Ducati Monster Forum

Surprisingly, this hasn't been a topic of conversation yet.
I really don't think much about my bike's inspection stickers... On most sport bikes, they aren't even visible. Mine have been expired for a while, and frankly I'm probably just going to leave them that way. I figure if i get pulled over on the bike, I'm going to have bigger problems than inspection...

Thoughts?

Get it inspected!

An officer is far more likely to cut you some slack if all your tags/stickers/insurance/licence are all in good order.

No inspection required here in Minnesota, so I have no experience with it.  The only reason you'd want an inspection in MN is if you'd repaired a damaged bike and wanted to get a "clean" title issued for it.

What does your inspection consist of, and how often do you have to do it?  Lights, turn sigs, reflectors, license (visible), legal exhaust, or ___________ ?  What's the fine for not having a current inspection sticker?

A very valid point.

We don't do that in S.C. anymore.

LA

Informative:
http://home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/laws/result.asp?state=PA (http://home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/laws/result.asp?state=PA)

TOO Informative:
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter175/subchapHtoc.html (http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter175/subchapHtoc.html)

VA has it - it costs $12 and took me 5 min.  They check lights, horn, tire and peek at the pads.. that's about it.  Motoshops take a bit longer and might bike might fail there since they have to know all the details of the moto inspection regs... Like there's a min distance needed between indicator lights.  Though (get this) that have that min disance - *but* you can pass if you have none on the bike at all.. goofy.

But for $12 and 5 min of my time it's worth it lest I do get pulled.  Ounce of prevention and all...

It costs 14.50 here in Texas and that's well worth it to me to not give a cop something to do.

My bike has been inspected and I have these very stylish VA State inspection stickers on my front fork to prove it.  [roll]

In Texas we are allowed to have none at all - tho if you have them on the back, you MUST have them on the front. Go figger...

In UT we have to get an inspection in order to get the plate / registration sticker ....

somehow I always end up taking the truck to get the inspection though ;) ;) ;)

~DaVe

P.S. BOOBIES !!!

In Ohio, an inspection is when you have an out of state title and want to register it in state, they check the vin and frame number. They don't do safety inspections.

Same in CA.  Or when you title a bike that was salvaged (not that it 'washes' the title clean, just bringing it back onto the road).

By 5-31 every year in Mass.

Like some have said, here in MO you need the inspection receipt to get the license plate.  IIRC it was $6.00.  I took mine to the closest Moto shop to get the inspection, a Harley Dealer.  There were many double-takes, and quite a few "nice bike!" ;D 

they gave me an inspection when i bought the bike back in may of 05 and it lasts for one full year, so ive been running illegal for almost 3 years.  i dont really plan on getting it done.  the only shop in town that does them that i can think of uses the inspection as a selling tool and i dont support them. 

on my duc the license plate is rubbed from it catching the tire (not sure how it happened) but if i get pulled over i say it is inspected and point to the plate and say "son of a pregnant dog, it got ripped off!" and they tell me i need to get it done and ive been lucky so far.

but if i do get pulled over now, its been long enough that i saved enough money that the $10 to drop it is cheaper than the 14.50 for the last two years. 

NC has it, lights work (as factory equipped, so if OEM included signals, you have to have them), horn works, brake lights work, tires decent.  Kill switch has to work properly.  They don't look at brakes.  Some shops won't inspect a bike with the rear signals integrated into the tail light though.  No emissions for NC. Fee is $9.25

I don't have a sticker at all on my M750, not sure about the 900SS.  I've been pulled more than once with expired stickers, but never had my inspection checked.  Locally, LEO's don't seem to pay it a lot of attention unless you hit a checkpoint.  Ticket is $75, but can also is often written as a "fix it" ticket that gives you 5 business days to get a sticker & report to a local police office to prove you fixed it ~

JM

if you are in PA i would recommend getting it done. even though it will cost you some time and money, it's easier and cheaper if you are spotted and pulled over.

i found out early last year that the fine is $25 for out of date reg after 6 months of it being expired the fine goes up to $120. inspection is a bit cheaper i think.

if your local constabulary are in a good mood they will do a fix-it ticket and you go tell the judge that you got it done. if the judge is having a bad day you might have to pay still.


that reminds me, i need to renew my reg....

I get lucky somehow. My Duc has not been "inspected" for about three years. I've been pulled over numerous times on this bike and no copper has ever checked.
My Speed Triple is inspected only because last time I had it in for service the service writer asked if I wanted it done. "Sure, it's only $10". A month later I got pulled over and that cop did check for the sticker. [beer]

Don't get me wrong, my bike IS registered. All of my vehicles, inspected or not, are ALWAYS registered.
Inspection is a bit of a different story... I too have found that if you more often than not get by without the inspection, even on a car.
I doubt I'm going to go out of my way to have it inspected. I'll probably have them do it when it goes in for the 6k service or something, but i won't schedule an appointment just for it.

what area do you live in?

I'm just outside of philly and i have been pulled over for having the reg and/or insp out on a car.
the bike they have never said anything.

my g/f got pulled over when she switched her plates to PA and had jersey insp stickers.

there are a few state police who are looking around here, and quite a few more locals.
it took me 3 years before i got caught too.

it extra sucks in PA.  They just passed a law that your rear fender must extend beyond the rear tire in order to pass inspection.  You need a speedo, gear indicator, turnsignal indicator, on the console.  illuminated license plate, lights, they check brakes - but not sure if that's a courtesy to the rider/safety issue. 
PA says the bike must be 'safe' and if the inspection station feels it's not safe, they don't have to put a sticker on it - whether it's technically correct or not!!!
what a rip!

my bike was failed because of brake pads.

Never had mine inspected.  Been pulled over a couple of times on it and was never even questioned about the inspection.

HI has an annual saferty check. if it's the same base cost as cars, it's about $20.

you need proof of insurance to get safety, and you need valid safety to renew your reg.

AFAIK, they just check the lights, horn, etc.  elTristo got gig'd for integrated tail light signals, but I've seen lots of guys run 'em, so it might have just been the inspector at the duc dealer that's picky.

no emissions, and they don't care about noise.


and that reminds me, I gotta get it this month. and a new rear tire.

I think it's cheaper in HI for bikes than cars.  $9.75 vs. $14.75 for cars IIRC. Not every licensed inspector is as picky as they are out at the Duc/Honda dealer. There are written legal requirements and if you don't pass then you can't blame the inspector.

yeah, the guy at superbikes/cyclepro were pretty lax... and free, to boot!

shame they closed.

I've gotten that freakin $120 ticket, been gutted for the inspection thing numerous times. The SS are pissy about it around here. When i worked in philly never had a problem, it was always from conshy back to bucks.

I don't do bikes, but I am licensed to inspect cars.  In Texas if a state inspector gets caught passing a car would normally fail he can be fined up to $10,000.  I work at a dealership.  The dealership would not get fined, I would and they can track every single sticker that is issued.  If other states are similar then you can understand how an inspector may be hesitant to be leniant.

i would ride/drive uninspected before i'd ever expect someone to pass a car/bike that shouldnt pass.
imagine if something DID fail on that car. some people are quick to point the finger when it comes to accidents.
things could get really hairy for that mechanic.
i have a great auto mechanic, he is very fair. if it's SAFE, he will pass my car. doesn't bother me about emissions and stuff though.


sounds like I am S.O.L. with bike inspection if the fender has to go beyond the rear tire.
guess i'll be leaving as is.

as basic as the inspections here in TX are.. i wouldnt want to ride a bike that wouldnt pass. unless its a track bike  [moto]

Now don't hate folks, I have minded my ways.  But I use to do a little coppin'    Not only is he right, but an inspection ticket can get pretty hefty.  The last thing you want on top of your giant speeding ticket is an extra 280 bucks for no ispection. 

...........and, unless it is just a revenue generator, it doesnt cost that much

We may have to start doing bi-annual smog inspections for registration like on cars starting 2012 if this passes: http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0401-0450/sb_435_bill_20090226_introduced.pdf (http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0401-0450/sb_435_bill_20090226_introduced.pdf)

I am in PA too and I usually get about 5 or 6 inspected each year. I have not heard of the fender thing yet. Never heard of needing a "gear indicator" either...Most bikes don't have such a thing (unless you mean a neutral light). Not all of mine have that either.

I have read over the PA inspection regs and they are confusing at best.

I used to get all my bikes inspected at a local Harley shop. Now I get a limited number done there. I took my '73' Triumph Tiger there 2 years ago. I had taken the turn signals off many years before as I was tired of replacing broken signals. The guy inspecting my bike said "Didn't come with turn signals, huh?" I replied "Yeah, but I took 'em off."

Well the head mechanic heard the conversation , came over and said... "We can't inspect that. If he would have an accident and they looked up the records and found out that bike came with turn signals we could loose our license." Well they had already told me that 1973 was a turning point, some bikes came with and some without turn signals, thus the fact that he questioned me. How on earth are the cops gonna find "records" on a 34 year old (at the time) bike?? Would they even care to waste time, effort and money to do so? The guy who started inspecting the bike told me "If he wasn't here I'd inspect it." and he is the owner of the shop !!

Anyway, over the years I have been hit with very minor items, turn signals (above story), no mirror (have to have at least one on the left side), I had a plate on the front fork of the same Triumph for the sticker...The same idiot who hit me on the turn signals hit me for the plate (at a different inspection) "You could take that off and put it on another bike." Yeah, sure after 20 minutes to remove it (the front fender struts had to be completely removed), figure out how to mount it on another bike and then remount it back on the Triumph...another 20 minutes, when I want to ride the Triumph. What a boob !

So yes, If I'm gonna have 'em on the road that year, I will have it inspected. Why tempt fate? It is less than $20...worth it in peace of mind IMO. Peace of mind from the cops, not peace of mind for the safety of the bike. I know how to make sure my bike is safe and I would trust my inspection over most mechanics anyway.

I live in NJ and have owned three bikes (2 KTM's and the Monster) and have not taken one for an inspection as of yet. The KTM's would not pass because they are enduro bikes and I do not run a DOT tire on them. The Monster would probably be fine.

I have been pulled over by [leo] , ticketed, and had my bike impounded once. The question of inspection came up once and it was extremely funny. While riding with a friend who is on his 08 GXSR 600, we stopped on the side of the road for a little break before heading home. A passing [leo] stopped to question us because of a complaint phoned in about two bikers. Eventually two more [leo] show up to assist in questioning. While trying to figure out if they could charge the two of us one takes a look at both bikes and asks why is your bike not inspected? (while still looking at the bikes). My mouth drops and I begin to get an excuse ready. The office then turns to my friend and asks the question again.

Now I did say I don't have my bike inspected. In NJ there are three stickers that go on your bike, 1 registration on the plate, 1 inspection on the plate, and one inspection on the left fork. The two stickers on the plates are exactly the same and every year when I get a new sticker for my registration sticker I use it to cover whichever sticker is the oldest. My friend who's bike was just a few weeks old did not get a sticker to cover the inspection stickers place.

We did not get charged for anything but the [leo] around here do not seems to know what to look for when it comes to bikes... So there is not reason for it.


I think anything they check in inspection is something that you would be checking before you even throw a leg over the bike to begin with. When I check my bike its 10x more in depth than a state check.