Recent fall from SD on the track has me wanting to push speed on a dedicated track bike, so I picked this up a few days ago!


Pros:
2002 sv650, gsxr front end, slipper clutch, quickshift, light engine work. Was crashed with dent on R side of tank, some fiberglass rash on tail section but seems to all work fine! Tyres are ancient so will be swapping for fresh rubber before upcoming track day. Price was a (non-literal) steal. Really excited to ride it, actually

Cons:
Owner must've thought (or didn't care) to register the bike with DMV since 2010!! Claimed it was reg'd as non-op but when I took it in to transfer title today, what was to be $150...I got SLAMMED with $700 of back-fees and penalties . The guy did offer to pay up some but not all... but I'm rather bitter he declined to pay it all...guess i'm lucky he bothered to reply instead of telling me to f* off!?

He wants me to ask about getting the bike "off the grid" from DMV making it a gray-market vehicle....I don't think it's wise nor even possible. Have you guys ever heard of this?

Anyway, bitter sweet purchase, not sure how I could have prevented it before handing over the cash, insight welcome, but hoping this will last me a while

Why register it at all if its only going to be a track bike?

X 3

If the bike is not on public roads and an acidavid that states such is given to the dmv, it greatly reduces penalties and prior year registration fees.
Sounds like the bike needs to stay out of registration for a bit longer. DMV has a special form they just hide it till you say something to the effect "what. are you out of your minds, I'm not paying that" Get the previous owner to sign it and cross your fingers.
Now, let me congradulate you on a great track bike direction. Have fun.

Oh yes. the prevention before is by taking the registration or pink slip to dmv and they will quote you the costs to register.

Just got off phone with DMV. Same answer but more detailed: cannot transfer ownership without registering vehicle. Registering vehicle means I must pay up all owed fees associated with vehicle. Declaring plan non-op status is only possible during renewal period (in this case near April) so I am forced to register it FOR THE ROAD (ridiculous). Affadavit of non-use form exists, but merely lets you waive the need for insurance coverage for a registered vehicle, not circumvent the need to register in the first place.

If I don't register the vehicle, I can't obtain the title transfer...end of story apparently...makes me wonder how folks find, buy, restore, and use that ole '56 Chevy without paying $1M in a half century+ of late fees

Water/cash under bridge now...guess this thread can be a heads up to future buyers with similar DMV woes

What do you other guys who own track-only bikes do?

I saw that bike for sale, looks like it will be a great track bike. Before I buy anything from anybody I always run it through the CA DMV used vehicle fee calculator located here https://www.dmv.ca.gov/FeeCalculatorWeb ... cleForm.do It will tell you how bad the DMV is going to pound you with sand

Holy crap that would have been instrumental in me saving some dosh. Bookmarking that for sure

More too-late research has yielded greater knowledge:

and


May it help others

It's called the school of hard knocks. I have learned this lesson too by oppening my wallet and emptying it out at the DMV. It's the late fees that kill it.
Now you can non-op it if you plan on it never being on a public road. Your lucky they did not require proof of insurance.

Also if you have triple a you can call them and they'll tell you if it's out of the dmv's system so there wont be any fees or what the fee's are.

Most vehicles will fall out of the dmv's system after a few years (7 I believe) of not being registered.