Was messing about today and decided to add a few tabs for turn signals that don't need long mounting studs.  That metal is thin.  I could have done a bit more
on the weld up, but it could have got way worse, holes etc.   Its VERY strong as is.   

Just took a night ride. All lights work properly.  Thats a treat. 


Passes the 5 ft test.  This is going to be so much easier w/turn signal choices. I believe I can use the stays from the DT series w/this. 


Ok, I use one of those auto-darkening shields.  Somehow I lost track of my line.  surprise. 
 
 

I'm just curious.  One of the things I love about the early bikes is that they didn't come with turn signals and none are required.  Just wondering why you want to add them?

The turn signals are temporary.   I prefer the bike without them too.  

The original owner originally had a Calif license plate for the bike.  She wanted to keep it.  Later, she ended up "OFF HIGHWAY" vehicle somehow and when I got my title, it was an "OFF HIGHWAY" vehicle.  I was told by DMV to bring it to CHP for an inspection to make it eligible for a license plate.      

Called CHP, made appt, everything sounds like a go.  I mentioned the turn signals and he said, motorcycles require turn signals.  Keep in mind, he also said, he is the one that will be inspecting the bike.  I didn't want to challenge him on the issue, even though I thought he was wrong,  so just decided to add a pair for the inspection.

So the plan is to meet inspection requirements, chrome an unmodified rack, then further mod this one for my DT360, then its time to hit the streets w/CT1.
 

I'm the guy that pushes back, very politely.  Had several bikes inspected by CHP, never once had them get upset or "vindictive".  I showed up with pictures of a new bike (if had one or could find one, old magazine tests were my favorite proof), a copy of the owner's manual, parts book, service manual, and a printed copy of the vehicle code.  Only once did I have to show the copy of the owner's manual and magazine article showing the bike did not come with signals.  I simply started by showing the vehicle code copy and politely saying "this bike never came with turn signals and from the way I read the law, they aren't required before 1973? Am I reading this wrong?"   More than once they went inside the office but always came back and agreed with me.  

I think it's important to protect our rights but I understand the desire to not "make waves".  

Here's a link to the law california.public.law/codes/vehicle_code_section_24951

In my experience, just don't act like a jerk.  Say something like I was looking for turn signals to put on the bike and they didn't come with them so I looked up the law.  If you say it needs turn signals, what do you suggest I do? (This is when you can pull out the parts book)

I also ran a truck terminal for about 10 years and about every 2 years we had a CHP inspection of our vehicles and records.  With those guys, I found that if you "rolled over" they'd basically throw the book at you.  If you politely pushed back, asked questions, and had a copy of the vehicle code in hand to look up the rule, they would not write you up nearly as much (I think that's because they weren't always sure themselves and nobody likes to be wrong)

After about the third inspection, if our "normal" guy came he pretty much just drank coffee and BS'd with me.  One time he put CVSA inspection stickers on all our trucks (we only had 10) and didn't actually inspect any of them.  Sometimes, he'd spot check a few things.  

I might even have an old pdf copy of the handbook the CHP used for motorcycle VIN inspections, I'll look.

I found a copy online.  This is old and what they used to use in California years ago.  www.vinnumberlocation.com/uploads/1/3/9/...e_identification.pdf

One thing I'd like to mention is if you concede to turn signals when not required, another thing they will likely check for is a taillight that stays on for 30 minutes without the engine running.  That did not become law until 1970-71 (I can't remember exactly when).  So in my opinion, it's important to stick with the "this is a street legal model that somehow got a green sticker" truth than "this is a green sticker bike I want to convert to street use".  

Good luck!!

 

One more thing.  Yamaha used to be really good about providing an "origin letter" from the VIN if you get into a bind.

I had a friend that had an issue with the CHP verification. It was a dispute on the model year as California used to title bikes as "year first sold" as even Yamaha really didn't have "model years" before the late 1960's.  It was a 68 DT1 with a 1970 title.

Anyway, Yamaha sent him a letter that stated it was a street legal 1968 model and even included information on the dealership it was originally shipped to and the date.  

My CT1 originally came with turn signals installed. I don't know if they were from the factory, or if the store installed them, to be honest. However as far as CHP verification... when I needed to plate mine, after 30 years not being registered, I trailered it to CHP and they just looked at the VIN numbers. He didn't ask me to turn on the lights, honk the horn, or anything.

Because I hadn't ridden in many years, I'd let my M1 license expire, so I had to get that back. When I eventually took the riding test at DMV, the guy giving me the test didn't even ask me to turn lights on or anything. He just wanted me to point out where the buttons were to control them, and when he mentioned the horn I honked it, and he said "oh! It's functional" LOL! When he asked where the headlight high/low switch was, after I pointed to it, I mentioned that technically I don't have to turn the lights on during daytime with this old '71 bike, and he didn't dispute that. He just checked the box that I knew where the switch was. My tail light was originally wired to the battery, but I've changed it to the magneto, so it turns off when I stop the engine. However that didn't even come up.

By the way, for anyone in California planning to take the riding test at DMV, most of them have the test "lollipop" open during weekends. You can find YT videos of the 2 patterns they require, and go practice those until you get them down. That's what I did, and on my test day I nailed it 

Tom, Yes the 1971 CT1 came with turn signals.  But California law did not require them on bikes manufactured before 1-1-73.

This is also a little different.  His problem is he is going from an "off road" title which could trigger having to meet more modern standards.   Or they might not allow it at all.  Best strategy in my opinion and experience is to prove it's a street model from the factory.  

I get what you're saying Mark, but wasn't his previously registered for street too? I'm just saying what my experience was, and they didn't seem to be concerned at all about the lights. Plus my bike had completely fallen out of the system, so they didn't know if it was previously registered off-road, or street, or what. CHP only wanted to make sure it wasn't stolen, and during the riding test he just wanted to make sure I could ride their little lollipop course, and stay within the lines.

BTW  I don't know where Pabdt is located, but I went to the Westminster CHP office, and the guy there was really cool. In fact when the DMV told me to take it to CHP I thought maybe they were going to do a full safety check on it, but he didn't do anything except check the VIN. I told him I'd already paid for a VIN checker to come to my garage when I was working on it, but the DMV wanted me to take it to him, and he said "well, that's the DMV for you". In fact that same DMV told me that my original blue plate could not be original, even though I absolutely knew it was. So I ended up getting a white plate, and decided not to fight it.

Tom, It's true that they don't generally "test" the lights during a VIN inspection.  As you said, they did check that you had them installed though!  

(I know someone here that threw lights and a horn on an old untitled Yamaha trials bike and got a street title in California a couple decades ago.  Most of it wasn't even wired up!)

This bike has a title.  Unfortunately it's an "off road" title.  That's a different challenge.  If pabdt has some kind of proof it was originally street legal, a copy of an old registration card from the original owner with the VIN would be enough, there shouldn't be any issue.  But I don't think he has that?  And California used to purge their records after 7 years (which is why they don't have a record of the titles) so you can't prove the license plate belongs to that bike without the old registration or title.  

Though if pabdt throws an old (off the books) license plate on the bike when he goes in to the CHP I bet it will help his case, even if he can't prove it was ever registered on the street.  Maybe the previous owner will loan the original plate to him?  (1969 might still be a black plate)