Custom choppers are they street legal?

Frank Zappa · 22nd January 2011, 18:54

Hi Guys,
Just booked a RE 500..expected wait time 4-5 months!!...and I am planning to get it custom built to a cusp of a chopper and a street racer. I would like some advise... if these are street legal. Will an altered chassis to accommodate a belt drive and rake variation make the bike illegal?
Don't want to spend a lot of money and then have the bike impounded.

safe rides,
FZ

Alter_Ego · 22nd January 2011, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Zappa

Hi Guys,
Just booked a RE 500..expected wait time 4-5 months!!...and I am planning to get it custom built to a cusp of a chopper and a street racer. I would like some advise... if these are street legal. Will an altered chassis to accommodate a belt drive and rake variation make the bike illegal?
Don't want to spend a lot of money and then have the bike impounded.

safe rides,
FZ

You just need to get the RTO in loop.Thats all.
And consider Vardenchi for your chopper requirements.
::: vardenchi :::
They have a amazing line up of enfield modified chopper designs.

akshaymahajan · 22nd January 2011, 20:24

Totally illegal. Mostly anything you do to a stock car/bike needs to be approved by the RTO otherwise its illegal. Nobody really cares is another matter.
Changing the chassis structure, engine swap even a FFE and removing the Cat Con is illegal. The RTO gives its approval to a car after a series of checkpoints and tests and as soon as the stock vehicle is modified, the list goes out for a toss.

Sinner666 · 22nd January 2011, 20:55

Illegal is what I believe it is. What you can try to do is to try and minimize the number of infractions. Get a copy of the MVA where the list of offences are mentioned and try to stick to as many as you practically can. e.g. Number Plate sizes & location, Noise levels etc.
Just my two cents.

thedreamcatcher · 22nd January 2011, 20:56

Well yes, anything done to the car, has to be endorsed in the RC of the car. But, if your mods are simple, not any major mods, as i mentioned earlier, you bike is not at risk of being seized

Just dont go overboard with the rake or reach adjustment if any

Tejas Ingle · 23rd January 2011, 14:09

It is illegal if there is modification in the chassis. Minor modifications in the body panels is not an issue. Change in the paint has to be notified to the RTO. Engine can be swaped, but only if the RTO approves.
Anyways, no one cares about this. So many vehicles have been moded and are completely illegal. But I have never heard of such vehicles being impounded unless they are involved in serious accidents.
Keep in mind that the warranty of your brand new bike would be void if you modify it.

iron · 23rd January 2011, 14:35

It is indeed illegal. Considering the lax legal system no RTO official will bother. It will only be a problem if you get into trouble examples like involved in an accident, running a red light etc. RTO official might have a look at your RC and ask questions about the mods carried out if you have not registered them.

Live To Jive · 23rd January 2011, 15:50

Any modification is illegal. However RTO only enforces the items that are mentioned in the RC. Make sure you don't change any of those.

Mpower · 23rd January 2011, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alter_Ego

You just need to get the RTO in loop.Thats all.
And consider Vardenchi for your chopper requirements.
::: vardenchi :::
They have a amazing line up of enfield modified chopper designs.

How does he manage the RTO issue?

dustom_99 · 23rd January 2011, 20:00

Apart from things mentioned in Rc, change to following makes vehicle not roadworthy in india.
Rake angle,
Total length,
Wheel base,
weight of vehicle(10% permitted).

Cmvr says no mods are allowed apart from centre,state and rto approved kits (such as lpg conversion kits etc)
Rto has full authority to seize the vehicle if any structural mods are found on vehicle.
Verdenchy or any one else,none of the choppers which exceed original vehicle length,or extended rake,
Or has custom frame are street legal unless the are sent for homologation to govt authorised agency such as ARAI,VRDE.
Homologation takes about 3-5 months and bag ful of cash.
Presently there is no easy way to legalise choppers in india.

thedreamcatcher · 23rd January 2011, 23:17

Simple thing would be to not go and do any significant material change. Bikes get caught more often, atleast as far as i have seen. So try to avoid major change.

Keep it simple and neat. Dont alter the frame at all. You never know when the traffic authority would see all these modded rides as an opportunity to earn big bucks and start a major nation wide crackdown.

GTO · 24th January 2011, 15:26

Couple more considerations that may tilt the decision (either way):

- Your safety! How will frame modifications and other major customisations affect the on-road behaviour of your bike?

- The cops aren't as strict today. However, they were lax even on custom duty payments, and everyone / their dogs found unique ways to import superbikes & save $$$. We all know how that ended up.

- If you get into an accident, be sure that the insurance company will wash its hands off your bike.

Frank Zappa · 24th January 2011, 21:18

Thanks for your advice guys and as pointed out by GTO ,insurance was another matter on my mind...apart from the fact that my warranty is void as soon as I do any mods the insurance will also be an issue.

Had been to Verdenchi for the mods inquiry and I was told that the RTO is not an issue??? Will have to look into this further and find a way out?? ..don't know how..but am really inclined to have a 200 rear tyre on the 500 classic which basically requires chassis and drive chain to belt drive conversion.

thedreamcatcher · 25th January 2011, 00:01

With respect to insurance, please note that they will pounce on you the second they know you have a mod.

Go in for these kind of mods unless you are not bother about a void warranty, insurance and the risk of a possible seizaure some day

Even if you get inot an accident, owing to someone elses fault, the insurance company, looking at the vehicle will try to say you were racing. It has happended several times and we have seen several posts on this forum also where members have put these issues down

Frank Zappa · 25th January 2011, 17:16

Yes I agree with you completely as regards insurance and today spoke to Akshay/ Adil at Verdenchi and was told that if one gets caught we need to 'manage' the RTO. They told me that the insurance will be void as soon as I get any mods done on the bike and best way would be to get a third party insurance on the bike after the mods. Big question remains what if the bike gets impounded..in today's time with the frequent checks we have cops stopping bikes all the time...may be I should stick to just few mods, not change anything drastically....but if you look at the custom bikes ..it is very inviting

22nd January 2011, 18:54	#1
Frank Zappa BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 51 Thanked: 12 Times View My Garage	Custom choppers are they street legal? Hi Guys, Just booked a RE 500..expected wait time 4-5 months!!...and I am planning to get it custom built to a cusp of a chopper and a street racer. I would like some advise... if these are street legal. Will an altered chassis to accommodate a belt drive and rake variation make the bike illegal? Don't want to spend a lot of money and then have the bike impounded. safe rides, FZ
	() Thanks

22nd January 2011, 20:24	#3
akshaymahajan BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Delhi Posts: 597 Thanked: 449 Times	Re: Custom choppers are they street legal? Totally illegal. Mostly anything you do to a stock car/bike needs to be approved by the RTO otherwise its illegal. Nobody really cares is another matter. Changing the chassis structure, engine swap even a FFE and removing the Cat Con is illegal. The RTO gives its approval to a car after a series of checkpoints and tests and as soon as the stock vehicle is modified, the list goes out for a toss.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2011, 20:55	#4
Sinner666 BHPian Join Date: May 2010 Location: HR 26/ BKK Posts: 214 Thanked: 108 Times	Re: Custom choppers are they street legal? Illegal is what I believe it is. What you can try to do is to try and minimize the number of infractions. Get a copy of the MVA where the list of offences are mentioned and try to stick to as many as you practically can. e.g. Number Plate sizes & location, Noise levels etc. Just my two cents.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2011, 20:56	#5
thedreamcatcher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,204 Thanked: 66 Times View My Garage	Re: Custom choppers are they street legal? Well yes, anything done to the car, has to be endorsed in the RC of the car. But, if your mods are simple, not any major mods, as i mentioned earlier, you bike is not at risk of being seized Just dont go overboard with the rake or reach adjustment if any
	() Thanks

23rd January 2011, 14:09	#6
Tejas Ingle BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pune Posts: 275 Thanked: 380 Times View My Garage	Re: Custom choppers are they street legal? It is illegal if there is modification in the chassis. Minor modifications in the body panels is not an issue. Change in the paint has to be notified to the RTO. Engine can be swaped, but only if the RTO approves. Anyways, no one cares about this. So many vehicles have been moded and are completely illegal. But I have never heard of such vehicles being impounded unless they are involved in serious accidents. Keep in mind that the warranty of your brand new bike would be void if you modify it.
	() Thanks

23rd January 2011, 14:35	#7
iron BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bombay Posts: 260 Thanked: 55 Times View My Garage	Re: Custom choppers are they street legal? It is indeed illegal. Considering the lax legal system no RTO official will bother. It will only be a problem if you get into trouble examples like involved in an accident, running a red light etc. RTO official might have a look at your RC and ask questions about the mods carried out if you have not registered them.
	() Thanks

23rd January 2011, 15:50	#8
Live To Jive BANNED Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 698 Thanked: 89 Times	Re: Custom choppers are they street legal? Any modification is illegal. However RTO only enforces the items that are mentioned in the RC. Make sure you don't change any of those.
	() Thanks

23rd January 2011, 20:00	#10
dustom_99 BANNED Join Date: May 2009 Location: haridwar Posts: 588 Thanked: 450 Times View My Garage	Re: Custom choppers are they street legal? Apart from things mentioned in Rc, change to following makes vehicle not roadworthy in india. Rake angle, Total length, Wheel base, weight of vehicle(10% permitted). Cmvr says no mods are allowed apart from centre,state and rto approved kits (such as lpg conversion kits etc) Rto has full authority to seize the vehicle if any structural mods are found on vehicle. Verdenchy or any one else,none of the choppers which exceed original vehicle length,or extended rake, Or has custom frame are street legal unless the are sent for homologation to govt authorised agency such as ARAI,VRDE. Homologation takes about 3-5 months and bag ful of cash. Presently there is no easy way to legalise choppers in india.
	() Thanks

23rd January 2011, 23:17	#11
thedreamcatcher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,204 Thanked: 66 Times View My Garage	Re: Custom choppers are they street legal? Simple thing would be to not go and do any significant material change. Bikes get caught more often, atleast as far as i have seen. So try to avoid major change. Keep it simple and neat. Dont alter the frame at all. You never know when the traffic authority would see all these modded rides as an opportunity to earn big bucks and start a major nation wide crackdown.
	() Thanks

24th January 2011, 15:26	#12
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,517 Thanked: 300,704 Times View My Garage	Re: Custom choppers are they street legal? Couple more considerations that may tilt the decision (either way): - Your safety! How will frame modifications and other major customisations affect the on-road behaviour of your bike? - The cops aren't as strict today. However, they were lax even on custom duty payments, and everyone / their dogs found unique ways to import superbikes & save $$$. We all know how that ended up. - If you get into an accident, be sure that the insurance company will wash its hands off your bike.
	() Thanks

24th January 2011, 21:18	#13
Frank Zappa BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 51 Thanked: 12 Times View My Garage	Re: Custom choppers are they street legal? Thanks for your advice guys and as pointed out by GTO ,insurance was another matter on my mind...apart from the fact that my warranty is void as soon as I do any mods the insurance will also be an issue. Had been to Verdenchi for the mods inquiry and I was told that the RTO is not an issue??? Will have to look into this further and find a way out?? ..don't know how..but am really inclined to have a 200 rear tyre on the 500 classic which basically requires chassis and drive chain to belt drive conversion.
	() Thanks

25th January 2011, 00:01	#14
thedreamcatcher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,204 Thanked: 66 Times View My Garage	Re: Custom choppers are they street legal? With respect to insurance, please note that they will pounce on you the second they know you have a mod. Go in for these kind of mods unless you are not bother about a void warranty, insurance and the risk of a possible seizaure some day Even if you get inot an accident, owing to someone elses fault, the insurance company, looking at the vehicle will try to say you were racing. It has happended several times and we have seen several posts on this forum also where members have put these issues down
	() Thanks

25th January 2011, 17:16	#15
Frank Zappa BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 51 Thanked: 12 Times View My Garage	Re: Custom choppers are they street legal? Yes I agree with you completely as regards insurance and today spoke to Akshay/ Adil at Verdenchi and was told that if one gets caught we need to 'manage' the RTO. They told me that the insurance will be void as soon as I get any mods done on the bike and best way would be to get a third party insurance on the bike after the mods. Big question remains what if the bike gets impounded..in today's time with the frequent checks we have cops stopping bikes all the time...may be I should stick to just few mods, not change anything drastically....but if you look at the custom bikes ..it is very inviting
	() Thanks