Hello everyone,

I'm looking for documentation to allow me to immatriculate a Yamaha DT400B in Switzerland.

The bike was bought at an auction in the UK and was coming from the US, this the exact number of the bike:
www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/15-1975-yamaha-dt400/?lot=9710&sd=1

Engine and frame are number 501-015445.

I do not have the US documents of the bike.

As the bike has never been imported to Switzerland, there is no official data about it and Yamaha Switzerland can not help.
So I'm looking for the homologation paper of other countries that imported this model "back then".

Do you think there is any possibility to get the US documents of the bike (like the Title?)?

Do you know how I could get the official certification/homologation documents for the USA?

As an example, in Switerland the we have the Typenschein numbers and are open documents, here for example for a 250 DT2:
typenscheine.ch/de/Info/691017-YAMAHA250DT2

Thank you everyone

 

If you can find the last titled owner, this may be possible. Remember each state in the U.S. has it's own set of rules for title transfers.

In my state, California, the title holder is allowed to sign/date it w/mileage and give it to the new owner, who can then use it as they wish.

Point is, it could be very easy. Some states may require additional work, like notaries.
See if you can track the last titled owner and go from there.

In the U.S. you will likely never find documentation beyond service manuals and owner's manuals (or at least I've never looked for it). Are speed limiters an issue there? I've heard of hp issues. Though most vehicles are speed limited in U.S., the speeds are usually very high. A good story. In part of my life I disa.ssembled and wrote software to reprogram FOR.D processors w/chips. I did not work for F. I had a popo dept contact me from another state to remove the speed limiters in their vehicles. Haha, I was LOL as I read the email on why.

In any case, enough rambling, I think you can solve your title issue, but might require a bit of work.

Hi Pedr6,
I could send you a copy of a German Fahrzeubrief of my 1976 DT 400.
But be aware, the VIN of Eurpean DT400 start with 513, the US models with 501, like yours.
Guido 
 

Thanks everyone for the replies!

The immatriculation body asked me for following:
- A picture of the manufacturer plate (the small black plate with engraved vehicle data on it). I don't think DT400 ever had this?

- The title if available

- The "registration card" or "vehicle registration information record" of the DMV.

My big issue is that the bike was bought from the UK, so I need to trace back someone in the UK to then trace back from who it was bought in the US (Still I might end up with nothing as documents on paper might be lost).
Is there a way from the frame number to know where it was sold or at which DMV it was registered?
From my udnerstanding every state has is own DMV...It would be quite tidious to mail them all.

@Guido I'll send you a pm, thanks!

The immatriculation body asked me for following:
- A picture of the manufacturer plate (the small black plate with engraved vehicle data on it). I don't think DT400 ever had this?

You mean the "Typenschild" ?
All bikes have it on the frame neck. If yours got lost, you can order a replacement at your Yamaha dealer.
I will send you a picture of a German Typenschild.

USA Yamaha's had a decal on the steering head.  Member DEET makes first class reproductions if yours is missing or illegible. 

A letter to Yamaha USA might result in some help...  they might have records showing which dealer the bike was sold to which will narrow down the state.  Unfortunately, many states purged records if the vehicle wasn't registered in many years. 

Yamaha has been known to issue informational letters that might help.

Another option is to run the VIN on a US site like "Cycle VIN"...  it might take a few tries to find a site that doesn't require a standard 17 digit VIN to search.  Hint: Usually, the VIN is run together as one number with no "-"...  so 501-12345 becomes 50112345.  But you can try it either way.  If the free search can find DMV records in the USA, then you can buy a report that could be helpful. 

Genau dies!

If I remember correctly, the bike had a sticker. A picture of a Typenschield would be great to have a sticker made (not sure one is mandatory as the bike was not imported here). Actually, I was told the typenschild is good for defining the year of manufacturer...if I put one on I have a document less I need!

@MarkT, thank you for the information. I was just told from the official body that I can claim the motorcycle was used for race and therefore never official immatriculated, it's not an issue if I don't get the title and those things (according to Zurich Strassenverkehrsamt, the one in Ticino had different opinion).

I'm looking with a local Yamaha dealer if they can help me fill in the information required.

Thanks everyone, I'll let you know what happens and if I require anything else.

Norman,
please send me your email adress, so i can send you scans

Thanks everyone for the help so far.
I was able to get an appointment for the homologation and it went fairly well:
All paperwork has been filled and it's good to go, the only issue is the noise, around 93dB, the limit is 82.

I thought how to solve it and the best I could think of is to place a reducer washer between cylinder and exhaust. 
Does anyone have any other ideea?
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I wonder if the silencer can be packed with fiberglass or something like that?