Help requested from the socialist state of california...i need an emissions label for 1978 yamaha

Greetings to all of you, especially you fellow hockey lunatics.....i am stuck in los angeles for the moment. I found a really nice 1978 XS 650, which is sitting in Oregon.....I want to buy it and bring it to California and the only thing holding me up is that California has crazy DMV rules and to make a long story short I need a USA EPA emissions label for the bike. They are almost impossible to track down. But, in most states, it is not even needed at all. I am willing to pay for it. Alternatively, a clear picture of the label....or probably a label from ANY yamaha made in 1978 will work....and i can have a sticker made. The dmv person is going to look at the label for brand and year....if anybody can help, I sure would appreciate it. I am at 3109036828. Thank you.

Can’t help with the sticker but here are a few things I’ve learned about the CA DMV.

I’ve been through the crazy California DMV hoops more than I’d care to think about - two things I always do.

first - take it to AAA to attempt the registration/inspection - always a better experience. They want to get you on the road, whereas the DMV usually wants to shut you down.

if I end up having to take it to the dmv - if one person shuts me down, I’d just get back in line and get someone else or go to another dmv and it would usually work out the second time through.

I’ve never had anyone ever ask to see an emissions sticker. They aren’t really held to any emission standards - CARB didn’t take effect until 79.

I can't recall ever seeing an emissions sticker. Was it only on MCs sold in the People's Republic of California?
So glad I escaped that place.

I am guessing he is refuting to the manufacture sticker/plate on the triple neck.

there is a line on there that says something to the likes of “this vehicle conforms to all federal emissions laws at date of manufacture”

Mine has a build date of 10/78 but does not say anything about meeting Federal emissions standards just safety standards.

Strangely enough I have also heard of emission restricted California bikes
And about life in a " Socialist State "
Here the VIN Number would be used for the vehicle identification
and then identifying the setup emission setup on the vehicle manufacturers documentation.
As delivered
https://www.motorcycleforum.com/thr...-a-california-modle-and-non-cali-modle.97838/

You can figure out by the VIN if its the cali model.

Here most vehicle need a MOT Inspection ( some are exempted )
At that test the vehicle VIN Number will be Checked
For cars a hose is connected measuring the actual emissions by the Staff doing the
check
And some cars have onboard checking and warning systems
So a sticker glued on by the owner would not make any difference at all ...

What makes most problems is the Non Stock exhausts I would guess 80 % of Motorcyclists
installs .. Some of those will not pass the MOT so there is a lot of work being done before and after the MOT Test.
I Myself once stood on the yard with 4 or 5 of the staff and did not get the approval.
By people not competent perform the sound measuring.

Here there exists different rules for a + 40 year old ( If i recall right ) Motorcycle
Could be the same a 40 Year old / 650 cc / Enthusiast vehicle surely cannot be a pollution Problem of significance
The same problem should exist for importing an out of state Car to California

Yeah, that’s the only sticker I know of.

but nonetheless, I’ve rolled some basket cases through the DMV and never been asked to see on of those.

Jan_P said:

Strangely enough I have also heard of emission restricted California bikes
And about life in a " Socialist State "
Here the VIN Number would be used for the vehicle identification
and then identifying the setup emission setup on the vehicle manufacturers documentation.
As delivered
https://www.motorcycleforum.com/thr...-a-california-modle-and-non-cali-modle.97838/

You can figure out by the VIN if its the cali model.

Here most vehicle need a MOT Inspection ( some are exempted )
At that test the vehicle VIN Number will be Checked
For cars a hose is connected measuring the actual emissions by the Staff doing the
check
And some cars have onboard checking and warning systems
So a sticker glued on by the owner would not make any difference at all ...

What makes most problems is the Non Stock exhausts I would guess 80 % of Motorcyclists
installs .. Some of those will not pass the MOT so there is a lot of work being done before and after the MOT Test.
I Myself once stood on the yard with 4 or 5 of the staff and did not get the approval.
By people not competent perform the sound measuring.

Here there exists different rules for a + 40 year old ( If i recall right ) Motorcycle
Could be the same a 40 Year old / 650 cc / Enthusiast vehicle surely cannot be a pollution Problem of significance
The same problem should exist for importing an out of state Car to California

Click to expand...

This is for NEW bikes. You’ll see things like “50 state” bike. Meaning it meets Cali restrictions and even if it’s not a 50 state bike you can still bring them in.

but still no problems with older bikes.

Greetings from the "Peoples Republic of Misery." More redneck than socialist.... If that matters to answer the question?

On the 80 and newer the emissions info is inside the left sidecover. Not sure on your 78.

as others have said, there should be no reason dmv asks for an emissions sticker on a 78 bike.

Take your existing OR title, have the vin verified at a local CHP office, then get a brake and light inspection done at a local shop that does them, then request the transfer at dmv via their online process once you have all the paperwork.!I've successfully registered several out of state bikes here in California - and CA bikes without titles - never had them ask for an emissions sticker even once.

Jim said:

On the 80 and newer the emissions info is inside the left sidecover. Not sure on your 78.

Click to expand...

Never saw anything like that on my ‘77. Where I live in Arizona, they used to require emissions on all motorcycles up until a few years ago ( Now none are required ). I had a mid 70’s BMW and Triumph, what a pain to get them to pass emissions! They were never made to comply with any standards, I made several failed attempts to get them to pass before I figured out the formula. Right before I’d ride down there ( sometimes right in their parking lot ) I’d adjust the air mixture super lean , then turn the idle speed way up. The bike ran like crap but it would pass emissions, then right out in front of the building I’d reset everything and ride off.

Mailman said:

Never saw anything like that on my ‘77. Where I live in Arizona, they used to require emissions on all motorcycles up until a few years ago ( Now nine are required ). I had a mid 70’s BMW and Triumph, what a pain to get them to pass emissions! They were never made to comply with any standards, I made several failed attempts to get them to pass before I figured out the formula. Right before I’d ride down there ( sometimes right in their parking lot ) I’d adjust the air mixture super lean , then turn the idle speed way up. The bike ran like crap but it would pass emissions, then right out in front of the building I’d reset everything and ride off.

Click to expand...

You sure you didn't retire from VW. The diesel division.

LOL Mailman, I had to get the Norton thru emissions once. Place was noisy as anything! The bike stalled out about 1/2 through the test. I noticed it but the tester didn't. It passed and I took the paper that said it did, kick started her up and rode out as fast as I could!

azman857 said:

I took the paper that said it did, kick started her up and rode out as fast as I could!

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Haha! Like the bandit that you are!

WideAWAKE said:

Can’t help with the sticker but here are a few things I’ve learned about the CA DMV.

I’ve been through the crazy California DMV hoops more than I’d care to think about - two things I always do.

first - take it to AAA to attempt the registration/inspection - always a better experience. They want to get you on the road, whereas the DMV usually wants to shut you down.

if I end up having to take it to the dmv - if one person shuts me down, I’d just get back in line and get someone else or go to another dmv and it would usually work out the second time through.

I’ve never had anyone ever ask to see an emissions sticker. They aren’t really held to any emission standards - CARB didn’t take effect until 79.

Click to expand...

Greetings and thank you for the tips. I will try AAA, But many folks report many AAA offices wont title and regis out of state bikes as easily as they once did. I agree you can try another dmv office, but if you get a smog nazi, they red flag your bike and then you never can get it titled....in which case the whole process is a time consuming, money losing proposition. I am going to try a motorcycle salvage and see if the can pull one off for me. Thanksfor the info.

Thank you all for the replies. Above is the bike I want to buy. The owner is a rock solid individual who put a lot of time and money into it. Plus, when sending money...you really had better trust the other person. But, I digress. I do agree that DMV may not even ask....or that I may get lucky. Sadly, I hate operating like that, because if it goes south, then I have only myself to blame. At this point, I am almost an expert on Calif. rules re bringing a bike in from out of state. You could bring in a 1982 or newer moto to Calif, with 5000 miles on it, and the DMV may tell you, "with less than 7500 miles, we consider it a new bike. New bikes must have the CA emissions tag plus the EPA tag." If you are lucky, you say ok and leave and try again another day. If you argue, she may "help" you by red-tagging the bike so,that when you come back....the next clerk will see the red tag and you are SOL. The bike I want has a title, the vins and serial number match up, and the last POSSIBLE way it can be declined is the emissions label/sticker. The EPA sticker program for motos began in 1978, although not all bikes even had a label/sticker put on them. Nevertheless, the wise CA DMV needs to see that label to protect us from a 40+ motorcycle.

My hope in coming on here was to get a picture.....which Jim from Kansas City did....Thank you Jim! By the way, is that label on a thin piece of metal or plastic?

For those of you who bought untitled out of state bikes and went to the CA DMV and they gave you title....congrats. But, they just as easily could have said, "Do you have title for the bike? No? Ok go back the seller or prior state and get title and come back." If your seller blows you off, you have a bike for which you will be unable to obtain title.

It sounds like I am the only one needing that label at the moment, so can one of you with a 78 let me borrow it...or buy it.? In the other 49 states, it seems like it is a non-issue. It sure would help me out and I would be very grateful.

If you are interested, all of this info is detailed on the DMV SITE at dmv.ca.gov.....look at section 12.135, google dmv form 31 (which is the form the CHP or DMV inspector fills out) and most importantly the chart that goes through the requirements for bikes from 1978 to present is in section 12.100. I am happy to,serve as a referral for the next/future person on this site has an issue with CA DMV while trying to regis an out of state bike.

ThatXS650Guy said:

Mine has a build date of 10/78 but does not say anything about meeting Federal emissions standards just safety standards.

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Greetings...it may be located inside of your side covers...see the pic from another member below re the emissions label.

WideAWAKE said:

This is for NEW bikes. You’ll see things like “50 state” bike. Meaning it meets Cali restrictions and even if it’s not a 50 state bike you can still bring them in.

but still no problems with older bikes.

Click to expand...

The problem is DMV defines "new bike" as having less than 7500 miles. So, a 14 year old 2007 bike with 5000 miles....is considered new ....and needs to have the CA emissions label in addition to the federal EPA emissions label.....which, of course, and out of state bike wont have (unless it was orig made in CA). Yes, a person may get lucky, but many have found out the hard way....I have read most forums on this ridiculous topic.

WideAWAKE said:

Can’t help with the sticker but here are a few things I’ve learned about the CA DMV.

I’ve been through the crazy California DMV hoops more than I’d care to think about - two things I always do.

first - take it to AAA to attempt the registration/inspection - always a better experience. They want to get you on the road, whereas the DMV usually wants to shut you down.

if I end up having to take it to the dmv - if one person shuts me down, I’d just get back in line and get someone else or go to another dmv and it would usually work out the second time through.

I’ve never had anyone ever ask to see an emissions sticker. They aren’t really held to any emission standards - CARB didn’t take effect until 79.

Click to expand...

Please see my reply below. Thanks very much

As a guy that’s built many choppers in CA over decades and with lots of sketchy DMV experience I can tell you that’s incorrect. Just a misinformed employee.
You can go online and find exactly what’s required. If anything is asked for beyond that ask for a supervisor politely. I had transactions in four different states with DMV and CA is not bad. If they want the paper/decal on the neck that’s not required either as the neck is stamped.