If you are a Resident of the State of California, it does not matter where you register the motorcycle. If you register it in another state and try to bring it into California with an Out of State address, without proof you were living there there and not in California at the time of Purchase (ie.. employment records, Driver's Licence) you will not be able to register it in California, Ever. And if you do, you must have owned it, and been living there for at least one year before you come to California. The DMV is very Dicky about checking those things.

Easier to find a used one that has 7500 miles or more to purchase. If it is a 2010 model, they will also check to see if it has the Catalytic Converter place. Other years didn't have them outside California before 2010 Model years. In the 2010 Model year all 50 State Models have it.

 

There is an exception in the fine print of the California law. If you are a CA resident and riding your vehicle out-of-state and you wreck it, or its stolen, or it has a major mechanical failure, you can buy a new vehicle and the 7500 mile rule will not apply. You will need documentation, i.e. police report, accident report, mechanics report. So buy a junker bike, ride it off a cliff in Utah or park it in downtown Detroit and you are on your way.

 

New exception to CA law. "We will soon be bankrupt so it won't matter."

 

Interesting thread...so I currently live in New Hampshire and I'm "co locating" to California. I'm considering taking the bike so am assuming I can register it no problem since it has over 10k miles. However, since I'll continue to be a legal NH resident (since I will still have a legal residence) it seems I could legally register in NH and ride in California forever except that I would have to get a NH inspection sticker...hmmmm... same thing for a car. Is there anyway I could buy a car in California, register in NH, and NOT get a California driver license.......and avoid state taxes if I buy a new car!!! (NH has no state tax for cars)!!!!!

 

what's cute is your sense of humor.

 

I have a old 1966 harley and i am wanting to bring it into ca, Its and old kicker only no batt just a generator and a kill switch, no turn sig 1966 had no sig , Was wondering if i will have a hard time getting a registration for it the out of state title is clear, And its got more miles than a bike should have so the miles thing shouldn't be a problem, Just don't know about older bikes in cal

 

Pheewww, that seems to just suck,

 

Or lack of......

 

I just sprayed my screen with water when I read the last sentence.

 

Not a problem.