Registration info for WA state
 

I sent an email to the Washington State Patrol regarding licensing a Chinese bike. Here is an excerpt from the very timely reply I received from the WSP (email: equipment@wsp.wa.gov):

"To be operated on public roadways of Washington State, motorcycles must meet all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), including being originally manufactured for use on public roadways or as a dual sport bike.

Please contact our Vehicle Identification (VIN) helpdesk (509-249-6731) for inspection procedures for vehicles (includes motorcycles) purchased from another country - there may be some specific paperwork requirements you need to know about.

Many of the Chinese-made bikes do not comply with FMVSS. If you would like a packet of information on motorcycle requirements sent to you, please provide your mailing address."

I requested the information packet and am waiting to receive that information. The WSP emailed me today to let me know the packet was to be mailed out this morning.

I will post any additional useful information as I receive or discover it. If anyone else has information on registration in WA, please feel free to add on.

Rowland

I remember a member or two from WA discussing your registration laws, but don't remember the members or the laws for that matter, but I remember them being a little strict(er). Find a WA dealer and buy the LF200GY-5 or LF200GY-2 dual sports (49 states DOT legal), and Jetmoto just got (49 state) DOT approval for their enduro--start with these two brands for DOT certification; I am sure others are, but do double check, and don't necessarily trust what a mail-order dealer tells you if you go that route.

I think Hooper Imports is a major LIfan dealer, although not an official American Lifan dealer--he imports them as gray-market bikes; still DOT certified, but no warranty.