It’s fun to ride dirt bikes on the trails and tracks because it’s very thrilling. However, if you have “adventure” in your veins, you may sometimes wonder if can you ride a dirt bike on the street and how it feels.
For residents of Lone Star State, there are Texas dirt bike laws that you have to follow to do that. You need to do certain modifications to your dirt bike and register it first.
So if you want to know how to make a dirt bike street legal in Texas, continue reading. We’ll discuss the detailed steps and the application process!
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Ways to Make a Dirt Bike Street Legal Texas
The minimum cc that you can legally ride in the stress of Texas is 50cc. However, unlike riding off-road, there are different rules that you need to follow:
- You must be at least 15 years old to legally ride a dirtbike in your neighborhood and streets.
- It’s a must to wear a helmet if you’re under 21, but you can avoid the helmet if you’ve completed the motorcycle operator training course.
That aside, you need to make the necessary modifications to your dirt bike and obtain certain certifications.
Steps to Make a Dirt Bike Street Legal
1. Comply with the mechanical requirements
The first thing to do is modify your dirt bike to meet street legal requirements.
Headlight
Aside from contributing to your safety, a headlight that’s DOT-approved is one of the main requirements to make a dirt bike legal on the streets of Texas.
It should be at least 150 candlepower and have the ability to switch from high to low beams and vice versa. In addition, the headlight must be added to your dirt bike permanently, and the rider should have no problem accessing the switch.
Horn
Your dirt bike must have a functional electrical horn for street legality and safety. It’s not expensive and only draws less than 10 amplifiers in energy.
Tail light and brake light
To make your dirt bike street-legal in Texas, you should ensure your tail light and brake light are DOT-approved.
- The tail light should be incandescent and must be visible from the back.
- The brake light is required to be LED. In addition, its battery must be able to sustain the light for at least 20 minutes. The brakes should also be put on both the handlebars of your dirt bike.
Mirrors
Your dirt bike must have one or two rearview mirrors, which can be of any design you want. It can be a long-stem, classic, or threaded mirror.
The most important thing to consider is the proper placement of your mirror(s). It should also have tinted glass to help the rider view its surroundings better, especially at night.
Tires
Regardless of your tire preference, as long as it complies with DOT standards, it is considered street-legal in Texas. However, if you want tires that’ll last, choose a pair that’s appropriate for road conditions as well.
Apart from the strict mechanical requirements above, having these additional features will make your dirt bike adventure on the streets safer.
Turn signals
Although not mandatory in Texas, your turn signals will allow you to drive much safer compared to just using hand signals. Having them also allows other riders more visibility during the night.
Aside from being affordable, you can easily install the turn signals on your dirt bike’s front and rear. The switch should be on your left-hand side grip.
Speedometer
Another essential feature to add to your dirt bike is the speedometer. Even though it’s not a legal requirement, it’ll help you stay within the speed limit.
It also shows the performance of your dirt bike, as the speedometer displays your RPM, speed, mileage, and engine temperature.
License plate bracket
Having a license plate bracket is also important so the bike can hold the plate you’re provided with after having successfully registered your vehicle.
In Texas, the plate should be made of aluminum and powder coated. It should also be mounted to an axle with a 25mm size and must be displayed on the rear of your dirt bike.
2. Comply with the non-mechanical requirements
Now that your dirt bike is well modified to make it street legal, you now have to work on the final steps to finally obtain your certificate and plate.
Obtain an OHV decal
To be able to legally ride on the roads of Texas or in places bought with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department OHV Grants, it’s required that you get an OHV decal.
You can obtain it from Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s Customer Service Center for $16. It’s also available in OHV dealerships and select OHV venues that require riders to have this decal.
Allow your dirt bike to be inspected
To ensure your dirt bike has met all the needed modifications to make it street-legal, have it inspected by a licensed motorcycle shop or TXDMV office.
If it passes the inspection, you’ll be given a certificate as proof. Then, you can proceed to the registration as your last step.
Register your dirt bike
After all your efforts and money spent on your modifications, you should never forget this step to officially make your dirt bike street-legal.
To register a dirt bike in Texas, fill out the Application for Texas Certificate of Title (Form 130-U). Bring with you the certificate of inspection, your dirt bike’s title, your license, and proof of insurance. The fee for registration is around $200 to $300.
Once you have everything ready, just head to your local DMV office. You can then receive your most-awaited plate after successfully registering your dirt bike.
Please note that the cost of making your dirt bike legal for the streets depends on the equipment you’ll purchase and the fees for the services you’ll avail.
For more information on how to make your dirt bike street-legal in Texas, you may watch this tutorial video!
Conclusion
The dirt bikes on the road in Texas have met DMV requirements. For instance, you must make certain modifications to your motorcycle to legally ride it on Texas streets and highways.
To be specific, you need to have a DOT-approved headlight and tires, as well as a horn, tail light and brake lights, and rearview mirror or mirrors. Then, obtain an OHV decal and pass the inspection.
Although learning how to make a dirt bike street legal in Texas may be overwhelming and expensive, I’m sure it’s worth all your efforts in the end.
