Kit bikes?

[dresslered]

Has anyone gone the route of a kit bike? What's the downside? How do you register or insure one? What about resale value? They seem to be priced fairly well and you get many of the same components as on a custom.

http://www.thehogfarm.net/

 

[Carlsummers]

Registration and tag are no problem... just get the serial #'s off motor and go to the tag agency. I have never had a kit bike, but, a friend of mine sells them out if his shop. He has done some fantastic work, while building them. If you take your time, give attn. to detail, and have a plan, then it should be a lot of fun. Resale is as with anything... if someone wants it bad enough.....

 

[dresslered]

Thanks for the reply. The part that scares me is the good 'ol Kalifornia rules:



California has passed a law/legislation that WILL almost completely eliminate custom bike building and essentially destroy the kit bike industry. We will give you a brief overview of the short of it.

For the direct link click here http://www.epa.gov/otaq/roadbike.htm and scroll down to Final Rule for Cleaner Highway Motorcycles (published January 15, 2004).



1) As of Jan. 1st 2006 Californians will only be allowed to build ONE custom motorcycle in their lifetime that is not E. P. A. /D. O. T. certified.

2) If you have a “custom built motorcycle” titled/registered before Dec. 31st 2005 it will be grandfathered and will not count against you as your 1 in your lifetime.

3) If you sell, wreck, or lose your custom built bike (grandfathered or your one in a lifetime) due to accident, theft or anything…TOO BAD! NO REPLACEMENT!

4) Custom Shops, Professional Bike Builders, legitimate builders can build 24 bikes a year…here’s the kicker…. you can’t ride them anywhere except from your home to a legitimate “show” and straight back home. If you get caught “cruising” on your CM stamped bike, it is gone!!!

5) Any bike that is not a Manufactured Vehicle, 100% D. O. T. compliant with title, will not be available except for the 1 in your lifetime…but there is a catch…

6) Within 5 years all motors must be fuel injected, E. P. A. compliant, no exhaust will be allowed that are not E. P. A. approved and NO MODIFYING PARTS to carburetion, air cleaners, custom exhaust will be allowed to be used if it alters the exhaust or emissions of a manufactured vehicle or on “custom built bikes”.

7) If you build an Non-E. P. A. /D. O. T. compliant bike and then you die, your estate cannot even sell your bike for …5 years!