Brake & Light Inspections

[Gelo]

So I went to the DMV to get my bike registered and it seems that I need a brake and light inspection due to the salvage title it now holds.

I went up to Mission Motorcycles in Daly City and they no longer do the inspection.... as well as numerous others the guy at the service dept. called.

I wanted to know if anyone knew of ANYONE that did the inspection so I can have my bike ready to ride on the road? Inspections are a PITA (so far from this lone experience) and it seems that I'm going to expect around $100 for just an inspection? Thats absurd. My bike lights and brakes are all OEM, nothing has been modified, nor has anything fallen or broken off.

Can anyone help? Looking for a place around the CCSF (City College of SF) or Daly City area -- which I prefer. But I know I must get this done, so if I have to go a ways out, I guess I have to.

Someone holler and give me a text: 415-484-2459

-Angelo

 

[rick]

FWIW, when I was getting a salvaged bike road legal again that was the most annoying step. The process is described on the DMV's website with How To: Reregister a Salvage (Total Loss) Vehicle (HTVR 13) FWIW.

The DMV gave me a list of shops that do the inspection but none of them would do motorcycles. The CHP had closed their "books" for the year and wouldn't do it (this was during the month of December) so, I printed up a Statement of Facts (REG 256) form, filled it out and took it to my favorite local motorcycle repair shop. They checked out the brakes and lights, signed it, charged me nothing and I took it back to the DMV.

I got a little static about it at the DMV (who had otherwise been very pleasant on this process). I explained that nobody would do motorcycles, including the CHP, and showed 'em a printed copy of the instructions (particularly the bit about exceptions for motorcycles), the name of the CHP office who told me they would not perform the inspection, and my filled out Statement of Facts form. They took it all, gave me temp tags and shipped it off to Sacramento.

...Where nothing happened for a long time. I had to keep going to the DMV to get my temp tags renewed every month until one of the workers decided that they'd just about memorized my VIN and, since I'd been riding it everyday w/o any issues, gave me a 6-month temp tag.

Some time that following summer, I got a call from someone in Sacramento demanding to know why I didn't get a CHP inspection and was using the Statement of Facts form and they wanted me to go get a CHP inspection. I went through the whole explanation again and fought off her attempts to make me go get a CHP inspection now (since all the end of the year stuff wasn't a factor anymore) claiming that I had spent alot of time and money and that I had followed their procedures to the letter. She eventually relented and I finally got my real tags.

...So, I would call the CHP and tell them you need a brake and light inspection for a salvage titled motorcycle and see what they have to say. If they tell you to buzz off, I'd document that as well as you can and go the Statement of Facts route.

 

[Rel]

If you call your local CHP office, they may have a list of places that will do the brake and light inspections.

 

[bobl]

They may also give you a list of automotive light check places that don't do motorcycles. My last trip through this mess had DMV sending me to CHP, who saild "We don't do that.", and sent me to a light and brake station ( they said any), and they explained "We don't do motorcycles". I finally found a local service manager that had a motorcycle brake and light certificate, but it was a wasted day of towing my bike around on a trailer. Damn, I wish California DMV would get their shit together. All we want to do is pay them money, and obey the law. Going to the DMV is more fun than going to the dentist! not.

 

[Gelo]

A little progress: But a lot of frustration.


I found a shop in Santa Clara that offered to do the inspection for $20. Rode in, mechanic checked everything, and signed off within 15 minutes. Done.

Today: I went to the DMV again to try and complete the registration on my bike. Failed. Lady said I needed to get an inspection from the CHP - I need them to inspect my bike now? Ok...

The number the DMV gives, "Golden Gate Division - in Vallejo" has never answered their phone since I started calling them when this situation came about. So how am I to set up an appointment to get an inspection? Btw, YES, I have faxed them a request for an appointment, but I have not received any phone calls since I faxed them.

I'm headed to the Daly City DMV to see what they will do since I have everything they asked for in the first place: Brake & Light inspection from a certified shop/dealer. After all, that was all they asked for.

 

[rick]

Well, I'm glad you've made some progress at least.
Remember, the DMV doesn't necessarily know their own procedures - with alot of odd stuff like this you need to bring the proof/documents in with you. Maybe highlight the "exceptions for motorcycles" bit.

 

[matty]

Does it hold a salvage title or a salvage certificate? If it is the certificate, you will need to get a CHP vin and engine # check. Keep trying at the Vallejo office, my buddy just had his bike inspected there a few weeks ago. Likely, you'll get an appointment some number of weeks/months out. In the mean time, you should be able to get temporary tags for your bike at the DMV (the paper plates). Good luck.

 

[Gelo]

Does it hold a salvage title or a salvage certificate? If it is the certificate, you will need to get a CHP vin and engine # check. Keep trying at the Vallejo office, my buddy just had his bike inspected there a few weeks ago. Likely, you'll get an appointment some number of weeks/months out. In the mean time, you should be able to get temporary tags for your bike at the DMV (the paper plates). Good luck.

The title is a salvaged title from New Hampshire. Would this justify the chp inspection? Dmv won't even give me the temp tags, instead, they give me a day permit. One day. Lol wtf

 

[Gelo]

Find this on dmv. You think they'll let me through with this info? I have ALL required documents. It says, DMV INSPECTION OR CHP inspection. I have the dmv inspection.

 

[Gelo]

Ok. Got back from the dmv, again.

Lady was just as frustrated as I was. Ended up giving me a 2 month operating permit, instead of the one day permits I've been getting from other clerks.

This way, I can get an appointment from chp (if they finally respond) and get this entire thing situated.

 

[Rel]

What number are you trying to call?

 

[Gelo]

What number are you trying to call?

510-622-4611

Have tried almost 15-20 times every hour, when I'm out of class, put off work, on break, etc etc etc... within their hours of operation.

 

[Rel]

Is that the number DMV gave you?

 

[Gelo]

Is that the number DMV gave you?

Yes.

 

[terdog55]

Wow, I guess that I had it easy.

I did a search on the web, found a few places in my area. Finally, about the 3rd call, I found a place that did them for MC's. Made an appt, went in. The person on the phone told me 1 hr @ $85. The service writer said 2 hrs. I talked to the manager, she agreed to 1 hr @ $85.

2 hrs later, the tech told me that my front rotors were slightly undersized. I told him that I had measured them the night before, he agrees to re-measure them. Says that he can live with the "high spot" thickness and signs off on it.

I walk into my small town DMV and 1 hr later (no appt) I walk out with a new plate.

 

[Gelo]

Wow, I guess that I had it easy.

I did a search on the web, found a few places in my area. Finally, about the 3rd call, I found a place that did them for MC's. Made an appt, went in. The person on the phone told me 1 hr @ $85. The service writer said 2 hrs. I talked to the manager, she agreed to 1 hr @ $85.

2 hrs later, the tech told me that my front rotors were slightly undersized. I told him that I had measured them the night before, he agrees to re-measure them. Says that he can live with the "high spot" thickness and signs off on it.

I walk into my small town DMV and 1 hr later (no appt) I walk out with a new plate.

Wow. You did get it easy. I honestly made the biggest mistake in this situation because when I was paying for the registration, the guy behind the desk didn't even notice that the title was salvaged until i blurted it out. He said, "wow, you would've walked out of here and be done with if you hadn't said that. Here's some MORE paper work!"

 

[Rel]

The CHP 97C is for salvaged bikes. Call your local CHP office and ask to speak to the Salvage officer and make sure that this is really what you need. Sometimes, yes I know it's hard to imagine, but DMV does make mistakes.

 

[Gelo]

The CHP 97C is for salvaged bikes. Call your local CHP office and ask to speak to the Salvage officer and make sure that this is really what you need. Sometimes, yes I know it's hard to imagine, but DMV does make mistakes.

Thanks, I'll give this a shot once someone finally answers the line.

 

[Sharky]

make sure to bring reciepts for any repairs you made to the bike. The CHPers will probably ask. they asked me, I didn't have any, and he said, "those plastics don't have any serial numbers anyhow".

Better be safe than sorry.

 

[Gelo]

make sure to bring reciepts for any repairs you made to the bike. The CHPers will probably ask. they asked me, I didn't have any, and he said, "those plastics don't have any serial numbers anyhow".

Better be safe than sorry.

The left and right fairings of the bike were stolen from the original owner when he had the bike stripped in his garage (someone busted through and took the 2 plastics). Since then, it was replaced immediately, but insurance deemed this bike as salvage due to that.

The replacement plastics was from a private (craigslist) seller and there are no receipts. Will this be a problem? Nothing else has been modified/replaced.

Btw: new update:

CHP called me to schedule an appointment. Apparently, the CHP in San Jose (closest to SF/Peninsula) doesn't have anything available until November. Instead, they booked me for Sept. 16th in VALLEJO. I guess faxing my request 9 times helped to get their attention.