Riding an off-road dirt bike on the road is not only dangerous, it’s illegal. In most states, you can face hefty fines and other serious repercussions from riding a dirt bike on the street without the proper upgrades and paperwork.

Fortunately, in most places, you can convert your dirt bike into a street legal bike with some careful research, additions, and upgrades. Meeting all the minimum requirements isn’t an easy process per se, but it can be an exciting and rewarding challenge for many bike enthusiasts. And when all is said and done, you’ll be able to commute to work, and then hit the trails or track when you’re done! What could be more convenient and fun than that?

Here at ZMPerformance, we carry all the dirt bike gear and parts you could possibly want, as well as many of the parts you’ll need to make your dirt bike street legal. Read on to learn more about how to convert your dirt bike and then check out the parts on our website or reach out to us for help!

Introduction to How to Make a Dirt Bike Street Legal

To convert your dirt bike into a street legal bike you’ll need to carefully research federal and local laws, complete any required upgrades, and get approval from your local DMV before you can hit the road. This process is often easier said than done, so we’ll break it down a bit more in the section below.

Before deciding to take on the task, you may want to weigh the costs and effort required for a conversion and consider simply buying a new or used street legal bike instead. This might be an easier and less expensive route in some states with more strict and specific laws.

Another important consideration is what make and model of dirt bike you’re looking to convert, as some are easier to make street legal than others. Some of the best dirt bikes for street legal conversions include the Suzuki DRZ400, the Honda CRF450X, the Yamaha WR450F, and the KTM 450 SX-F, just to name a few. 

What Makes a Dirt Bike Street Legal?

In order to make a dirt bike legal, you need to research and follow federal and state laws. When it comes to federal laws, be sure to adhere to the “Federal Minimum Requirement” for on-road motorcycles. Any motorcycle, whether DIY or factory-made, must follow these federal guidelines in order to be used on state and federal roadways.

At the state level, different states have different minimum requirements for street legal bikes. Before you take on the project, do some research and make sure you can meet the requirements. In some states, like California the minimum requirements are much more stringent and difficult to meet.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that laws change all the time, so be sure to check in with your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Department of Transportation (DOT) for fully up-to-date regulations.

Once you have a list of all the minimum requirements at the federal and state levels, you can get to work on the actual upgrades. You can either go the DIY route and tackle the upgrades yourself, or hire a dirt bike mechanic. In the sections below, we will highlight some of the most common upgrades and the parts you’ll need.

Once all the upgrades have been completed, you need to get your bike legal on paper through your state DMV. You’ll likely need a license plate, registration, title, tag, off-highway decal, and inspection certificate. Getting all of this taken care of will probably require careful research and a lot of phone calls, so be patient. If this part of the process seems overwhelming, you can hire a specialized legal service to handle it for you.

Parts You Need For a Street Legal Dirt Bike

Although minimum requirements for street legal dirt bikes vary from state to state, let’s explore some of the most common upgrades and street bike parts that you will likely need: 

• Headlight: Currently, every state requires a working, DOT-compliant headlight with the ability to switch between low and high beams. This upgrade is obviously important for safety reasons as well, especially if you’ll be driving at night.
• Tail Lights/Brake Lights: The DOT requires that you not only have a back light, but one that functions as a brake light. In some states with more specific brake light requirements, your tail light must be connected to a mounted battery that can maintain a strong light for a minimum of twenty minutes.
• Turn Signals: Turn signals are not mandatory in some states, while others require properly functioning front and rear turn signals. Some states have extra requirements about the installation and placement of the turn signals too. As with other lights, LEDs work great and are long-lasting.
• Mirrors: Most states require at least one rearview mirror, and some states require two. Regardless of the requirements in your area, two mirrors are always safer than one!
• Horn: A working horn is a must in most states, although some states allow for non-electric horns and others require fully-electric horns. Luckily, this is one of the easiest and cheapest upgrades to take care of.
• Street Legal Tires: The rubber on your off-road bike won’t hold up against highway speeds, so you’ll need to upgrade to street legal motorcycle tires. To be street legal, your tires must be DOT approved.
• Exhaust: The exhaust system upgrades you’ll need to make all depend on the base model you’re converting. Most states regulate exhaust system noise, emissions, and condition in one way or another. When in doubt, an EPA approved exhaust system is usually your safest bet. 
• Speedometer: Although very few states require a speedometer, they certainly come in handy and help keep you safe on the road. In place of a traditional speedometer, some GPS units can help you measure your speed and distance traveled.
• License Plate Bracket: A license plate and a place to hold it are a must, and some states have specific requirements about the placement and location of the license plate. To take care of multiple upgrades at once, you can buy a license plate holder that has a brake light and turn signals built into it.
• Gas Tank: In order to be street legal, your gas tank must be DOT approved. Additionally, you may want to upgrade your gas tank if you’ll be riding long distances, because most dirt bikes come with smaller gas tanks.
• Upgrade Electrical/Charging System: You may have noticed that many of the street-legal dirt bike requirements are electrical, so you may need to upgrade your bike’s electrical system in order to accommodate them. Your bike’s service manual is a great resource and can help you determine if this is necessary.
• Kickstand: Most dirt bikes don’t come with a kickstand because they are a nuisance and can easily get caught on things. This is an optional addition, but it will certainly make your life easier when you’re trying to find a place to park your bike.
• Street Gearing: This is another optional yet important upgrade, because off-road bikes are geared for lower speeds than road-going motorcycles. You may need to alter your dirt bike’s gear ratios in order to boost performance and ride efficiently on-road.
• Fan: This upgrade is not required, but can help you ride more comfortably. You may want to consider adding a fan if you’ll be riding in a warm climate. 

Remember, this is not an exhaustive list; specific requirements vary from place to place and change all the time, so be sure to do your own local research!

In addition to the important parts listed above, there are many other street bike parts and accessories that you can add to make your dirt bike more comfortable and fit for the road. It’s usually best to go above the bare minimum, especially if you’ll be spending a lot of time on-road. To really take things to the next level, consider a supermoto conversion. There are supermoto kits you can purchase that contain all the parts you’ll need in order to make the process easier.

Need More Help With How to Make a Dirt Bike Street Legal?

As you can see, converting a dirt bike into a street legal bike is not as simple as it sounds, but it’s certainly possible! And the process can be very rewarding, even fun, if you’re up for the challenge.

At ZMPerformance, our motto is to “get outside and ride.” We’re here to help you make the most of your dirt bike experience, whether that be off road, on road, or both.

Check out the street legal bike parts gear, and accessories we carry on our website and contact us with any questions! Keep in mind, we're constantly updating our website with new products, and we have a lot more in stock than is currently showing. So please contact us if there's something in particular you're looking for and can’t find.