Just to update my ridiculous DMV journey... I went back today, and the person that I ended up seeing was actually the woman that referred me to the CHP for an inspection. She said she had read everything, she read my statement of fact, but because it had fallen out of the system it can only be accepted if it's VIN inspected by the CHP. Of course I protested because the other two times I've been there the other clerks had accepted my VIN verification from the qualified licensed agent, and even gave me a new license plate with stickers, but she said no it can only be CHP VIN verified when it's been out of the system.

So I was sent to another window to get a 90-day permit, and I gave that guy an earful about it as well, then apologized for venting, and he said I know, I understand exactly what you're saying.

The DMV I went to was very near a CHP office, so I called them and asked what do I need to do to get an appointment. They said I need to come by first with the paperwork, then they'll make an appointment, then I come back with the motorcycle. I did that, and the CHP VIN guy couldn't believe that they wouldn't accept what I already had, but he said "that's the DMV for you". The earliest appointment was 2 months from now, so I made that appointment. I'm just going to rent a U-Haul motorcycle trailer to tow it up there, because it's fairly far away. What a freaking hassle, and what a ridiculous bunch of hoops I've been made to jump through. This should have been over on the first visit.

Ran down to my local office today and thought I'd be singing praises, didn't California have a big thing about improving relations with the public a few years ago? I guess Covid blew that out of the water.

I found the original title for my IT200 in a box of spares that came with the bike, very fortunate as neither the seller nor I knew it was there. Took the title in, and they said it was out of the system, and I'd need to bring the bike in for a VIN verification, thankfully they're a few blocks away so went and got the bike. Did all the paperwork, verified the VIN, and an hour later when they are entering the information, oops, the previous owner put it on non-op, it's in the system and they made a typo the first time. After too many fees I'll have the title in a few weeks.

Figured I'd have a go at transferring my '72 Suzuki TS185 from Vermont plates to California, give the state some more money and all that. They had to verify the VIN, engine number and safety sticker. All went well, except they couldn't verify the year based off the old 11 digit VIN. Yes, no problem the date of MFG is on the same exact plate they just verified the VIN on. 
 

"We can't verify that"
 

Guess I'll have to wait a few months for CHP to read that same sticker and tell DMV that it says, well, exactly what it says, the date of manufacture.
 

My CT1 had been put in non-op after 1992 as well, and they told me if it had it should still be in the system. I did put it in non-op and I absolutely know that 100%, but it's not in the system. The only thing consistent about the California DMV is that it is inconsistent.

I'm not going to sweat it, I'll just wait and when it gets done it gets done. By the way I showed the CHP VIN officer my old blue plate and told him the DMV claimed it was not pre-1980, and he just shook his head. He knows that it would have another digit if it was after 1980.

Took the Suzuki to CHP yesterday. The officer agreed that it was a 1972 model but was unable to write any kind of a note to DMV, as they only do VIN inspections. Out of luck there, I called a dealer who has been importing since the 60's and they said call corporate.

So I delved into the maze of their answering system, which isn't too bad, and got ahold of Debra, their "Customer Relation Specialist" She was a big help; the old VIN numbers are not in their computer system, but she was able to reference the number in an old book and that afternoon emailed a .pdf with the Suzuki letterhead, signed and official confirming the year and it meeting all federal and epa regulations at the time of import. Took that to DMV this morning and came out with registration and plates. They didn't issue a title for it as it came from a Vermont registration.

 

 

 

Congratulations on getting a plate for that Suzuki, that's a great looking bike!

Hopefully yours is next!

"They didn't issue a title for it as it came from a Vermont registration."

That is yet another example of California DMV doing different things depending on who you happen to go to - In the past year I've taken 5 old Enduros that I had done Vermont registrations on down to my Los Angeles area DMV and after a simple DMV drive thru verification for each, plus about $35 in fees on each, I've done non-op "title only" transfers and have received new CA titles for every one of them. No CHP, no sales tax, no issues with the lack of Federal labels or model year, they simply took the info straight from the Vermont registrations without question after checking their DMV manual and confirming that Vermont does not issue titles on old vehicles.
It has absolutely become the simplest and least expensive way for me to obtain titles on my "out of the system" bikes.

I already have the plate and stickers, but because that one DMV clerk decided I had to have CHP VIN check it, if a cop ran the plate it would come up invalid. They gave me another 90-day temporary permit that I'm supposed to hang off the back. In a couple months when I have the CHP give their blessing, I'll take it in and make it legit.

This is just a warning to anyone else that has a bike out of the system. If you think, like I did, that you can have a mobile VIN checker come out and take care of it, that's not going to work. Even though it worked with a couple other DMV clerks, they give it a final review before they send you the title, and that's when it was decided I need the CHP blessing. The main reason is that the CHP can do a much more thorough check to make sure that it's not stolen. Of course for me it's very frustrating because I know the provenance of the bike, but I guess I can understand the reasoning.

I hear you HouseofEnduro, I was expecting a title but don't mind too much as it's not one I plan to sell. I wonder if they didn't give a title because my Vermont registration had a typo on the VIN, a 5 instead of an S, as well as the bike showing up in their records from 2011, to my surprise.

Well my CHP appointment finally came today, so I rented a U-Haul trailer and took it up there, and they approved it. Now one more appointment back at the DMV next week, and then maybe they'll finally give me the new title and registration. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they made me jump through another hoop though... 

I don't have a ramp, otherwise I would have just loaded it in my truck. By the way I love those little U-Haul motorcycle trailers, I'd love to have one.