Plastic gas tank street legal ?

DonBenito said:

I was curious, so I checked out the Delaware Vehicle Inspection Manual. It's a .pdf



I don't see anything in there about metal or plastic gas tanks. Not to mention, your DOT website is a bear!



PLEASE NOTE: I am not a lawyer! Seriously, I have no idea what I'm talking about, but this is what I dug up because I'm bored.



MOTORCYCLE INSPECTIONS

PROCEDURE:

All motorcycles presented for any DMV inspection must be ridden under their own power into the lane and cannot be inspected while on a trailer or truck.

1. Fenders – must have front and rear. REJECT IF: One or more fenders are missing.

2. Headlamp – shall have at least one or not more than two; height not more than 54” nor lower than 24”. Must have high and low beams. Must show a white light (fed. reg.)

REJECT IF: Any headlamps inoperative or no high or low beam.

3. Tail lamp – shall emit red light plainly visible from 500 feet. At least one not more than 72” high nor less than 20”.

REJECT IF: Light not installed; shows white light, inoperative or light is weak.

4. Stop lamp – at least one; visible from 100 feet in normal sunlight. Must be activated by application of front brakes and rear brakes on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1969. Must have 8 square inches of lighted lens.

REJECT IF: Lamp does work by both brake controls, the lens is broken, or the lighted area is too small.

5. Tag lamp – so placed to illuminate tag with a white light and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear.

REJECT IF: Lamp not operating or installed.

6. Reflectors – up to 1976 model year shall have at least one on the rear at a height of no more than 60” or less than 20”. 1977 and newer models require five reflectors. The reflectors must have 4 square inches of reflective area.

REJECT IF: Reflectors not installed or too small.

7. Turn signals – required on all motorcycles manufactured since 1974. Minimum 3-1/2 square inches of luminous lens.

REJECT IF: Turn signals are inoperative, weak, or do not flash. If size is less than 3-1/2 square inches of luminous lens on 1974 or newer models. Rear must be a minimum of 9 inches of separation from center of lense and 16 inches on the front.

Revised 9/12

- 70 -

This circle = 3-1/2 square inches

This rectangle = 3-1/2 square inches

8. Horn – must be audible for 200 feet under normal conditions. Sirens, whistles, and bicycle horns are prohibited. Horn button must be on the handlebars close to handgrip.

REJECT IF: Horn weak or inoperative, wrong type of horn or horn button in wrong place.

9. Mirror – at least one so placed to readily ascertain the presence of vehicles approaching from behind or following.

REJECT IF: Mirror not installed or placed in an unusable position.

10. Muffler – must be installed. Perform Test DMV2001-01 on all motorcycles. REJECT IF: Muffler is loud, not baffled, leaks or does not conform to DMV Standard

2001-01.

VEHICLE

NOISE STANDARDS

TYPE/AGE

ENGINE RPM (approx.)

2500/3000

Above idle

2500/3000*

2500/3000*

2500/3000

MAX. NOISE (dBA)

95 – 96.5**

95 – 96.5**

98 – 99.5**

100 – 101.5**

95 – 96.5**

Cars, LT Trucks 8,500 pounds or less

Cars, LT Trucks All diesel

Motorcycles

1976 or Newer

Motorcycles 1975 or Older

All

8,501 pounds or more

Engine RPM Range for Noise Test

2000 - 2500

2225 - 2725

2450 - 2950

2675 - 3175

2900 - 3400

3125 - 3625

3350 - 3850

3575 - 4075

3800 - 4300

4025 - 4525

Tachometer Red Line

5000

5500

6000

6500

7000

7500

8000

8500

9000

9500

Tachometer Red Line

Engine RPM Range for Noise Test

10000 4250 - 4750

10500 4475 - 4975

11000 4700 - 5200

11500 4925 - 5425

12000 5150 - 5650

12500 5375 - 5875

13000 5600 - 6100

13500

14000

14500

15000

5825 - 6325

6050 - 6550

6275 - 6775

6500 - 7000

Note: Sound testing is under a moratorium, until further notice, test will be performed if a police check is required.

11. Tires – must have a minimum of 2/32” of tread being uniform not cupped. REJECT IF: Tires have less than 2/32” cupped.

12. Footrest or pegs – all motorcycles shall be equipped with footrests. REJECT IF: One or more missing or broken.

13. Chain – must be kept tight; adjusted according to manufacturer’s specifications. REJECT IF: More than 3⁄4-inch play.

Revised 9/12

- 71 -

14. Brakes – all brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold the motorcycle.

REJECT IF: Front and rear brakes not working—both required on motorcycles manufactured after January 1, 1969.

15. Speedometer – must be equipped with a speedometer in good working order. REJECT IF: Not installed or not working.

16. Display of number plates – the license plate assigned to the motorcycle shall at all times be securely fastened to the rear of the vehicle at a height not less 12” from the ground and maintained in a condition to be clearly legible. The plate must be mounted horizontally. The plate can be to the left or right of the rear fender but must mount between the rear fender and the rear axle.

REJECT IF: Plate not securely fastened or obscured so that letters, numbers, or “Delaware” cannot be identified. If registration sticker covers any number or letter or if the plate is covered with plastic or tint material. If the plate is mounted vertically. If the plate is further forward than the rear axle.

17. Chain guard/drive pulley cover – required if originally equipped 1969 or newer. REJECT IF: If chain guard/drive pulley cover is missing, broken or cracked. Note: Some

motorcycles are factory equipped with a chain guard that does not cover the rear half of the chain—these vehicles will not be rejected.

18. Helmet – required for every person operating or riding on a motorcycle. REJECT IF: Helmet is not in the possession of the operator.

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Fort Payne said:

Wow that was detailed.



Quick answer is no its not technically street legal (supposedly because of the expensive testing required) and yes to cover their butts.



No cop is going to look under the tank and you should be just fine. If an inspection is required and it worries you, throw the old tank back on long enough for the inspection.

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Dubster' said:

I am not sure if my Clarke tank is legal here or not.Mine is the clear one and I had it on all last summer with no problems and passed by plenty of cops.I will find out for sure when I get the bike inspected and if it doesn't pass I will install the stock tank long enough to get a sticker.

Speaking of stickers unfortunately vinyl stickers will not stay on the plastic tank long before they begin to bubble.

DAMHIK

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