If a motorcycle is built using a custom frame, or a home made frame, how is the motorcycle registered? Isn’t a frame number required? Or is the engine number used? What happens if the engine is changed?
Depends on the country. In the UK, there are special registration plates starting with the letter Q which are for use on kit cars (or bikes, presumably), or cars for which no age can be ascertained, e.g. imports and “radically rebuilt” vehicles.
This PDF document details the UK DVLA requirements. Essentially, if the vehicle doesn’t have a chassis number, it has to be inspected and have one assigned before it can be registered.
Some states are tougher than others. Last time I was involved with custom motorcycle registration (which admittedly was at least fifteen years ago), it was just about impossible to get a title for and register a motorcycle in my home state without a VIN from a major manufacturer. And the frame and engine numbers had to match.
I remember that some guys I knew found a company that would get around this for you. They were located in a southern state with pretty easy titling requirements. They would ostensibly buy the motorcyle from you for a nominal sum (without actually taking possession of it – it could stay in your garage), title it in that state, and then send you the title. Voila – you’ve got a good title and can now register the bike (assuming you could insure it, which might still be a problem).
I’ve wondered about places like American Chopper; they build tons of bikes with custom frames.
Multi years back, I moved from California to Oregon with an old VW Bus. I changed engines while in Oregon and when I moved back to California, I had a hell of a time getting that thing registered. This was in the early 1960s and people didn’t realize VW owners changed engines the way some people changed pants.
They are a motorcycle manufacturer, just like Harley Davidson, but on a much smaller scale. Occasionally you can see their USDOT licence on the wall of the office.
In my state, trailers can be difficult to register if they are not commercially built. So there is a market for old, broken down, crap trailers. People buy them just to get a plate for their home made trailer. If you do not know about this, it can be shocking to see a trailer being sold for more than its apparent value.
I’ve never noticed that; interesting and logical.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks to everyone who responded and keep those cards and letters coming.