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5 Things You May Need To Change To Make Your Dirt Bike Street Legal

Slashgear 2 days ago

You must have suitable tires

You may need a suitable headlight

You may need a tail light with a working brake light

syarifjmt/Shutterstock

Another feature you probably need is a working tail light with a brake indicator. Tail lights are among the most critical safety features for any vehicle on the road, namely as they help other vehicles detect when you're reducing speed and improve your visibility at night.

In many US states, like California, motorcyclists are subject to the same rules as other vehicle users. So, it's a good idea to make sure you have a functioning tail light and brake function. According to New York law, tail lights must be visible from 300 feet and must be on whenever the vehicle is in use. The law in Florida requires the tail light to be positioned no more than 72 inches and no less than 20 inches from ground level.

As dirt bikes feature both front and rear brakes, you'll need to make sure the tail light is triggered by both brake mechanisms. This might mean installing a dual-switch setup, whereby one switch controls both the front and rear brakes. Another popular solution is called a banjo bolt switch. This mechanism relies on a ball bearing placed inside fluid that raises when the brakes are triggered. The final option to consider is a mechanical switch, which relies on physical movement from the brakes to activate the tail light. Tail lights use a similar amount of power to headlights, so you may wish to purchase an LED tail light to reduce power consumption. This is especially important if your dirt bike doesn't have a charging system.

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