programs is more responsive to local needs.

Zitat von Richard230 im Beitrag #2

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I might add that my recommendation is to not watch U.S. reality TV shows. You will remain sane longer that way.

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Zitat von Blackshirt im Beitrag #3

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If they use the engine and frame from a titled bike and it can pass a state safety/environmental inspection.

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I like some of the US "reality" shows. Sometimes there is a real "gem".

With Orange County Choppers, there was one son, it may have been "Mikey", but in any event he carried some weight and was portrayed as not being skilful. Bearing in mind he could probably buy and sell me, I am not going to assume he was "dull".

Anyhow, he was in the office, and the phone rang. A female US voice asked him:

"Are you located in Orange County, New York or Orange County, California?"

His response was

"Your guess is as good as mine, lady."

AND I do enjoy those "reality" shows where someone does something to a mechanical device, a car, motorcycle, 4x4, truck - basically anything. There are guys in the US (and the UK) who are real artists. the Yanks often have southern, or soft-southern accents and they don't "dress to impress", but their skill and workmanship is tremendous. I saw one show filed in Tennessee I think, where they were rebuilding a "555" Chevrolet and for one reason or another, it needed a new and stronger frame to fit the existing 1956 body and a large modern V8 coupled with modern suspension and brakes. They went to a business in Birmingham Alabama where the "good ole boys" had CAD equipment and a water jet cutting machine and made the whole new chassis out of plate, hand welded and to exact measurements.

It was a thing of beauty and did exactly what was intended.

I think that the "reality" shows of this sort are really inspiring and so often demonstrate the tremendous industry and ability of individual people. You don't need a whole factory in Shanghai to make "stuff". You don't have to accept that because the "factory" made stuff that it is "the best". A man with brains and ability can do better as the "factory" stuff is always a compromise.

And lastly, with respect to our own GG, YouTube does have some really good stuff on it along these lines. May I also recommend "Mustie1"? Heis a 50 something year old mechanic located in the US North East. He can fix basically anything, and as he works he tells you his thought processes. He had one vid where he had to adjust the timing on a 70s Honda and was uncertain where it was- so I am yelling at the TV "they are under the cover on the left". My wife looked at me and said "You know he can't hear you, right?"

Ah, but did you watch the Apprentice "reality" show?

I will admit to watching Orange County Choppers, too. But I really couldn't stand the "drama" on the show. It was totally unnecessary. Plus, after a while I got tired of seeing the same style of motorcycle being built over and over again, just with different paint and doodads tacked on.

Zitat von Richard230 im Beitrag #7

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I got tired of seeing the same style of motorcycle being built over and over again, just with different paint and doodads tacked on.

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I've seen those shows and felt they basically mocked all the tradesmen that learned a skilled skill, made a living and didn't feel they needed to dress or act like a circus freak (or, pirate). I've seen very few machinists, or similar, that can do consistent, quality work while partying all night/weekend or acting like a drama queen.

But, that's just me.

I always wondered how they could make a U-turn while riding one of those designer choppers without falling over.

Alan, in the US a custom manufacturer must provide a Certificate of Origin for the perspective buyer. The manufacturer obtains this through their state agencies. That's where road worthiness is certified. From there, varying state by state, a title, registration, tags, safety inspection and insurance are next for the buyer to obtain. These are not necessarily required by all states, but determined by each states legislature. So, the chopper builders followed some sequence in NY to be able to sell their products.

Back in the late '90's I purchased a "Kit Car". A "1962 Austin Healey 3000". A frame with a Certificate of Origin (listed as something like hand built something or another) the fiberglass body and lots of boxes. This may be similar to your situation, perhaps already assembled. I then went about obtaining everything else that didn't come in the kit. Engine, drive train, wheels, tires, etc. Acquisition and assembly took me most of 2 years (part time), after which I went through the legislative processes mentioned above here in Va.

That's a general overview of how, what your doing, is done here in the colonies. But, I'm sure that your process is much more stringent, especially related to road worthiness and emissions.

Stick.

healey1.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Stick
Our Cobra kit car will have to pass an IVA test.
Individual Vehicle Approval lasts hours and checks everything from emissions, decibel levels as well as safety issues. In fact our car will have to comply with all the things that any mainstream manufacturer has to.
If you are lucky to pass on the first visit you will be allocated a UK registration number.
If not its back to the workshop with a list of items to rectify and another fee to pay.
Alan

I have a friend who has registered several used motorcycles that were never previously licensed before, one of which was only used as an off-road trainer. He tells me that in California, you go to the DMV, they look at you like you are some sort of bug and tell you to go to a CHP office and get them to look at the bike and sign off on a form. So he goes to a CHP office, they check the bike's VIN number to be sure that it hasn't been reported stolen, make sure that the horn and lights work and that the muffler isn't too loud, note the mileage (it needs to be at least 7,500 miles if imported from out of state) and then they sign off on the form. At which point you can return to the DMV office, get another irritated look, pay a bunch of money and then they get a private contractor to send you your new registration and license plate, which arrives in a couple of weeks. After that, the state forgets about you until the following year, when they stick out their hand and ask for more money and send you a sticker with next year's date on it. Our DMV is not the most popular place to spend a day.

Zitat von Alda im Beitrag #12

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Stick
Our Cobra kit car will have to pass an IVA test.
Individual Vehicle Approval lasts hours and checks everything from emissions, decibel levels
Alan

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Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #14

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Zitat von Alda im Beitrag #12

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Stick
Our Cobra kit car will have to pass an IVA test.
Individual Vehicle Approval lasts hours and checks everything from emissions, decibel levels
Alan

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Cobras are supposed to be loud

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