Looking for VT mechanic for dirtbike to street-legal conversion

Submitted by iosysos t3_zwvtci in vermont

I'm trying to get my motorcycle registered in Vermont using the Vermont loophole. Problem is, it's an old dirtbike that I've modified to be street legal. Vermont requires a VT mechanic inspect the changes before I can register it there. It's a loooooong drive for me and I'm looking either for suggestions or someone who can help me get the inspection done remotely, if possible.

I'd love to be able to do it via video call but not sure that's allowed.

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czo79 t1_j1x7ajv wrote

Yer facked. Gonna have to stud up and ride it here. We might be loose with registrations because we want your money but we got about the worst inspection regime in the country. Is there still the vermont loophole anyways? I thought there was talk about closing it down? It seems to be getting harder here for bikes, I stopped bothering to inspect mine.

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iosysos OP t1_j1x7uzf wrote

Blah, that's what I figured. The loophole still exists, I sent in the forms and they said I needed the dirtbike conversion form filled out first.

Bikes in my state are like "Do the lights work? Honk the horn. You're good". It's worse up there?

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czo79 t1_j1x94b2 wrote

Some places won't if you don't have DOT tires, some places won't if you don't have blinkers, some places won't if you don't have a stock exhaust. It seems like it's all over the place. A lot of places don't really know the rules and are stricter than required because they don't want to lose their inspection license. I haven't had a bike inspected in a long time but with cars they have to take pictures with a special tablet and send them to the state, and if they fail you they notify the state so you can't just bring it somewhere else. It's a racket.

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iosysos OP t1_j1x9dha wrote

That's wild. Really appreciate the info. The last step of my conversion was gutting it and making it all electric.... Already did that, now I can't really take it anywhere.... Bad planning on my part.

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8valvegrowl t1_j1z4uw5 wrote

If you can trailer it here, the Daily Rider in Burlington might be willing to inspect it for you...they like all kinds of weird bikes, and I mean that in the best possible way.

So you took an old dirt bike, made it electric and street legal? Sounds pretty cool. What did you start with? I liked the video Ryan F9 did on electrifying a little 70's Suzuki dirt bike.

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iosysos OP t1_j1zdu5f wrote

I'm pretty happy with the results. I'm a software engineer by trade and just like playing with things and learning how they work.

https://preview.redd.it/0zul1jwr5p8a1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3757fdead12353307362dfc13405c09c1a389512

The battery will be replaced with something less fragile. I built the pack and encased it with wood and some plexiglass

This was a 1971 DKW Enduro 125.

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8valvegrowl t1_j1zmvuk wrote

Very cool! I like some of those oddball bikes, like those funky leading link forks!

Hope ya can get it sorted, looks like a fun bomb-around-the-city kinda project.

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BothCourage9285 t1_j20jto5 wrote

What is the Vermont loophole?

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iosysos OP t1_j20kuy4 wrote

In my state, I can't legally purchase a vehicle without a title. No exceptions. No title, no registration, can't insure it, etc.

In Vermont, you can register any vehicle older than 15 years old with just a bill of sale. No title necessary. Once you do that, a lot of states accept the Vermont registration and let you transfer that to your state, which will automatically get you a legit new title.

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TheOriginalVTRex t1_j226qde wrote

Inspection done remotely? That's an oxymoron!

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