Cali Riders..
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,373
Likes: 4
27802. (a) The department may adopt reasonable regulations establishing specifications and standards for safety helmets offered for sale, or sold, for use by drivers and passengers of motorcycles and motorized bicycles as it determines are necessary for the safety of those drivers and passengers. The regulations shall include, but are not limited to, the requirements imposed by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218 (49 C.F.R. Sec. 571.218) and may include compliance with that federal standard by incorporation of its requirements by reference. Each helmet sold or offered for sale for use by drivers and passengers of motorcycles and motorized bicycles shall be conspicuously labeled in accordance with the federal standard which shall constitute the manufacturer's certification that the helmet conforms to the applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.
(b) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, for use by a driver or passenger of a motorcycle or motorized bicycle any safety helmet which is not of a type meeting requirements established by the department.
Back to the OP, nope no problem with LEO's at all. Although when going through Huntington BCH I keep the throttle on the low side. They get pissy down there because of the pipes and their city council. Other than that, ride 99 % of the year.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 69
From: Bay Area, NorCal
I'm goin' a little against the flow here, but I've been pulled over twice for wearing the beanie - once by the CHP outside of Redding, and once by a LEO in Fremont. Both times let go with a warning and no citation. Other than those two incidences, no probs with bike exhaust or mods in 4 decades of riding in the Golden State. Now wearing a "real" lid....
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,457
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
All depends on the politics of the area you are considering moving to , I'm in a little artsy fartsy town but the biggest area biker bar around is on the end of town so the cops run hot & cold and they are just an annoyance then for the most part . You have to be a real dick on the throttle hard to get a noise ticket and then it's only around holiday weekends you see them out . I've had a few who are you stops but those stopped after they figured out I'm a taxpayer here .
Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
20 years of riding in California, never been pulled over.
I'm up by Sacramento, and I ride to and around the Bay Area regularly. Maybe a group of us riders from hdforums should get together for a ride.
I'm up by Sacramento, and I ride to and around the Bay Area regularly. Maybe a group of us riders from hdforums should get together for a ride.
Last edited by Daddie O; Feb 8, 2012 at 05:14 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,457
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
I'm goin' a little against the flow here, but I've been pulled over twice for wearing the beanie - once by the CHP outside of Redding, and once by a LEO in Fremont. Both times let go with a warning and no citation. Other than those two incidences, no probs with bike exhaust or mods in 4 decades of riding in the Golden State. Now wearing a "real" lid....
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Banned
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,820
Likes: 6,615
From: Northern California
I guess the cop couldn't understand why someone would pay extra to not have a Vivid Black bike ?
OK, I'm sorry. And I apologize.
Back OT, the roads are just going to get worse here. I've not been (knock-wood) hassled for my pipes (I try to lay low and quiet, but they're not stock), and there have been a couple of times I was over 25 over the speed limit (I ride aggressively defensively and have an overactive tendency to get out in front of clots on the freeways) when I encountered patrol cars who either recognized why I was trying to get in a safer spot, or were on another call. I do know a few LEOs who have said they have better things to do than harass guys on HDs, although sport bikers do get their attention. Maybe it's because more sportbikes can go 160mph.
I do know of a stretch of roadway in the Coastal Range going to the ocean that has become notorious for sportbikes, so CHP sets up radar ops. But they only do it on stretches of road that have any exits, and they make sure they have enough units on the end to make sure they've got the sportbikes trapped.
There ARE usually too many cars on the roads, but you can get away from them in Northern California in about an hour. I live in Napa and we just rode from Pope Valley to Middletown and only saw one car. But it was only 60° that day. And taxes, registrations, and insurance ARE more expensive here.
OK, I'm sorry. And I apologize.
Back OT, the roads are just going to get worse here. I've not been (knock-wood) hassled for my pipes (I try to lay low and quiet, but they're not stock), and there have been a couple of times I was over 25 over the speed limit (I ride aggressively defensively and have an overactive tendency to get out in front of clots on the freeways) when I encountered patrol cars who either recognized why I was trying to get in a safer spot, or were on another call. I do know a few LEOs who have said they have better things to do than harass guys on HDs, although sport bikers do get their attention. Maybe it's because more sportbikes can go 160mph.
I do know of a stretch of roadway in the Coastal Range going to the ocean that has become notorious for sportbikes, so CHP sets up radar ops. But they only do it on stretches of road that have any exits, and they make sure they have enough units on the end to make sure they've got the sportbikes trapped.
There ARE usually too many cars on the roads, but you can get away from them in Northern California in about an hour. I live in Napa and we just rode from Pope Valley to Middletown and only saw one car. But it was only 60° that day. And taxes, registrations, and insurance ARE more expensive here.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 115
Likes: 1
From: san luis obispo ~ca
LOVE it here is CALI...haven't had any problems... I even gave a local motorcycle cop some crap for having to ride a Honda...he gave it back to me laughing the whole time. don't think I will ever ride in the LA area...I hate even driving a car down there.