I bought a 2001 KTM 400 sx last week from a guy in canada. I'm going to try to dual sport it here in Cali. The "title" I got from the guy doesn't say anything about being for "off road use only." You think it will work. Then if I get the plate, does any shop put out a kit for the bike or do I have to just make my own with EXC parts?

Try calling Baja Designs in southern cal. They are pretty much the experts when it comes to dual sporting bikes. They make many kits for almost every bike. Also, very nice people to deal with and kits are top notch!

KTM was very explicit about not dual sporting them becaus eht tranny will not hold up to pavement. They say they made the gears as light weight as possible so the tire needs the give of the dirt or your Katoom might go Kaboom. I get an electric start bike to weigh less than a YZF they had to cut someplace. Check some shops like Baja and or some KTM shops and see if this is a real problem or not.

Take a look at E-line, I like there switch gear way better than the old Honda stlye stuff that Baja has...

But if you do get a plate for your bike you REALLY don't "need" a kit. Just get a head light , a break light and a mirror and your set.

If you dont get a plate and you still really want it to be street legal, get it registered through Vermont.... for real, they DON'T care , you send them the $$ and they send you a plate :smokin:
I posted a link to there web site a while ago where you can do everything to get it done on.


Good luck

Since I bought the bike in Canada, I have to have it "verified" by the california DMV. THere is no way that they will give me a plate without headlight, taillight, mirrors, and blinker and the CHP verification sheet. So I will have to buy a kit or make one with KTM stuff. I'm not planning on riding this bike on the pavement. I will ride it on forest service gravel roads that connect between trails. The rangers demand that a bike be street legal to be on forest service roads (gravel and dirt). I once got a ticket for it, that ruined a good weekend of riding.

Get the Vermont plate then for sure....

It will also need a battery to be legal. Forget what I said then it will kick arse for what you want to do.

you need to check into your forest districts rules, in el dorado national forest all roads and trails are open to ohv use unless posted otherwise

Idaho's kinda nice about bikes - got my KTM 500 MXC plate easy showed em the bike and read off the ser # ( lol it coulda been stolen since the lady didn't wanna climb in the back of my toy to read it) Paid the fees and I was off terrorizing the streets- to bad my bike is a 2 stroke :D:eek: