What makes dirt bike street legal

In fact, the extra weight will help keep you stable at highway cruising speeds. The problem is when you slow down and jump into the woods. Single track riding requires a lot of maneuvering back and forth, as well as balancing.

Dual sport bikes have wide ratio transmissions. This means that each gear is spaced further apart. For example, when you shift from 1st to 2nd gear, the RPM will drop a lot more than a close-ratio transmission bike will. Bikes with a lot of low-end torque can take advantage of this because you can lug them at low RPM and they will still accelerate. Wide ratio transmissions are also great if you do a lot of highway riding.

A tall 5th or 6th gear will keep the RPM lower at cruising speed, which equates to better fuel economy, less wear on the engine, and less vibrations. The problem is that when you are riding single track trails with a lot of changing terrain or obstacles, you want to be in the meat of the power more often. Having a wide ratio transmission in a dual sport makes this more difficult because the gears are spaced further apart.

Dual Sport Bikes are built for durability. Performance is often sacrificed for this reason. Again, an aftermarket tail-light assemble that is LED will alleviate stress on a factory stator. A brake light switch is a simple installation. You can use a hydraulic or manual switch attached to your rear brakes master cylinder. One wheel shall be equipped with brakes. In several states, turn signals are not required at all. Instead, the law only requires that dirt bikers on the main roads use hand signals to communicate with other drivers on the road.

However, if you can pay for them, I strongly encourage you to do so. Just like the tail and brake lights, turn signals play a huge role in not getting rear-ended or otherwise hurt while on the road.

Not only this, but other vehicles will be able to see you easier at night time and in poor weather conditions when you have actual turn signals. I was able to find these turn signals Amazon link in a pack of four on Amazon for a very inexpensive price.

You could also buy turn signals in packs of two, but they are typically smaller and less bright than you will probably want for safety purposes. Be careful that when you shop for tires, they do have that Department of Transportation approval. Take this seriously. This requirement for Department of Transportation approved tires is not just for the law. While fuel tanks are rarely checked or mentioned in street legality for dirt bikes, they are technically required in most states.

The fuel tank on your street legal dirt bike should be Department of Transportation approved and made of steel. I bring it up now because when you have a registered vehicle, you need to have a license plate displayed. If you already have your tail lights, though, a plain old holder with the capability to attach the lights to it will work great.

In fact, Indiana is the only state that requires street-legal dirt bikes to have them. So just avoid the heartache and stress now. Just pick up a simple to install volt universal speedometer like this one Amazon link. Getting an Off-Highway Vehicle Decal is one of the most important things you will need to do to get your dirt bike street legal. Almost every state requires it. If you get caught without one, there are some hefty consequences and fines. Texas is like many other states in relation to dirt bike street legality, which means that they are mechanical adjustments to make as well as non-mechanical procedures to get your dirt bike recognized as street legal.

These mechanical additions will make your bike resemble more of a street bike than a dirt bike. You need to add components like rear view mirrors, approved tires, and headlights. Non-mechanical processes will include having your bike inspected and registered.

Knowing the mechanical parts, you need to purchase is the easy part, while making the bike street legal is the complicated process. These parts include:. A working headlight is among the necessary requirements. In addition to being DOT-approved, it must be switchable from low to high beams. It must also be lit during the day and night so that other drivers can easily spot you. You can place the switch where it is easily accessible by the driver.

A headlight will generally drain energy from your electrical system. To minimize this draw, opt for an LED headlight as it needs a fraction of the power needs of a halogen light. A tail light equipped with brake light functions, and which is DOT-approved, is another important requirement. It makes it easy for the drivers at the back to see that you are slowing down, and it additionally attracts attention.

The light should run from a mounted battery, which should be able to power the brake light for at least 20 minutes. Choosing an LED taillight will reduce the power draw in the battery and make your engine last longer. Your bike should, in the very least, have a functioning mirror. You can install two if you like. The mirror will empower you to view what is happening behind you. Mirrors facilitate your safety, so do not purchase a cheap and shaky one. It is common to see riders installing low-profile mirrors for aesthetics.

If you opt for this route, purchase a wide-angle mirror to eliminate the blind spot on either side of the bike. Most bikes with available dual-spot models will readily accommodate classic, long-stem, and threaded mirrors. You can also clamp on bar-end mirrors. These mirrors have a substantial lower profile in comparison to stem mirrors and they deliver a much better view of the surroundings.