Does your state have inspections, if so, good or bad thing?

This morning while drinking my coffee and trying to get up to my target heart rate, I was idly looking at Tucson bike listings, and came across a typically scary looking 'cafe mod', you know the bike; butchered frame, no fenders, a piece of 1/4" luan with a towel wrapped around it for a seat, and this particular one no turn signals and no gauges. Not unusual here, there is usually a bunch of them. It got me to thinking what the cafe/bobber business is like in states that require motorcycle inspections. I knew that New Hampshire is one such state, so I went and looked at bikes on CL there, went through the first five pages, and did not see a single cafe mod for sale.

Does the state you live in have inspections, and if so, do you think it is a good thing or a bad thing?

 

We've got them here in Pennsylvania, and I'd say they are generally a good thing. Unfortunately, I think there are enough places that will just slap a sticker on that if you really wanted to get past it you could. Right now I'm a little less keen on the whole thing as my van didn't pass and needs somewhere around 2k of work on it to get the sticker (i bought it a year ago for 2400); needless to say, I'm looking for a new van.

 

NY has inspections. I personally think it is a good thing. However, it only gives the basics for safety. It doesn't take the place of an owner taking the time to understand their bike and ensure it is properly maintained.

 

None here in Iowa but they won't just let you drive any piece of junk down the highway.

 

I've heard it said that states without an inspection requirement put more responsibility/liability on the driver if an accident was caused due to poor or non existent maintenance, e.g. If you let the axle rust through and cause an accident because it snaps in half doing 65 on the highway. Is that the case where you are?

 

Florida doesn't have state safety inspections and liability insurance is optional on motorcycles. I'm from NC where both are required.

 

Not really sure about more responsibility/liability. What ever the reason if you cause an accident you would be liable. It's probably been 30 plus years since they did away with inspections.

 

I don't think California does. When I went to get my license they asked to see if my lights and horn worked that's about it. The lady didn't even look up to see if anything actually worked.

 

WV has state inspections for cars, motorcycles and trailers. The motorcycle and trailers share the same style of sticker. Which reminds me, I really SHOULD go get a sticker on my bike, seeing as how it doesn't have one on it. :/
Overall, I think they are a good thing, I don't really like them on motorcycles as much because the stickers are generally downright ugly when slapped on (usually) one of the front forks.

 

South Dakota no inspection, but we are also one of the least regulated states overall. No helmet law either, but I always wear one.

 

Yup,NY has them.... As light said.

MY take is that anywhere where safety levels are required is a good thing, whether you like it or not is a different matter. If it saves YOUR life, it's a good thing. If it saves SOMEONE ELSE'S life it's a good thing.

My bikes area always able to pass inspection in an instant. Last summer, just to run a blind test, I put a mariginal tire on one of my bikes, just to see how muck they would let go since they KNOW my bikes and workmanship. They would not pass it. That's ok.

The most fun part, though, was that they got a little miffed when I wouldn't order a tire from them. They were a little more miffed when I rode back in 20 minutes later with a new tire on the bike. Ahh....The beauty of being able to pull a rim off another bike.........lol

 

I agree with this, as much as it can be a pain sometimes. I knew someone that drove around with a spare tire (donut, not full size) for almost an entire year because they claimed to not have them money to replace it. They continued to drive their kids around like that despite me offering to pay for a new tire/mounting. That is the reason I think mandatory inspections are a good thing. Who knows how long people will keep driving deathtraps like that otherwise?

 

So as stated Florida has no vehicle inspections and does not require insurance on bikes. Yeah, its pretty lackadaisical down here and can be downright scary. Inspections were done away with when elder folks were being taken advantage of by unscrupulous shops who wouldn't pass their vehicle because it was low on blinker fluid and/or their horn needed to be charged completely and I can get this to pass inspection for $1200 so when your grandkids visit for Easter it'll be safe to drive. Sadly that has led to a terrible state of abuse by those who do not properly maintain their vehicles and there aren't enough police on the street who can observe and stop a deathtrap. So I am all for inspections.
That being said, I think the CEL should be abolished. I get it, I have an O2 sensor going bad. If it isn't polluting above the allowable limit, and the lights and brakes and tires and horn are in good shape, let's move on with our lives here.

 

I can get behind that! I have heard there are even CEL CEL (yes, a light warning that the CEL is out) out in the wild... What a time to be alive.

 

Ha, here it is http://www.obd-codes.com/p0650

 

i had a guy tell me i needed a chain but the sprockets were fine. another wiped the float bowls three times with a kleenex then sniffed for gas. the last time i tried, he wanted to go for a test ride
i told him nobody rides my bike but me. all my stickers ran out in '10

 

I've NEVER heard of that before.... Even with a vehicle!!! That's crazy.... I'd be on my way to another station---and reporting the other one, too....

 

thats one hell of a donut!

 

Subchapter h - Motorcycles Vehicle Equipment and Inspection Regulations • PUB 45 h-10 (d) Road Test - Perform road test and REJECT IF one or more of the following apply: (1) The vehicle is not capable of stopping within the maximum stopping distance prescribed in Table I (relating to brake performance). (2) There is a malfunction of the braking or steering mechanism particularly, shimmy, wander and pull—or another questionable operating behavior that affects safe operation of vehicle. (3) The speedometer does not operate. (4) The odometer does not operate except on motorcycles at least 25 years old. (5) The vehicle cannot be driven forward.
here's the whole thing

http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Public/D...als/Pub_45 Inspections Regulations/PUB-45.pdf

 

Interesting. Even when I lived in PA, they never took the car out... It went up on the lift and everything got checked.

 

Coming from Texas, a stopping distance test, as well as an emergency brake holding test was required. I don't think there was a riding test for bikes, but every car I brought in annually got a new ass in the seat for five minutes or so.

 

They don't road test cars or trucks in PA, just motorcycles.

 

Except according to PA inspection publication page E-14 section (f) they DO

Dave

 

Never seen them road test my pickup, it's very loud diesel with no muffler so it would be difficult to sneak out without me noticing.
However the dealer I took my motorcycle to did tell me about the road test and I did see them actually ride the bike, but he was only gone for about 5 minutes, so he probably just went around the block.

 

We're going in circles......

As someone pointed out - there is providence for a driving component.

As someone pointed out - not every station actually does it

As someone pointed out - they would go to another station if that request were made ( whether it not its required, withstanding)

As someone pointed out - its in the law of the state of PA

So , since it is there.... Everyone is correct in what they have posted.

I'm bowing out of this "po-TAY-to/po-tah-to" discussion.

 

NH inspection leaves all specs to the mechanic.
they test the ebrake needs to hold car at Idle with car in gear. the road test is driving it into the shop.
where they go through it.
some shops will fail you for a shinny serpintine belt because it may fail and you loose steering ,

body rot duct tape ok for some shops other shops no way. the spec is no sharp edges when it comes to body damage.
a good inspection is a good thing, I get mine at a shop that does oil and tires only no other kinds of work so I can trust them if they say I need a part replaced.

motor cycle inspection guy had sticker in hand slaped it on as he walked around the bike then started it , tested lights , horn. did the inspection out side in the parking lot.

but you must remember there are people out there who will drive untill the brakes fail to stop the car, still drive it untill the inspection fails them
so in the end inspection is good for our safety to protect us from others who will drive unsafe automobiles and trucks, oh and motorcycles too.

 

Hey, I've seen cars driving around with bald donuts on them, as in, the tread worn completely off.
Granted, I doubt that they have a very good treadwear rating, but still, that's a hell of a lot of miles on a temporary spare!

 

I am in Tucson, AZ and there are no inspections here. I have never been in an accident (here) so I cannot say how bad they might chew you up in court under the circumstances you mention, although if insurance companies are involved, anything is possible!

 

Are you saying that if I have an old bike and I live in Florida, I do not have to have liability if I do not want to?
I was thinking about doing a bike ride to FL soon to see my Mom in Ocala...have not seen her in a while, and I have never been to FL.

 

Yeah, I know! Just picked up a 1986 Suzuki GS550 that had a NH 1996 sticker on one of the forks, with who knows how many underneath... took a while to get them off!

 

Good for you... I don't have to wear one, but I do anyway.

 

Yup... safety is never a bad thing.

 

Yeah, some people seem determined to want to try to drain the gene pool a little bit, so in cases like that, I guess government intervention is a good thing.

 

Hey, running low on blinker fluid is no laughing matter

 

in NH you do not need insurance, when you are at fault in an accident the dmv requires you to post a bond with them equal to the damages and get insurance for 2 years.
then you are sued for the damages and the money is given out with a judgement from the court. if they do not sue you then after 2 years you get the money back.
or you can Man up and just pay for the damages to avoid the above action.

 

Down the bottom of the world we have a 6 monthly inspection, I think if it's less the 10 years old it is 12 monthly

 

The only damage I have ever done in an accident on a bike has been to myself, but If I had a passenger, then yeah, I would be concerned that she would be covered if anything happened.

 

Bottom of the world? How can that be... the Earth is flat

 

When I was in Wisconsin, in the 80's, many people would ask "Why do you wear a helmet, it isn't required." I responded, "because I don't want to be a kidney donor." In 3 years I knew 3 acquaintances killed on motorcycles. Two of the three had no helmet on at the time. The 3rd did have a helmet, but damage was to the chest, so it didn't matter. The other 2 may well have lived.

It is a temptation to not wear protective gear, but when I bought my cycle new in 1985 (my first one), I made a vow to my wife to be and my God, I would never go without a helmet, no matter how nice the day is.

The new helmets are really much more comfortable than the one I had in the 80's.

 

just because you are not required to have insurance does not mean you should not have insurance.

 

As mentioned previously, Florida doesn't require liability insurance on motorcycles so it's really cheap, $7 a month for my XJ. Liability insurance on cars is another story, very expensive even with a good driving record and multi car discounts.

 

its really hard to total a car with an XJ if you do you probaly will not need insurance anyways....

 

I just got full coverage on my new to me 2013 Kawasaki 900 for 14 a month

 

I do live in Wisconsin and always wear helmet, leather and boots. Always! Why wouldn't you?
Even on a 90 degree day, as long as you are moving it really isn't terribly uncomfortable - besides, no one would want my kidneys anyways.