Planet Minis

ShapeShifter

My local CA DMV shot me down on trying to transfer the title for my ZB50 from MN to CA. It needs an EPA sticker. I even had Honda U.S.A. write me a letter, but it only mentions Federal DOT and EPA, not CA standards so DMV wont accept it. Honda will not write me another letter.According to Honda, these bikes are 49 State bikes only. Anyone in CA that has one registered has done it illegally or was a mistake by DMV.

DMV - "1978 and newer street motorcycles of 50cc or higher need proof from factory that the vehicle complied with CA standards at the time of manufacture"



I guess I can try different DMV offices until I find one that takes it but that will mean lots of hassle and may not work.


Any of you California ZB owners have any ideas? I am desperate at this point.

mattmofob

it's 49cc isn't it?

Z

Talk to MikeV. He just went through this. EPA doesn't apply to 49cc motorcycles. If you claimed it over 50cc's, you need to put the motor back to 49cc's and explain how EPA regs didn't pertain to 49cc motorcycles in 1988.

Go to a different DMV. But, talk to MikeV first.

RiDe

I just got a 2006 crf50 ca street legal by means of a custom build and it got signed off by chp. We went through AAA, and they just refered it to chp and after 5 minutes of a officer looking at it he signed it off and assigned a new vin number to it, its registered as a 125cc scooter. Bad news is that my buddy has to get insurance for it now.

Xare50

I would find a small one lady DMV office they seem to be cooler about things
theres a small DMV in san andreas,ca that I go to theres never a wait and the lady is very cool about things

ShapeShifter

Just did that. I actually have his old bike and letter from Honda. Mike's DMV had no issues and apearantly did not look at CA regs as close as my local DMV. Again, Honda says these bikes were only 49 State legal.

If you know where that is written regarding CA, please let me know

I have not "claimed" any engine size. The DMV inspector only cares about the EPA sticker. The Kitaco 88cc kit that is on there now is from the UK market and still has 49cc cast into the cylinder. According to both CA DMV and Honda USA, regardless of engine size, this frame is not CA legal and niether is MikeV's old frame (that I now own but have a plate for).

Dan, if you have documentation regarding 1988 CA emmisions and street motorcycle engine sizes, please tell me where to get a copy. Otherwise "explaining" anything to DMV is like reasoning with a Liberal. It can't be done.

Z

Considering the ZB50 never had an EPA sticker when new and I don't live in CA, I don't have anything to add on the topic other then you needing to go to another DMV.

Tons of people here have plated ZB50's so you'll need to try your luck at another location.

z50 chopper

maybe send a message to reynolds_brad as I think he is in California and he seems rather knowledgable about this stuff.

supernes550

I went through the same thing. DMV wanted the emmessions sticker and I let them know it was a 49cc motorcycle. They marked the box and then reffered me to CHP. When I went to CHP they first said they couldn't verify but I let them know it was a bike sold in CA. I mentioned it was Hondas version of the yamaha ysr as they're likely more familiar with the ysr. Like Dan said try another DMV.

icm856

Ah yes, The Peoples Socialistic Republic of Kalifornia. It's almost like a different country.

ShapeShifter

For the moment:

I don't care about the economy
I don't care about being out of work for 9 months
I don't care about Iran's nukes
I don't care about our Socialist President......


Because I just got my ZB50 Mutant PLATED in Kalifornia!!!!

Take that, you Liberal Freakshow of a State Government


And for the record, CA DMV still sucks.

tmas

Congrats.... Now it is riding time. How did you swing it?
tmas

ShapeShifter

Thanks!

Yep, it's riding time tonight!

I just did as I originally planned and went to a DMV office in the next town. It was still a gamble, but this time I hit the jackpot!

I did not have to prove it is a 49cc as I was prepared to do. In fact it went as smoothly as it should have in the first place. This DMV office accepted the letter from Honda without a second look. I got nervous when the clerk took the letter in the back room, but she came back with a photo copy for me (whew!)

So I guess my advice to other CA residents having this problem is to try a different DMV until you get your business taken care of. What a pain.

z50 chopper

congrats you must almost feel as exubulant as a new dad

supernes550

glad you got it all straightened out.

when i went to transfer the title on my atc70 they gave me a freaking red sticker rather than a green. you think they'd know but they have to refer to their manuals. in doing so it leaves it to the dmv person to interpret in their own way.

post some riding pics.

ShapeShifter

Yes. Exubulant.

big pete

party!!

We need to do a ride soon. The Monkey is just about ready

ShapeShifter

Can't wait to see it!

mikev

Good to hear you got it settled. The ZB absolutely was a 50 state bike, and there was never an EPA sticker on it. The only emissions sticker at all was a NOISE emission sticker on the swingarm.

The less than 50cc rule also applies to it

ShapeShifter

I am just repeating what Honda US told me. According to the person who wrote both your letter and mine, both of the VIN numbers were 49 State bikes.

However, one must assume that a person at Honda customer service is just as screwed up as the individuals at DMV, and may be interpreting data incorrectly too.

It would be nice to find the dealerships that first received these VINs just to find the real history. I should have asked just for future reference.