California owners "Would you buy an out of state bike?"

[lacofdfireman]

Never bought a new bike for along time and am doing my research while I still have a little time. I have been reading a few posts and they mention a California model bike. I am assuming that this has something to do with CARB emissions or something. Question I have is I have the ability to be able to register my bike in Utah instead of California since I have a residence in Utah, also would I be better off just getting the bike in Utah and keeping it registered there for a year and then after the year is over register it in California? I know sales tax is less in Utah and I will get a better deal in Utah because I have a good dealership there that treats me good. Just wondering if anyone from California has had a problem bringing a bike in from another state to register?

 

[Ignacio]

Be aware that Cali. may monitor internet sites like this and could figure you out.

The restriction on out-of-state bikes is mileage based...not time based. IIRC, you can buy a "used" bike that has 7,500 or more miles on it and license it in California.

 

[exskibum]

To register a 49 states model in California, you MUST have 7500 miles on it when you bring it into the state/become a resident of Calif. You'll have to explore the fine points of dual residency with the DMV if you truly have a second residence. Be aware that if they start using the term "domicile", however, they are probably looking to that one place you come back to, regularly live in, and work from. (Just saying, because this is a distinction made for estate planning, probate, etc., and unlike multiple residences, there is only one domicile.)

I have two motorcycles I bought while living in Nevada for a year or so, and brought them back into Calif. with 7500+ miles on them. NO problem registering them here in that case. Do a search and you'll find all of this discussed in detail just about 12 months ago.

 

[lacofdfireman]

Be aware that Cali. may monitor internet sites like this and could figure you out.
The restriction on out-of-state bikes is mileage based...not time based. IIRC, you can buy a "used" bike that has 7,500 or more miles on it and license it in California.

Not trying to pull any fast one's here but I actually do live in Utah which is my primary residence but I work for LACounty Fire and must keep a California Drivers License. Kinda stupid since a Class A license should be good no matter which state you live in but my work requires me to maintain a Ca DL. We are going to be moving back to California though in a year or so that I why I am asking. Would it be better to buy a Ca bike or a 49 state bike. Seems like the CA bikes are a little more plugged up and might not offer the performance of a 49 state bike. That is why I ask the question as to what is the difference between the two bikes and if you had a choice what would it be. Thanks

 

[dcarver]

Ca bike or not.. They still rip. And if you want to, you can 'Un-Kalilfornicate' the bike easily. I don't know how, honestly..

 

[madmike2]

Not trying to pull any fast one's here but I actually do live in Utah which is my primary residence but I work for LACounty Fire and must keep a California Drivers License. Kinda stupid since a Class A license should be good no matter which state you live in but my work requires me to maintain a Ca DL. We are going to be moving back to California though in a year or so that I why I am asking. Would it be better to buy a Ca bike or a 49 state bike.

Nobody can answer that for you. IF you buy an out-of-state bike, would it have 7500 miles on it when you brought it "in state"? CA DMV will red flag the VIN of any bike not meeting its criteria and once done, that bike can NEVER be brought into CA. Trust us, the DMV clerk will be checking for stickers and verifying the VIN.

Here's a link. Another link, from the "'03-'05 Bin-O'-Facts".

From the '06-'07 Bin O' Facts:

Model NomenclatureFJR13A 3P64 (USA)

FJR13A 3P65 (California)

FJR13AE 2D24 (USA)

FJR13AE 2D25 (California)

Seems like the CA bikes are a little more plugged up and might not offer the performance of a 49 state bike. That is why I ask the question as to what is the difference between the two bikes and if you had a choice what would it be.

The only difference between the bikes (so far) is that the CA bikes have a charcoal cannister that the others do not. AND a CARB sticker that states the bike meets CARB regs. Also the fact that since 49 state bikes cannot be brought into CA, the dealers may not be as competitive with their pricing so you'd have to be more diligent shopping in CA.

There are plenty of SoCal owners who could direct you to the dealers with the best pricing.

 

[evil_henchman]

Be aware that Cali. may monitor internet sites like this and could figure you out.

Nothing paranoid about that :lol: I think you're being followerd though

Not trying to pull any fast one's here but I actually do live in Utah which is my primary residence but I work for LACounty Fire and must keep a California Drivers License. Kinda stupid since a Class A license should be good no matter which state you live in but my work requires me to maintain a Ca DL. We are going to be moving back to California though in a year or so that I why I am asking. Would it be better to buy a Ca bike or a 49 state bike. Seems like the CA bikes are a little more plugged up and might not offer the performance of a 49 state bike. That is why I ask the question as to what is the difference between the two bikes and if you had a choice what would it be. Thanks

You have a unique situation for sure. DMV typically uses your drivers license to prove residence and with a CA drivers license you're going to be hard pressed to convince a DMV clerk that you don't reside in CA. As a CA resident you can't bring anything into the state with less than 7500 miles on it. If you happen to have a Utah drivers license you can bring anything you want into CA regardless of mileage. Just don't mention the whole working in CA thing. Regardless, if you can't put 7500 miles on an FJR in a year you've wasted your money.

As for a CA bike not having the performance of a 49 state bike it's a non issue. The only difference is a charcoal canister and a sticker. The canister can, and usually is, a reliability issue in gravity fed carbureted systems but almost never affects fuel injected models.

 

[CHRIS_D]

I own a CA bike and live in GA.

I personally have no complaints with the performance. However I wouldn't mind taking some of the added emission crap off if it's not needed. Has anyone every done this before?

 

[evil_henchman]

I own a CA bike and live in GA.
I personally have no complaints with the performance. However I wouldn't mind taking some of the added emission crap off if it's not needed. Has anyone every done this before?

As has been stated, the emissions crap consists only of a charcoal cannister. It's only there to filter the air that the fuel tank "breaths" and has no effect on performance on an FJR. Taking it off is way more trouble than it's worth. in fact, I dare you to even find it :lol:

 

[CHRIS_D]

I own a CA bike and live in GA.
I personally have no complaints with the performance. However I wouldn't mind taking some of the added emission crap off if it's not needed. Has anyone every done this before?

As has been stated, the emissions crap consists only of a charcoal cannister. It's only there to filter the air that the fuel tank "breaths" and has no effect on performance on an FJR. Taking it off is way more trouble than it's worth. in fact, I dare you to even find it :lol:

Oh yes, I found it!!! :clapping: It's sitting on the inside bottom of the fairing just waiting for me to take it off.

Actually with all kidding aside, if that's the only CA add on and it's not effecting the performance then there's is no need to mess with it.

 

[HYCLE]

I own a CA bike and live in GA.
I personally have no complaints with the performance. However I wouldn't mind taking some of the added emission crap off if it's not needed. Has anyone every done this before?

As has been stated, the emissions crap consists only of a charcoal cannister. It's only there to filter the air that the fuel tank "breaths" and has no effect on performance on an FJR. Taking it off is way more trouble than it's worth. in fact, I dare you to even find it :lol:

Oh yes, I found it!!! :clapping: It's sitting on the inside bottom of the fairing just waiting for me to take it off.

Actually with all kidding aside, if that's the only CA add on and it's not effecting the performance then there's is no need to mess with it.

Charcoal cannisters are saving you money on gas that would evaporate into the air.

Here is a quote from wikipedia.

" Capturing vented vapors

Within the vehicle, vapors from the fuel tank are channelled through canisters containing activated carbon instead of being vented to the atmosphere. These are known as carbon canisters. The vapors are adsorbed within the canister, which feeds into the inlet manifold of the engine. When the vehicle is running, the vapors desorb from the carbon, are drawn into the engine and burned.

Evaporative emissions from the vehicle are limited by law and tested as part of the new vehicle type approval by a so-called SHED-test. The current limit in the USA is 2 grams of HC per hour, which may amount to an evaporation of one liter (1/4 gallon) in a month"

 

[rickysnickers]

Seems there might be a little misinformation going on here. If you are a resident of another state and you bring your vehicle to CA it does not have to have 7500 miles on it before it can be registered. That only applies to residents of CA, buying a bike/car out of state and then "importing" it to CA. With that said, there are quite a few states that actually sell CA model bikes, as our friend from GA can tell you. By the way, you can buy a bike or car with less than 7500 miles on it, if it meets CA emissions.

Rick

 

[evil_henchman]

By the way, you can buy a bike or car with less than 7500 miles on it, if it meets CA emissions.
Rick

That's 100% correct but it has to have the factory sticker that says it meets CARB (California Air Resources Board) specifications. The old days of being able to buy a sticker are gone because they check VIN's for CARB compliance at the DMV now. So if you buy a CA model bike you better run the VIN by Yamaha and make sure it comes up as CA production. All these laws are as much (or more) to protect CA dealers as they are to protect the environment. <_<

 

[kansas transit]

Bought my bike new in kansas, Yep cali, model. no regrets. Gets great fuel mileage, must be the canister. LOL

 

[HYCLE]

By the way, you can buy a bike or car with less than 7500 miles on it, if it meets CA emissions.
Rick

That's 100% correct but it has to have the factory sticker that says it meets CARB (California Air Resources Board) specifications. The old days of being able to buy a sticker are gone because they check VIN's for CARB compliance at the DMV now. So if you buy a CA model bike you better run the VIN by Yamaha and make sure it comes up as CA production. All these laws are as much (or more) to protect CA dealers as they are to protect the environment. <_<

You can also replace a vehicle that is totaled or blows up while you are on a trip out of state. Or so I was told by the lady at California Dept. of Motor Vehicles. :blink:

 

[evil_henchman]

By the way, you can buy a bike or car with less than 7500 miles on it, if it meets CA emissions.
Rick

That's 100% correct but it has to have the factory sticker that says it meets CARB (California Air Resources Board) specifications. The old days of being able to buy a sticker are gone because they check VIN's for CARB compliance at the DMV now. So if you buy a CA model bike you better run the VIN by Yamaha and make sure it comes up as CA production. All these laws are as much (or more) to protect CA dealers as they are to protect the environment. <_<

You can also replace a vehicle that is totaled or blows up while you are on a trip out of state. Or so I was told by the lady at California Dept. of Motor Vehicles. :blink:

Hummmm I can kill two birds with one stone....all I have to do is limp my old POS across the state line before I blow it up and I'm good to go! :good: :lol:

Late edit: I forgot they're monitoring this site! Crap! Foiled again! irate:

 

[rickysnickers]

By the way, you can buy a bike or car with less than 7500 miles on it, if it meets CA emissions.Rick

That's 100% correct but it has to have the factory sticker that says it meets CARB (California Air Resources Board) specifications. The old days of being able to buy a sticker are gone because they check VIN's for CARB compliance at the DMV now. So if you buy a CA model bike you better run the VIN by Yamaha and make sure it comes up as CA production. All these laws are as much (or more) to protect CA dealers as they are to protect the environment. <_<

Yes that is correct. The factories are very good about labeling the bikes. In fact, I think the sticker actually havethe VIN on them.Rick

By the way, you can buy a bike or car with less than 7500 miles on it, if it meets CA emissions.Rick

That's 100% correct but it has to have the factory sticker that says it meets CARB (California Air Resources Board) specifications. The old days of being able to buy a sticker are gone because they check VIN's for CARB compliance at the DMV now. So if you buy a CA model bike you better run the VIN by Yamaha and make sure it comes up as CA production. All these laws are as much (or more) to protect CA dealers as they are to protect the environment. <_<

You can also replace a vehicle that is totaled or blows up while you are on a trip out of state. Or so I was told by the lady at California Dept. of Motor Vehicles. :blink:

Yes that is true as well. However, the caveat is that you NEED a police report to prove that it was stolen or wrecked.

Rick