Richard's 1978 z50
- Thread starter bigredx7
- Start date
kirrbby
Well-Known Member
You can't go wrong by getting it titled, absolutely nothing to loose and everything to gain there. But titling and registering are 2 different things. Adding signals will be a PITA, but can definitely be done. I think you can easily mount the signals with clamp/bolt on stuff that could be removed again to go back to stock. You would probably just run a new wire harness thru it, and add a battery. You would be legal for the street but your lighting may be kinda dim at lower rpm. You would need to add the controls too. You can do it if you're committed. But there is no "kit" that I know of. You would have to make it happen.
>>> Oh ya, horn and a mirror or 2 also.
Any way you shake it, a street legal Z50, is a modified Z50. Once you have it ready for the road, it will be a different kind of awesome bike. Awesome original, or awesome little street bike. You don't really need to start with such a nice bike to get to the awesome little street bike version. Maybe even easier to start with a incomplete or uglier machine. Then just have at it.
>>> Oh ya, horn and a mirror or 2 also.
Any way you shake it, a street legal Z50, is a modified Z50. Once you have it ready for the road, it will be a different kind of awesome bike. Awesome original, or awesome little street bike. You don't really need to start with such a nice bike to get to the awesome little street bike version. Maybe even easier to start with a incomplete or uglier machine. Then just have at it.
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mikesminitrail
New Member
The hardtails don't meet anything but what they came
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mikesminitrail
New Member
With and I think that is the same for up to 1972 I had several that were titled and registered for the street in California
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bigredx7
Member
Thanks for the responses. I know it can be done.
+1 for being extra nice at the inspection, and if he asks I will let him know what I plan on doing with it, he sounded nice over the phone. If he says no way, then I will just ask how I "can" do it. Or what has to be done to the bike for him to sign off on it. Getting my title is first on the list.
Yea Kirby. That is the idea I had. Build something up from nothing. Or a rough bike that needs new parts anyway. Not to mess with this one. It has survived this long without getting trashed. I might work on the ct70. It already has it's tag and I ride it out on the street.
Strange how you can get possessed or obsessed and sucked in to irrational decision making.
+1 for being extra nice at the inspection, and if he asks I will let him know what I plan on doing with it, he sounded nice over the phone. If he says no way, then I will just ask how I "can" do it. Or what has to be done to the bike for him to sign off on it. Getting my title is first on the list.
Yea Kirby. That is the idea I had. Build something up from nothing. Or a rough bike that needs new parts anyway. Not to mess with this one. It has survived this long without getting trashed. I might work on the ct70. It already has it's tag and I ride it out on the street.
Strange how you can get possessed or obsessed and sucked in to irrational decision making.
bigredx7
Member
Another *WIN* for the mini-bikers of the United States of America!
1st. In January I took the Bill of Sale for my '78 Z50 and an application for title to California DMV. They filled out a couple forms and told me to make an appointment with the CA Highway Patrol for a Vin# Verification.
2nd. I called and made an appointment. The first available was a month away. So I wait. Finally on Friday, Feb 19, I took the bike to the CHP office, with the paper work. An officer came out to the parking lot, looked at the bike, and took pictures of the Vin# and Engine#. He went back inside to run the numbers through the computer database system. He came back out with the paper filled out and said everything cleared, have a nice day.
3rd. Today, I went to the DMV with my paper work. The gentleman filled out a couple more forms and said "the title will be on its way soon."
**** Then**** he graciously offered to register the bike and give me the Stickers and Plate right then and there.
I calmly said, "Of course, that's great." Meanwhile holding in the excitement and joy that I had inside of me. Also praying to not hear the words, "bring the bike around the side so we can check it out."
I paid the nice man, he went to the back and when he returned I left with a Registration and Plate, and Title coming.
Life is good.
1st. In January I took the Bill of Sale for my '78 Z50 and an application for title to California DMV. They filled out a couple forms and told me to make an appointment with the CA Highway Patrol for a Vin# Verification.
2nd. I called and made an appointment. The first available was a month away. So I wait. Finally on Friday, Feb 19, I took the bike to the CHP office, with the paper work. An officer came out to the parking lot, looked at the bike, and took pictures of the Vin# and Engine#. He went back inside to run the numbers through the computer database system. He came back out with the paper filled out and said everything cleared, have a nice day.
3rd. Today, I went to the DMV with my paper work. The gentleman filled out a couple more forms and said "the title will be on its way soon."
**** Then**** he graciously offered to register the bike and give me the Stickers and Plate right then and there.
I calmly said, "Of course, that's great." Meanwhile holding in the excitement and joy that I had inside of me. Also praying to not hear the words, "bring the bike around the side so we can check it out."
I paid the nice man, he went to the back and when he returned I left with a Registration and Plate, and Title coming.
Life is good.
Coastal Redneck
120cc
Weird how I never had to do any of that when I went to bag my green OHV sticker, nobody ever looked at my bike at all, and the title unexpectedly appeared in the mail two weeks later. I should probably be thankful, because the title may come in handy if I take the next step and convert the bike to street use, or dual sport use, over in Missouri. I hear all of these horror stories about trying to get a bike plated for road use, maybe I somehow dodged a bullet taking the unusual route I did, just to get a green OHV sticker. Anyway, I'm glad I have the title in hand, whether I convert the bike or not, I may just keep it for offroad use, especially if making it street legal becomes problematic. Might just buy another bike for the road, maybe a rice rocket like I used to have... there are some really nice country roads for riding in the Ozarks, winding two-lane blacktop highways with mighty pretty scenery. 
JustEnough
New Member
$226 seems like a lot for the registration. Was that tax on the purchase amount or fees for the CHP inspection or first time registration fees?
samstheman
Active Member
Nice 50 you have there I like all the pics of whole family sitting on it.