New Bike & California Emmisions

 I currently live in San Diego and am looking at purchasing my first
motorcycle (Triumph America). The question I have is, what exactly is done
to a motorcycle to conform to California emmissions?

There is a Triumph dealership here in San Diego, but I'm wondering if it may
be worth a weekend trip to Tuscon, AZ where the next closest dealership is
in order to not have bike built for CA emmissions? My home state is Florida
and that is where I plan on having the bike registered.

Just a new biker looking to get all the bang for his buck on a new ride.

 cdupre wrote:

I don't know the specifics about the Triumph America but I can offer a
few general comments on California vs. "49-state" bikes from what I've
read in the bike press over the years.

The differences between California-spec and "49 state" bikes are usually
minor.  The California bikes typically use an evaporative emissions
charcoal canister to absorb gasoline vapors and some extra vacuum lines
to accomodate this.  Sometimes the fuel tank may be slightly smaller to
make room for the canister.  You can forget about registering a new
non-California bike in California unless it has over 7500 miles on the
odometer.

I wouldn't worry about the minor differences between CA/non-CA models,
assuming you can get the bike registered in a different state from the
one you are currently living in.  Be aware that the California DMV/CHP
will probably take a very dim view of your new bike having a Florida or
Arizona plate if you have a California driver's license.  Even worse if
they find out you've been living in CA longer than they'd like and you
*don't* have a CA driver's licence.

--
'01 SV650SK1  '99 EX250-F13  '98 ZG1000-A13
OMF #7

 Mark, thanks much appreciated. I'm active military and have a FL driver's
licence to go with where I plan on registering the bike. What I've heard
from some of my CA biker friends is that the CA emmision requirements does
rob the bike of horsepower; although it may be minor, HP is still HP and
every biker wants every single pony working at it's fullest potential.

 Hi,

well if you're active military you might want to look into the exemption
  (1 time I think) to import a non conforming vehicle. Lots of the US
grey market bikes come in either via canada or with gi's.


cdupre wrote:

         To live outside the law, you must be honest.
(Bob Dylan - Absolutely Sweet Marie - Blonde on Blonde - 1966)