There is a lot of debate over whether or not it is legal to make a dirt bike street legal. Many people believe that converting a dirt bike into a street bike is illegal, but this isn’t always the case. 

Yes, it’s legal to ride a YZ450F dirt bike on city streets without license plates or inspection certificates in some situations.

The harsh reality is that a motocross bike was never meant to be ridden on streets. Whether it’s legal or not, you’ll need major modifications before risking the life of your precious bike.

It entirely depends on the location where it is located and perhaps local municipal laws as well.

YZ450F isn’t legal in all 50 states. In some places, they can be licensed if certain requirements are met, such as headlights and taillights or turn signals.

To be legal in many states, you need to have hi/lo lights and brakes. Other necessary equipment includes one mirror and horns or speedometer for the vehicle itself, depending on what state it is being used within.

Many different types of bikes require varying amounts, so check with your local authorities before purchasing anything.

The best way to convert your bike is with a harness and everything you need to convert from Tusk Racing. It’s easy, affordable (unlike other methods), doesn’t require any wiring or custom installation.

All you have to do for the inspection form is get a copy from your dealer and check it over. They will then submit them to DMV, which approves or rejects them within 10 days (sometimes less). Once approved, they send out plates.

Universal parts to help you get street legal anywhere

A Headlight

You should install a DOT-compliant headlight whether or not your zip code requires it because riding on the road at night without one is crazy.

The DOT requires that you have a switchable high and low beam and an indicator light to let others know which setting is currently engaged. 

However, this isn’t so difficult once it’s broken down into simpler terms! Street legal dirt bike conversions often rely heavily on power-efficient LED units for their operation because these types of lights decrease consumption by up to 50%.

The headlight on your motorcycle should be DOT compliant. This means it has to switch between high and low beams, lit day or night-time driving conditions with visibility that is not Blinding but still makes other drivers aware of what you’re trying to show them through its lighted design.

A Functional Tail Light

With a working tail lights function, the brake light enables drivers behind you to see that slowing down. It also attracts attention which is just as important for safety in daylight as it would have been at night had there not been any lights on your vehicle’s back end.

Proper taillight DOT requirements at once.

1. Taillight
2. Brake light
3. Turn signals
4. License plate light.

In some states, it’s a must that the light is connected to the battery and can remain lit for 20 minutes. It also needs to be on at all times.

When installing a tail light, make sure it lights up both the rear brake pedal and front lever when engaged. One common solution is with banjo-bolt switches, which use extra pressure in your line to trigger its function.

Mirrors

Some states require that a motorcycle have two mirrors, but most just require at least one working mirror.

If you want to keep your machine looking sleek and stylish but also make sure that safety is not compromised by a lack of visibility – get yourself some mirrors.

There are many different styles for every budget. For example, brushed stainless steel or black? Round profile (versus Pershing)? Wider angle than stock?) The choice can be overwhelming when all there was before were wide-angle peepers on one side only.

Turn Signals

If you’re not in a state where turn signals are required, then it’s smart to install them. The flashing yellow lights get drivers’ attention better than hands can and allow riders to stay on their handlebars when making turns – which is especially important for any cyclists out there.

With the recent advances in LED technology, it is now possible to produce a signal light that uses far less energy than its predecessor. This means you’ll have more power available for other critical items such as brakes and transmission.

Tires

Your tires are important. They have to be DOT Certified so that you can ride on any street safely and legally, but even more importantly for many people’s safety when riding off-road or at higher speeds than those speed limits permit.

You may get away with skirting this law, but off-road only tires are ill-suited for the rigors of highway speeds and could come apart at your seams.

The idea of converting your dirt bike into a supermoto is not new, but now there are more options for customization. You can choose from 17-inch rims and mount street tires on most sportbikes to make sure that you get all the stability needed while still having some fun with off-road riding.

Horn

The legal status of motorcycle horns is a bit unclear. All states require that all motorcycles have working horns, but some allow non-electric types to be passed if an inspection isn’t necessary.

To make your bike noise legal in some states, you need an electric horn. The simplest way through this part of the maze is to install one and be sure it doesn’t draw more than 10 amps from anything else on board with it (which will include most chargers). They are also very cheap at around $8.

License Plate Bracket

This rule is the same everywhere, though some states are more particular about how you display your motorcycle’s license plate. It would be best to check with the local DMV before taking off on an adventure-filled journey.

You can get aftermarket license plate brackets that will display your current tags appropriately for most states. You might also consider alternative means of securing it, such as zip ties or mounting under the fender to make things look cleaner- just be careful not to lose them.

Upgrading the Charging System

Street-legal dirt bike conversions can be a risky business. You might think that since an engine doesn’t power your conversion, there’s no need for batteries or lights, but these are often overlooked aspects of the process which leave you parked on side streets with nothing more than red LED badges attached to prove what went wrong if something goes amiss in traffic.

With the recent advances in technology, it’s not surprising that some bikes are now equipped with AC power outlets. These types of lights have a much shorter lifespan than their DC counterparts and should be avoided if possible because they can fry your equipment fairly quickly.

Stator

The stator, or sometimes alternator in a motorcycle, generates electricity, but they do not produce the same amount. A dirt bike without lights and/or a starter typically has minimal electrical requirements for its engine, which means that this part likely produces even less wattage than what is needed by those devices.

The extra electrical components added to the street-legal build should leave enough power in your battery for it — 13 or 15 volts. Most kickstart-only dirt bikes will require an upgraded stator, but some people just make their own.

Regulator/Rectifier

The regulator/rectifier converts the alternating current coming from a generator to a direct current used by various electrical components. It also takes high voltage generated in this manner and regulates it down 13-15 volts so that your battery will charge more quickly.

Some aftermarket companies sell kits with upgraded stators and regulator rectifiers that are meant to work together. If you operate lights directly off of alternating current, make sure they can handle it before doing so.

Battery

You can get a small battery that will power your lights when the bike is not running, but if you want to use them while sitting still or idling, then this may dimming occur.

Some work as a single power source for bike lights, and some come with a charging system. These two styles are discreet but provide all of the DC currents these motorcycles need to run smoothly.

You can’t expect a battery to last forever. But, as long you have enough charged ones handy and are willing to put in the time necessary for their maintenance, they will do what needs doing until converted properly.