What Are Street Legal Kits
Essentially a collection of electronic components, street legal kits hook into your dirt bike and its electrical wiring and trigger various lighting, sound and electronic functions. For example, a rear tail light with integrated turn signals provides wider visibility to motorists behind your vehicle. A horn or signal switch alerts other dirt bikers and drivers of your presence on the road or trail.
Street legal kits also help the rider comply with legal requirements, such as requirements for the components you must have to drive legally on a public road. Most of these requirements are state specific , so check local laws in your area.
Like all aftermarket motorcycle accessories, there are numerous varieties of street legal kits, so take your time when looking for the right one for your dirt bike. First, make sure the kit is approved for the make and model of dirt bike you own, and that you purchase the necessary wiring harness to hook the kit into your dirt bike. Next, look for a kit that is compatible with the type of ignition system you have (stock or modified) and that it will fit into any computer-based system you may have.
What Do Street Legal Kits Comprise
To convert a dirt bike into a street-legal motorcycle, several components are typically needed. Most religiously adhere to the following
Headlight: Lights are essential and almost universally required for street-legal motorbikes. Some of the more off-road models either are not equipped with lights or have only a headlight. All dual-sport and touring bikes come with lights.
Taillight: Many motorcycles come with a taillight; those that do not will need one for street legal conversion.
Brake lights: All dirt bikes come with an integrated tail-light that also serves as a brake light. Again, those motorcycles that do not have the lights will need them for street legal conversion.
Mirrors: Nearly all motorcycles have rearview mirrors, but those that don’t will certainly need them for street legal conversion.
Horn: Most motorcycles come with a horn, but those that don’t will need one to be street-legal.
Instrument Panel: In addition to speedometer and odometer readings, motorcycles in some states need fuel gauge displays.
Requirements to Make a Dirt Bike Street Legal by State
When it comes to making your dirt bike street legal, each state has different requirements. When you purchase a dirt bike, you need to consider which state you live in and the process it takes to become street legal before making your decision. Some states, like California, are extremely strict about safety requirements, often making it difficult to become street legal. Other states are much more lenient and a simple kit will suffice to meet the necessary criteria. Some states, like Florida, for example, have no requirements for safety equipment on motorcycles at all, making it unnecessary to be concerned with the legal requirements when choosing to purchase a dirt bike. In states like this, it is not necessary to install a street legal kit on your bike for you to be able to use it on the road.
Thanks to the ability to research your state’s regulations online, learning what legal requirements there are for making your dirt bike street legal and whether you even need to make it street legal to use it on the road is as simple as typing in a search engine online. On the other hand, if you find that it is too much of a hassle to go through the process of outfitting your bike with a street legal kit, or you find that your state does not require bikes to have safety equipment, you can always leave your dirt bike unconverted and only use it legally on off-road terrain. Many dirt bike enthusiasts are more than capable of outfitting their bikes with the proper materials, but if you are one of those who simply lacks the time, experience, or would rather not bother with doing it yourself, you can always have a professional shop do the conversion. Simply locate a shop in your area that specializes in outfitting bikes for the road and have them do it for you.
Failing to follow your state’s requirements for outfitting your bike can result in penalties such as a fine or inability to use your bike on public roads. It is best to learn about your states legal requirements, understand them and make sure that your bike has all of the necessary equipment it needs to be street legal. If you were to get into an accident on the road and you were not outfitted properly, it could also result in issues with your insurance company if you were at fault. Understand the consequences and follow your state’s requirements so that you can enjoy riding your dirt bike legally, regardless of which type of riding you choose to do.
How To Install a Street Legal Dirt Bike Kit
Installing a street legal kit varies from bike to bike, so we always recommend having a good understanding of the process even before you get a kit. Not every kit is the most well designed, but if you’ve spent even a little bit of time looking at them, you quickly learn that they’re not rocket science. That said, in some cases, eliminating the road blocks to installation is the first step to knowing what’s involved in one of these kits.
The two most common kits are turn signal/taillight combos, and turn signals, taillights and a horn. Less common are the push-button kits, which, more or less, use a handful of switches and a relay to create a custom circuit. Even less common are the complete package: turn signals, tail light/running lights, horn, and a rearview mirror. This is more to be equipped with the street legal requirements than to be able to tell the cops you’re road legal.
Some of the basic tools you’ll need:
An adjustable crescent wrench
Phillips or flat-head screwdriver, depending on your hardware
A wire stripper/cutter, or a set of wire cutters if you’d rather bypass this
A phillips and flathead screwdrivers
Paint marker for marking your wires
An electrical tester
A ratchet and socket set
Pliers.
One of the most important things to remember here is that garage time is dirt bike time. It’s better to do some research and not have everything on hand that you need than it is to try to wing (and possibly ruin) things as you go. In most cases, there’s a lot of work that will go in at the point you’re going to be confused, and it’s usually wiring. Give yourself some time and a proper workshop, and you should be fine. Most kits come with instructions, but if you’re really unsure, there are how-to videos out there, like this page/tutorial by GeoTech.
Determining the Right Street Legal Kit for Your Bike
Selecting the appropriate street legal kit for your dirt bike is crucial for ensuring that it not only satisfies legal obligations but also complements your lifestyle and riding style. The first step in the process involves checking compatibility with your specific model of dirt bike. Some kits are more versatile than others, meaning they can be used with more than one model. However, as you research options, pay close attention to the manufacturer’s description to make sure that all of the components will fit your model of dirt bike.
The primary components of a street legal kit include mirrors, turn signals, a horn , a high-output headlight, and a license plate bracket. These components can sometimes be installed yourself, if you have experience working with motorcycles and know exactly the parts that you need for your particular model. However, if you are not so experienced, hiring a professional bicycle mechanic to install your street legal kit is a better option. Be careful about trying to piece together your own kit, as you may not include every necessary component. On a related note, motorcycle manufacturers sell street legal kits with the illegal or undesirable components removed, so make sure that you are buying the complete package.
Top Street Legal Kits for Dirt Bikes
One of the most popular options for making any dirt bike into a street legal vehicle is the Baja Designs Dualsport Kit. It offers a full range of equipment and has a solid reputation for quality. Pricing generally ranges between $400 to $600 depending on the make and model of the dirt bike. Some users indicate that they have been able to aquire them for as little as $200.
Another renowned street legal kit is the XRs Only Dualsport Kit. XRs has been producing these kits for over 20 years and reviews claim they have fitment for just about every dirt bike make and model. Pricing typically ranges from $400-$500. Some users indicate they have been able to aquire them for as little as $200.
The DRC Edge II Street Conversion Kit also gets positive reviews. It is also known for its durability although generally is more suited to road riding rather than hard off road use. Pricing typically ranges from $400-$500.
The Enduro Planet Wiring Kit also has a fairly strong following. It is known as a good value with prices typically under $200. While it does not come with all the features of other kits it will get the job done.
Nature of Off-Roading
Off-Roading can be Brutal on a Motorcycle
Of course this may not always be the case. If people are watching and the Pace is smooth you may be able to use street tires. It all comes down to rider skill and the terrain. To be clear you can ride any type of Motorcycle off-road. The design of a motorcycle has much to do with how well or poorly it will perform in off-road situations. Think of DB racers they use fairly expensive race tires and they don’t exactly have the highest speed when racing.
KLX250 and XRL 2009-2012
We can fit KLX250’s and XRL’s with a universal rear tail kit made by DS kit that is Tubular to keep things light and compact. Customers looking for less bulk and way less weight often buy the parts separately if they already have LEDs to work with. Others save about $100.00 buying the rear and the front lighting elements separately.
XRL 2000 model
XRL 2000 bikes use the same LEDs for rear tail and light. The mounting holes on the 2000 bikes are farther apart and do not match anything available. The 2000 uses the XR650l Taillight Assemblies. To convert the rear to a universal LED or incandescent/XR650l unit the fender struts need to be cut off. Then it can be replaced with either type. This process is included on our website on a PDF file with images of the process. We supply a template as well outlining the process.
XR650L Owner’s manual with electrical diagrams and BRP charging system
If you own an XR650L an owner’s manual is a must. One can find these on eBay. It is useful if you are building the bike from a basket case. The wiring diagrams will save a lot of time looking up various components. The break down of the fuse box pinouts is a great time saver when adding additional circuits. As well there is no reason to hack the wiring harness when pigtails and connectors are available.
Where to Find Street Legal Kits for Sale
There are many online retailers that sell street legal kits for dirt bikes and ATVs. Popular sites include eBay, Amazon, and specialty dirt bike or ATV retailers. In addition, many local motorcycle shops can order kits for you or provide you with guidance on which ones to buy.
Obtain Expert Installation
Most street legal kits will require some technical installation and, as such, you may want to consider hiring a professional to install your kit. Getting the right permits and licenses to operate your converted dirt bike as a road-legal vehicle may also require some professional services.
Advantages of Making Your Dirt Bike Street Legal
The convenience factor is one of the primary benefits of converting a dirt bike to street legal. Just being able to take your ride after work or on the weekends for quick jaunts into town for anything from pizza to a pint of beer eliminates a lot of the hassles associated with owning a trail-only bike. Another very important aspect of or advantage to having a street-legal dirt bike is it gives you the option of taking care of errands much more efficiently, and with greater ease, than taking your car. You can zip to the bank, the office, or the bar without looking for parking. You become much more mobile. Another reason some want to keep a bike legal for street riding is potential resale value. If you ever decide to sell your dirt bike, you may actually command a much higher price for it if it is also street legal. As a matter of pure pragmatism, you will find that more people are in the market for street-legal bikes than trail only units. So when you take your street legal dirt bike up for sale, you will effectively reach a market of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands more buyers. Many elected and appointed political leaders, like it or not, hate dirt bikes. The old adage that they only make a lot of noise and kick up a lot of dust has resurfaced in some segments of society. Some political leaders like to blame the recreational use of dirt bikes for air pollution. Others try to shift the entire dusting problem to motorcycles. The truth is that the vast majority of dirt bikes operate under a strict code of sound and exhaust emissions standards. Dirt bikes can, in certain circumstances, beat motorcycles for low levels of air pollution. Because of that, and for other reasons, dirt bikes have been given legal access to certain lands and highways. Remember, dirt bikes have a much lower level of environmental impact than most four-wheel commercials vehicles on the road today.
Obstacles You May Encounter
One of the most common challenges that riders face is wiring harness compatibility. Not all wallets are created equal, and neither are dirt bikes. Some manufacturers use different wiring harnesses for different model years. This requires some research to determine which loom will work with which model. Often the kits will have a custom solution for a specific bike make and model, but riders may have to do some searching to find them.
Once you install the kit , you may realize that you need some additional components for the setup to function properly. Often this can be solved with a simple trip to your local hardware store or by ordering an additional battery eliminator harness to help you achieve street legality.
Some bikers experience functional issues, where lights flicker and even fail. Many of these issues spring from inadequate grounding. Electric must flow in a complete circuit of positive and negative. Power rests in the positive, while the removal of power lies in the negative. If there is no return path, excess salt dendrites may build up, causing premature failure of components. If your lights and indicators are flickering, it could be a grounding issue.