NC DOT says:

"4. Vehicles shall have the lights as required by G.S. 20-129(d) License plate
lights must be white in color and illuminate tag to be read within 50
feet."

And later in the motorcycle specific section it says:

"5. A motorcycle license plate light shall fail safety inspection if:
(G.S. 20-129)
(a) Light does not operate.
(b) Light does not illuminate the license plate.
(c) Light is a color other than white."

Incidentally, turn signals are not required in NC . I don't really feel safe without them, though, so mine are staying on.

I haven't found a direct reference, but it appears that motorcycles receive a "safety" inspection only - no emissions testing. They keep refering to the sticker as a "motorcycle/trailer" sticker and distinguish procedures between them as "safety" inspections and "emissions" inspections. Some inspection stations are qualified to inspect safety only and referred to as "Licensed Safety Stations" and the DOT says this about that:

"4. Licensed Safety Stations shall not inspect vehicles which require an
emission inspection. However, they are permitted to perform the
original safety equipment inspections on new vehicles, vehicles with
model years up to 1995, motorcycles, and trailers."

So while I can't seem to find it explicitly stated that motorcycles do not require an emissions test, the rules seem to point that way. Also, while I can find a safety inspection procedure for motorcles (19A NCAC 03D .0544 SAFETY INSPECTION OF MOTORCYCLES), I cannot find any corresponding entry for an emissions inspection. And the document I'm looking at lists both "safety" and "emissions" in its sub-titles.

So I think I'm good in that regard.

 

Brian,
Emissions testing in general are usually across the board, meaning if your county requires it, ALL VEHICLES, will have to have a pass certificate in order to get a license plate or to renew a registration, so if it was required in your county you would be keenly aware of it because every vehicle you own would have to be sniffed every time you needed to register or renew it unless it was brand new,but a test would be required to renew after one year on the new one, so i am guessing your not being tested, which should make most of your concerns about modding for HP, well mute.....yeehaa
Also HP and emissions are not enemies totally, you may have your cake and eat it too, it takes more effort and costs more too but a carefully tuned engine can make big power and pass a sniff test too, there is an ever increasing number of speed parts that are "50 state emissions legal" and there are tuning parameters for testing and others for racing that can be incorporated together on the same vehicle for this purpose (modern engine manangment systems are GREAT) I have a 300HP WRX that does pass strict emissions testing (Macomb county, MI) at or near idle for the test and making 300HP are two different situations and the WRX can do both. one more thing make sure when you mount your license tag light that you cannot see it from the rear, only the glow onto the tag, any white light facing rearward is illegal

 

Hey Drof,

no bits of paper in my kit, so it's legal lol.


also what the man don't know won't hurt me.


OK being serious now in NSW with the mods all you need is a blue slip and it's legal don't see any problem there.

Cheers

Garry

 

What's all this talk about inspections and testing? The only time a bike needs inspected here in Washington State is if it's an out of state bike being sold and or registered here in WA. And as far as EPA testing, I think there is only one or two counties here in WA that requires it, maybe Tony or someone could enlighten me. I hope putting on the Muzzy and jetting the carb won't affect my bike in the future as far as testing goes, but then again I think the pipe and or the bike would need replaced before testing ever came out this far, (fingers crossed). I wouldn't worry about it too much.