When a bike comes from the manufacturer for off-road use only, it’s likely for one of two reasons. Either the manufacturer produced that model for off-road use only or the manufacturer put all the street-legal parts on but it had to be imported to the United States for off-road use in order to import the bike without complying with emissions/US vehicle standards.
That being said… most trials bikes are imported to the US for off-road use only because they don’t have the required parts for the bike to be classified for on-road use. The necessary parts can always be installed to make the bike appear street-legal, but the title or MCO will still specify that the bike is only intended for off-road use.
Many states don’t allow off-road branded bikes to be registered for on-road use. There are a select few states that will inspect the bike and reclassify it for road use, but if that title is transferred to a state that doesn’t issue titles for off-highway vehicles (OHVs) the title will be turned back into an OHV title.
There’s only one way to ensure the bike can be registered for on-road use even if it’s being operated in a state that doesn’t allow them to be registered as such. Register out-of-state. When you register out-of-state you will receive a license plate, title, and registration to ride on roadways. The only kick is, How do you register out-of state? So many states have strict regulations that it can seem pointless to even try.
We've taken a stab at explaining all the nuances here, but if you'd rather skip all the reading and get right to the fun part, you can use our services to make your trials bike street legal in record time.
Can a Trials Bike Be Made Street Legal?
The short answer is, yes, a trials bike can be made street-legal. But while the necessary parts can be installed to meet the standards for on-road bikes, this doesn’t mean all 50 states will register one for on-road use.
In reality, even if all the parts are installed, there’s no guarantee your state will register a trials bike for on-road use. The state will likely require inspections to be completed, forms to be filled out, and fees to be paid - and even then it’s not guaranteed your state will issue an on-road title with a license plate and registration.
Many states have regulations preventing off-road bikes from being registered for on-road use. Occasionally, a bike might slip through and be registered for on-road use, but that’s not the standard. Typically, the state draws out the process and collects as much in fees as they can from you, only to say “Sorry, we can’t register this bike for you.”
It can be extremely frustrating to spend time and money installing parts to make your bike roadworthy only for the state to say NO. Luckily, plenty of hybrid trials bikes come with all the street-legal parts installed so you don’t have to worry about the install. The only downside to buying a hybrid trials bike is you may still face the same issues as a standard trials bike, except the parts to pass inspection are already installed.
There’s a secret though… if the bike is registered in a state that doesn’t require inspections, any bike can easily become street-legal. While it sounds great in theory, is that even a possibility?
Out-of-State Plates?
Why would anyone want to register their bike in a state other than the one where they live? That seems impossible.
While it’s close to impossible, there are ways to register in another state; even if you don’t live there. Places like Montana and South Dakota offer options to register vehicles in such a way, but two of the three require an in-state address to register a bike. South Dakota is the only one that doesn’t require an address to register in their state.
Montana is similar, except they require an address, and for the bike to be owned by a resident of their state. Sound like it won’t work? It will. While there is one stipulation, the bike must be paid off, it is possible to register in Montana without ever stepping foot in the state or buying land. Montana, like many other states, offers an asset-holding LLC that can be formed to hold assets like cars, trucks, motorcycles, dirt bikes, etc. Even if you don’t live anywhere close to Montana, you can still register there by using a registered agent. Registered agents can form an LLC for you, then register your bike to your LLC so you will have a permanent license plate, title, and permanent registration to ride anywhere you like.
Montana is the fastest and most secure way to register a bike out-of-state.
South Dakota works well for financed or salvage bikes.
Is a License Required to Ride a Trials Bike on the Road?
The United States doesn’t have a federal regulation mandating individuals to have a motorcycle license, but all 50 states, including Washington D.C., require anyone operating a motorcycle on roadways to carry a motorcycle license/endorsement.
Sure, you can ride without an M endorsement, but if you’re stopped for any reason the police have a variety of options to enforce the broken laws. If it’s clear you can operate a motorcycle safely, there’s less chance your bike will be impounded, but they can still issue a citation and fee for operating the motorcycle illegally.
In short, make sure you have your motorcycle endorsement before you hit the road on two wheels. Unless you're on a moped, but that's another story.
Why Do States Make Trials Bike Registration So Difficult?
Trials bikes aren’t street legal in stock spec due to being branded for “off-road” use only.
Major cities and stricter states don’t have a process to register trials bikes, even when they’re modified to have all the necessary parts for road use. A variety of reasons contribute as to why states don’t allow the transition from off-road to on-road, but a few large issues stand out.
Even if all the parts are installed (turn signals, head and tail lights, mirrors, horn, DOT-approved tires, and quieter exhaust), states with heavy emissions regulations prevent the transfer because the bike doesn’t come with U.S.-certified emissions equipment to pass an emissions test. While a small bore engine doesn’t pollute at all compared to jets and large transport vehicles, it still doesn’t pass the test in these restrictive states.
Does a Trials Bike Need Street Legal Parts?
How the bike will be used determines exactly what parts are needed to ride. If this article is your point of reference, it’s likely the bike will be used for roadway riding, even if it’s short intervals between trails. You can likely get away with a simple headlight and taillight, but it’s a risk.
To ensure you won’t have issues, it’s recommended to install all the necessary street-legal parts. This will prevent issues if an officer wants to pull you over for operating an “off-road” bike on roadways. If all the street-legal parts are installed there wouldn’t be much reason for an officer to initiate a stop as long as there’s a valid license plate on the bike. Unless you were horsing around, that is, which you would never do.
Install These Parts to Comply With Regulations:
White headlight with low and high beam
Red tail light with brighter or separate brake light
Reflectors: Yellow front and rear
2 white license plate lights
Front and rear turn signals
DOT tires
Mirrors
Horn
Quiet exhaust with muffler
Not all of these parts are required to be roadworthy, but all of them contribute to the riders’ safety on roadways and make it less likely to get pulled over.
Optional Parts
Reflectors (depending which state you reside in)
Mirrors (some states require only one mirror)
Spark Arrestor (only required by certain states)
Turn Signals (some states allow hand signals instead)
Speedometer/Odometer
Spark arrestor (if you plan to use trails, OHV areas, etc.)
Every state has different regulations so it’s recommended to check with your state to see exactly which parts they require to be installed on motorcycles. Below is a breakdown of the parts you can install to be certain all the bases are covered.
Headlights
All headlights aren’t created equal. Whether too dim, the wrong shade of light, or only one brightness level, it’s imperative to have the correct lighting to ensure this isn’t an issue for police or an inspector to find.
The standard for a motorcycle headlight is as follows… a white/yellow light with high and low beam functions. On average, the low beam is around 700 lumens while the high beam is about 1200 lumens.
Taillights
Lights facing off the rear of the bike should be red in color. The light should have a running light and a brake light that engages when the brake lever or pedal is engaged. A good standard to go by is, when turned on, the running light should be visible from 500 feet away and the brake light visible from 100 feet away.
Most states require a white license plate light to run anytime the headlights are in use. Usually, this is included with the tail and brake light kit as the license plate is mounted in proximity to the lights.
Reflectors
The requirements for these are hit or miss depending on which state you live in. For example, California requires at least one reflector on every motorcycle, but other states like Tennessee require the bare minimum to ride on roadways.
If you buy a street-legal trials bike, the reflectors will already be installed front and rear so you can avoid the need to install them yourself. As always, check your local regulations to see what is required in your state to ensure no issues arise.
Exhaust
True trials bikes are built only to perform and handle the beatings given in competitions and practice - the last priority is complying with emissions regulations. This is okay since the majority of states don’t require a motorcycle to pass an emissions test prior to registering for a license plate.
While most states don’t test emissions on motorcycles, this doesn’t mean every state will register an off-road bike for on-road use even once the required parts are installed. This is partially due to off-road bikes not complying with US emissions standards from the factory.
The state you’re registering can deny the bike to be registered for on-road use, but this can be avoided by registering out-of-state.
Turn Signals
Like many other parts on this list, some states prioritize blinkers and others don’t see them as a need. This isn’t to say that motorcycles don’t come with them from the manufacturer, because all on-road bikes from the factory come with turn signals installed. However, many states strictly require any motorcycle to have fully functional front and rear turn signals:
Arkansas
California
Louisiana
Maryland
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Wisconsin
If you’re planning to ride in any of these states, even if your bike is registered in a different state, you will need to have front and rear turn signals installed. This is one of the few items that you will need to have installed regardless of what the state your bike is registered in requires - it's essential for not only your safety but the safety of others as well. As for any other of the 50 states, you can use hand signals instead of needing to run front and rear turn signals.
DOT Tires
Luckily, DOT-approved trials tires are rather common since the compound is transferable between on and off-road use. Unlike dirt bikes that must have the most aggressive tread for the most grip, trials tires tend to be more mellow with a less aggressive compound to grip on more technical terrain.
Many options are available from popular companies like Dunlop, Michelin, Pirelli, Shinko, Maxxis, and more. You can find some of these, and other street legal parts, at our sister site, GritShift.
Mirrors
Like other parts, mirror requirements vary state to state. Certain states require one, and others require two mirrors able to view at least 200 feet behind the motorcycle.
Mirrors can be mounted on the handlebars, and some manufacturers make foldable mirrors that tuck into the handlebars to the point you forget about them until you’re back on the road.
Horn
How busy the roads are, style of riding, and location you’re riding will determine the horn that best fits your needs. More rural areas with a lower flow of traffic could use a stock motorcycle horn without issues. For reference, a stock motorcycle horn emits 60 - 80 decibels.
If your area is more populated, like a city, it’s good to have a louder horn that can be heard over other cars, trucks, and road noise. 100 - 130 decibels is a good sound level to ensure you’re heard when the situation arises.
License Plate and Registration
Every single part listed above can be installed, but without proof the bike is registered for on-road use, it’s risky to ride on roadways. For instance, if an officer initiates a traffic stop they will see the street legal parts, but when checking for a plate there’s not one for them to find. This can result in your bike being impounded or getting a ticket at minimum.
The issue with registering a trials bike is that any true trials bike isn’t manufactured for on-road use. While a few states will register an off-road bike for on-road use, the majority don’t even offer an option for inspections for them to pass.
Anyone living in a state without a process to register a trials bike for street legal on-road use has probably considered what it would be like, or even become frustrated that it’s nearly impossible to register a trials bike for on-road use. Even though it’s difficult or unknown, there are a couple ways to register a trials bike for on-road use.
The key is to find somewhere that will register it for on-road use. That’s not necessarily easy to do, especially if the nearest state that offers it is hours away and requires proof of residency in their state. What can be done if your state won’t register it for you?
Primarily, two states have processes that can be used consistently for non-residents to register their bikes: Montana and South Dakota. Both processes can be intimidating, especially if registering out-of-state is new for you, but it doesn’t have to be as difficult as it seems.
I’m sure there are other ways to register a trials bike out-of-state, but the fastest and most assured way to register a trials bike out-of-state is to work with a registration broker that has years of experience and a reputation for success. Fortunately, you found the best company to help with registering your trials bike so you can ride anywhere in the US street legal with little to no hassle from law enforcement.
You can be on the road in less than a week! What are you waiting for? Make your trials bike street legal with the help of Dirt Legal today.
You can be on the road in less than a week! What are you waiting for?