need some info on old school bike MA inspections.

[boosten lebaron]

I just picked up my first vintage bike. Its an 81 yamaha that im going to chop. My questions are on the legality of certain mods. Im planning on having everything functional more or less but placements of lights and switches may be off. My main concerns are these:

1- Does the bike need to have an ignition key or can i use a toggle?
2- How much liberty can i take with the license plate and brake light mounts? Do they have to be up high and centered or can i put them down by the swingarm? Ill probably leave the turn signals in the stockish locations but ill shrink them abit.
3- Does the brake light have to be a certain size or shape? im planning on maybe an led strip under the seat if i can get away with it or itll go by the plate.
4- Do i need both mirrors in the oem location or can i just use one of them. Are pig spotters legal?
5- Do i need the factory gauge set? Im going to keep the speedo but probably drop the tach. What about indicator lights? I may make a small led panel to just have the basic warning lights but itll be small.
6- Can a bike be too low? Its not gonna be a ground scrapper but itll be about 3in off.
7- Can i cut or just remove the wheel fenders? Ill probably section the front a good amount and make the rear as small as possible.
8- Are led lights legal?

Ive always hated inspections on the gsxr's but im hoping the old bikes have more leeway like an old car. Itll be a safe bike but id like to just breeze through inspections as well.

[bryco13]

I know if you search on here, someone has put up the safety inspection guidelines for MA.
I'll answer with what i know as far as my projects have gone and passed inspection.
1. key vs switch isn't a safety issue
2. leave it stock, get it inspected, then swap it to the other mount.
3. yes, there is a certain size, not sure on measurement
4. at least one left size mirror, think it has to be 3" across, included bar end style
5. not a safety issue
6. no idea, my bike is low but not that low.
7. no idea
8. don't know if they are legal but as long as they are there, big enough in size, spaced correctly, and work, you should be fine.
-good luck

[boosten lebaron]

Thanks for the reply. I did find a few threads about but i know for a fact everytime i go for an inspection a harley is always pushed through with many, many illegal items on it and i wasnt sure if they were grandfathered in or something. Turns out they just get away with it. I was hoping any old schooler would be able too. Meanwhile ive was failed last year for having a brand new gsxr and it didnt have reflectors on the swingarm.

[Point37]

540 CMR 4.00...scroll down to 4.06...
http://www.mass.gov/rmv/inspect/540cmr400.pdf

http://www.mass.gov/rmv/inspect/540cmr4/index.htm

[StrayNut]

Got a license plate mount for the swingarm (I think? don't remember exactly where it went) if you want it.

[boosten lebaron]

awesome info. so to answer my own questions:

1- locked ignition is required. I can use a toggle for the run/stop if its in an Easily accessable" location. I had planned on it being by my knees.
2- brake light can to either be on the vertical center line or on either side of the bike if using 2. Plate must be horizontal and not obstructed. I plan on hanging it off the side above the exhaust area.
3- says nothing about brake light size or shape, just that it must be visable. leds under the seat for the win.
4- Only one mirror needed and it has to be over a certain size. Pig spotters are illegal because of there size, not location.
5- I see nothing about gauges or warning lights.
6- nothing about being to low.
7- nothing about leds only that the bulbs must be bright.

[aldend123]

Thanks for the reply. I did find a few threads about but i know for a fact everytime i go for an inspection a harley is always pushed through with many, many illegal items on it and i wasnt sure if they were grandfathered in or something. Turns out they just get away with it. I was hoping any old schooler would be able too. Meanwhile ive was failed last year for having a brand new gsxr and it didnt have reflectors on the swingarm.

Sounds like you went to a harley friendly and/or sport bike hating shop, maybe you didn't pay the extra fee, or maybe you were a douche :p

[Point37]

Thanks for the reply. I did find a few threads about but i know for a fact everytime i go for an inspection a harley is always pushed through with many, many illegal items on it and i wasnt sure if they were grandfathered in or something. Turns out they just get away with it. I was hoping any old schooler would be able too. Meanwhile ive was failed last year for having a brand new gsxr and it didnt have reflectors on the swingarm.

try going to a chopper place to get it inspected or some small bike shop that would be less likely to fail you just so you buy new parts from them

[boosten lebaron]

I had a good thing going with a local bike shop for years until the inspection changes then they became nazi's. I switched to an few others that i thought maybe good but no dice. Its always little things too but it still fails me. Id like this bike to be a smooth inspection after i modify it.

[Point37]

i hear ya...well there are plenty of ways to make a bike look good while keeping it legal...or you can just make everything easily removable so you can take it off right after the inspection...good luck man

[noxin]

awesome info. so to answer my own questions:

3- says nothing about brake light size or shape, just that it must be visable. leds under the seat for the win.
7- nothing about leds only that the bulbs must be bright.

keep in mind that, legally, all the lights are required to be DOT approved. If you look closely at the OEM lights, they all should have DOT approvals on them. Most aftermarket lights do not.

[slammp]

I go to a small chopper shop every year - no issues - they point things out but I always get passed and they have even unpressed head bearings for me free of charge.