Texas did away with the ugly stckers... the state inspection station enters the info to MVD so to get the new registration sticker the inspection and ins info has to be entered at MVD.

 

That's the way it worked in Tx when I had a vehicle registered there. It was an annual or **** deal rather. Get notice from DMV for registration renewal. Go to inspection station, get inspection, they put it in computer system. Then apply for registration, get it in mail then do all over again the next year. We used to have two stickers on the windshield up until a few yrs ago. One was registration and other was for inspection. At least they finally got all of it on one windshield sticker now

I'm back home in Louisiana now and registration and inspection are separate. A couple of good things that I do like about La is the registration is good for 4 yrs and I can get an inspection sticker good for 2 yrs.

 

Ok first, hold on $660 for a 3 plug service? How many hours did they charge you with that as it's just shocking.

Not sure of NH laws specifically but have never heard of this nefarious rule anywhere. . . . unless you had that stuff on your ride as stock and have reduced it's capabilities somehow. - (I'm just across border in Maine and ride with friends over the NH border once in a while and have had some of my bikes worked on over there). Personally, if this is as it sounds I'd call shenanigans and walk and if they were asshats I'd leave some reviews warning other riders in the area but then again I can be an asshat ;-)

I am unfortunately familiar with Rottenchester and Seacoast Harley, if you were at either of those places go elsewhere and fast . . . good parts department but that's about it. There are several reputable shops that do inspections near to you and have better techs than the folks above and from the sounds of it are at least 50% of what you paid at the dealership.

FYI, dyno tune and 3 plugger at dealer in Maine 2 years ago cost me $475 (plus they replaced a few things under extended warranty -probably about 7 hours total work when they were done).

Good luck with you search for a new local shop, if in Durham you have a good custom place that has a good wrench and there's another shop in Scummersworth that does more custom paint and stuff ;-) Both are hard to get into right away unless they know you so plan in advance but inspections are a breeze in and out from what the riders I know in your area say. For cheap and good mechanical you may be looking over the border a bit or further North into your own state.

 

So what? You think those people who get their license pulled quit driving?

I understand the arguement of not being the only one on the road. I just think having to get inspected by the government is overbearing. Like stopping a fast car, cause it might speed. Isay they have to catch you in the act. I don't know if it would hold, but I think you can argue 4th Amendment.

 

NY state requires inspections annually for motorcycles, but it's painless. Actually, I just got mine re-inspected (well, a new sticker), and this was the first time I didn't get asked to start it up, show the signals worked, hit the horn and the first time the inspector didn't peer into at least one of the calipers to see the brake pads: he just walked out, peeled the old sticker off the mounting plate (which I mounted to the bike with a security Torx bolt: I got an earful about the plate last year, though they used that for the sticker) and put the new one on. I know my bike is safe, the brakes are a year old, and my horn and all my lighting works- but I was a little surprised he didn't ask me to start it.

He also didn't look at the exhaust at all. I mention this because a couple of the HD dealerships and larger indy bike shops in the Albany area posted pictures/copies on Facebook about inspection requirements: the post showed a letter DMV sent out (directly addressed to the shop that posted it) dated March 15, 2019 reminding them that inspecting a motorcycle requires a check of the exhaust system/mufflers. The letter's first sentence reads "Recently, there have been a number of complaints regarding excessive motorcycle exhaust noise." The letter states that it's purpose is to remind the inspection station owner/manager of the current requirements for exhausts. It further directs the shop to reject the bike "if any of the following conditions exist:

1. System or elements are not securely fastened.
2. Not equipped with an adequate exhaust system and muffler to prevent excessive noise.
3. Equipped with cut outs, bypass, or any device which allows excessive noise.
4. Equipped with a replacement exhaust system or components that are not equivalent to original.
5. Diffusers or resonators or any internal muffler parts are removed."

Again, I know my bike isn't too loud, as I personally can't stand the "loud pipes save lives" idiots: here in NY, Loud Pipes Take Rights- and this letter is proof.

As for surrendering plates: NY requires you to surrender your plates for your cage when you no longer have at least liability insurance on it, but you're NOT required to surrender your motorcycle plate if you don't insure it. You're just prohibited from riding it. I have my plate on my old KZ650 that hasn't moved under its own power since about 2010; the plate was originally issued in 2005 I think. I haven't tried to plug the plate number into DMV's online registration system to try to "renew" it, but I have to believe I'd require a trip to a DMV office to actually get a current registration sticker. In NY, bike registrations are only 1 year, and all expire on 30APR, where passenger vehicle registrations are 2 years and have specific expiration dates (ie, my truck's reg expires on 4/28...so if I wait until May 1st, I'm three days into a violation).

At any rate, as to the OP's original issue with his dealership, I'd say it's likely that the amount of attention to detail has a lot to do with the individual inspector: at least here in NY, they're licensed by the state, and most want to KEEP their license to do inspections. In MY particular case, perhaps the fact that I rolled up in uniform (Active status Guardsman) and work for an activity that this shop does a lot of maintenance stuff for (we have state-owned vehicles that get serviced at this place) meant he felt comfortable not getting in the weeds on my bike. Perhaps the next Joe Snuffy who rolled in looking for an MC inspection got a "proper" inspection done by the same dude. But if there was a gray area concerning my bike, or it didn't appear to be well maintained, I'm sure the inspector would have erred on the side of keeping his license and been much more thorough than he was this time.

 

It sounds like Texas and NC adopted the same inspection system (inspection needed before you renew registration).

In NC there are no windshield stickers. They send you a little sticker you put on your license plate that just shows month and year.

 

All you're saying is that if the driver not at fault had not driven his car, no matter what the reason, the accident with that driver would not have occurred. Can't argue with that! LOL

 

In order for someone to get caught driving without a license, they have to get stopped. If the car is uninspected, there's some visual evidence of that as a reason to be stopped, which is a motivator to get it done, especially in states like mine where your registration renewal is dependent upon getting the inspection. Of course not doing it is no guarantee that people won't drive, but it does keep most honest, and that's protection for everyone. I've been surprised in my youth to learn that one of my tires was so warn out that it needed replacing. I just didn't have the experience or maturity yet to keep up with that stuff, and the inspection caught. it.

Inspections are about protecting others from the vehicle owner, not protecting the vehicle owner.

 

Yep, best system I've ever seen.

 

No safety inspections, no helmet law, no emissions requirements, no high cap magazine restrictions. I love Iowa.