[JJW Designs]

No one here is really "street" oriented, so not sure how to go about it, so do you guys have suggestions on what is required to make a Z50, with a title, street legal? I am assuming it can be done if it can be done to a CRF. And if it has a big bore kit, I'm assuming a different category, right?



Thinking about making a pristine one to have as a shop delivery bike.

 

[mikev]

Depends on the year of the bike as well as how lenient your state is on vehicle registrations.



California is a bit of a PITA, other places would issue a license plate to a GoPed if you paid the fees.

 

[reilly118]

No one here is really "street" oriented, so not sure how to go about it, so do you guys have suggestions on what is required to make a Z50, with a title, street legal? I am assuming it can be done if it can be done to a CRF. And if it has a big bore kit, I'm assuming a different category, right?



Thinking about making a pristine one to have as a shop delivery bike.

I'm not too shure what u mean I have a street titled z50r and i think there are others that do also. it just involves buying a street leagal frame (panda,lifan) and using it to start your build or change the vin# if you have one built already.

http://http://www.planetminis.com/f14/my-street-legal-z50-project-completed-72576.html

 

[lawson87]

I just bought a 69' Z50 hardtail frame w/ title so I some what cheated the system. Toby.

 

[3cyltrbo]

I hate to be a smart aleck, but if you moved to Canada you could license just about anything (at least thats what I've seen happen here)



I've seen things here in Ontario that passed easily, as long as they had operable lights / turn signals a horn and some form of identification #



As long as a mechanic will safety it, thats all that is usually needed here

 

[66Cooper]

About to do this myself to get my 84 on the road. Thinking of going the 69 frame deal. My buddy has about 5 roach 69-71 frames.

Does anyone know which Z50's were streetable in the US?

 

[s_10onbagz]

all z50's with headlights were pretty much legal at one point in time. since then all of the laws have changed and legality is on a state to state basis. In CT you can register anything that was originally over 49cc, if it was made before 1980 I believe you just need a bill of sale. later bikes require bill of sale and mso/title. If the title states for offroad use only they can ask to put the bike through a vehicle inspection. Just about any bike needs a vin verification. If the bike is under 50cc you have to play some games to make the bike legal. There are a few categories for bikes under 50cc; Scooter, Offroad, or Motorcycle. Scooter is a bike 26" tall and single speed auto clutch. Offroad is anything under 26" tall or multi speed or manual clutch. Motorcycle would be strictly the street legal 50cc bikes like Aprilia RS50 or Derbi GPR50. This is all in CT though. Every state is different.

 

[66Cooper]

Thanks. I'm about to get on the phone with NJ DMV right now. Seems that the 69-71 Z50A were street legal in their day and that would make them ok for the roads today. Only have to pass for what was originally equipped back then. NJ is a pain in the butt though so we'll see.

 

[mexicanyella]

Missouri's moped laws (motorized bicycle laws, they call them) require 49cc or less, no more than 3 hp, top speed no more than 30 mph, automatic transmission, and I think a headlight visible for X number of feet and taillight visible for X number of feet. You have to have an operator's license but you don't need to license it or insure it.



I've been using my hardtail Z50, with its, ah, hmm, "automatic transmission" as a moped for years, on and off, since it meets or exceeds the other requirements. I've not been stopped on it yet. But I've been in rural areas with low traffic since college. In college I commuted all over town on it but the cops there were used to seeing college kids on mopeds and scooters so I guess I blended in.



There was one other kid I saw around back then with a totally cherry '69 or '70 Z, a red and white one, who rode it to school occasionally. Never talked to him about it though. Wish I had.



I want to get one of mine actually LICENSED, with an engine big enough to go more than 30 and the ability to not "act like a moped" whenever a cop comes along. I just need to decide which bike now...

 

[66Cooper]

Just called the NJ DVM and they are SOOOO no help. You get a different answer every time. I want to try and get this registered as a motorcycle and not a moped as the cops by me would be all over you. I dont need anymore trouble then I already get

 

[s_10onbagz]

shouldnt be too bad since you arent in ny or ca. just get the paperwork done and goto the dmv counter, if they say no come back another day in hopes of a different person. if they say no goto a different dmv.

 

[66Cooper]

Ha! That is so true. I have called again and got another totally different answer. I hate it. I have heard that NJ can be tough and they stopped accepting any out of state titles from those titling companies. Might be able to do it though PA and then bring it into NJ.

 

[66Cooper]

Bringin this one back. My buddy and I gave it a go in NJ (total round about way). We tried it on his prized 69 Z. So far so good. He wanted QQ (historic) plates so has to go to the main office for that. Will update when its "official" official. Because of the round about way, I am wondering if I can go with my 84 VIN instead of switching to a 69-71 frame (title, VIN). Anyone got any updates on their streetable Z's?

 

[Dan_Lorenze]

It would be nice to know the Vin numbers on the old Z50's that were once street legal, since some were sold as dirt only bikes.. I would eventually like to do a 69' Z50 and get it titled.



Two of my CT70's started out as frames purchased out of state off ebay, with a bill of sale I've been able to get them both street titled again.. Even in Kalifornia... Once the CA DMV sees the old friendly VIN they give it the ok after looking at the bike... Pink slips are really not that important on the old stuff since it's been out of the system for years, unless of course it's stolen.. It's all about the bill of sale..

 

[cdoublejj]

i heard in MO you have to make sure it said over 3 hp on the mso. also i'm planning on using ITS title service.

 

[dsrt4]

i heard in MO you have to make sure it said over 3 hp on the mso. also i'm planning on using ITS title service.

You heard right.



And here in in order to meet the under 49cc reg, the bike has to be fully auto. See if ITS will also put 70cc on the title. Then the bike can be licensed as a Motorcycle here..

 

[jrcirondog]

Every state of course has different laws, however here are a few basics that have certainly held true in every state I have been in.



-Headlight

-Taillight

-Horn (some states allow bicycle horns and some dont)

-Mirror

-Blinkers or Hand Signals (some states require blinkers and others hand signals are ok and no blinkers are required).



Typically, if the bike is equal or less than 50cc or 49cc you do not have to have a motorcycle endorsment on your drivers liscense (easy way to find out for your state is to call a local scooter store and ask; or ask the painless and never time consuming DMV). Then you typically need a title, or a bill of sale to apply for a new title. Once the title is in hand then the bike can be plated and registered. Last but not least.......you are required to have insurance when operating a vehicle on any state or federal roads.



For custom builds, typically the DMV will have a "Motor Vehicle Investigator" which will inspect the vehicle for road worthyness, and be able to tell you exactly what is needed to get your custom build road worthy. This usually applies to custom bikes, sandrails, and custom hot rods. (for any custom builds you still have to provide either a bill of sale or MSO for frames, motors...etc that came from a donor)

 

[z50 chopper]

I hate to be a smart aleck, but if you moved to Canada you could license just about anything (at least thats what I've seen happen here)



I've seen things here in Ontario that passed easily, as long as they had operable lights / turn signals a horn and some form of identification #



As long as a mechanic will safety it, thats all that is usually needed here

Ya maybe in Ontario but not here in BC

 

[66Cooper]

I am really torn on which way to go. My 84 doesnt have the original but I can get one from ITS no problem like i did with my buddies 69. Clearly, an 84's original title would say "for off orad use only" on it BUT does that even matter since the ITS title wouldnt? Does the DMV have list of all the bikes ever built? I doubt that.

I called them way back when and talked to about 4 annoyingly slow people on the topic. The only thing they could really provide me was with a list of "approved" brands that "can" be road legal. I guess the main thing they are trying to prevent is some of those China built junk from hitting the streets before they have been tested.

If my buddies original 69 factory title has the "for off road use only" on it as well, then it shouldnt matter as his is legit now. I just dont want to go through the trouble of titling my 84, as an 84, if I'm going to be pinched in the end. Really want to keep it an 84 rather then "rebuild" it as a 69-71.