OaklandF4i
Darwin's exception
New thread to follow SB 227 in 2021
To make things easy, Red Sticker = non California emission compliant and Green Sticker = California emission compliant. Note the exception of non California emission compliant model year 2002 and older bikes which were grandfathered in as Green Sticker bikes
As many folks know and understand, the Red Sticker program is going away. Many folks seem to focus on the fact that all the old Red Sticker (non emission compliant) bikes will eventually be able to be ridden year round on public land after 2025. In 2025 there will no longer be a designation or difference between Red and Green Sticker (emission compliant) as things stand today. While this may be true.... there is A LOT, actually many more negative impacts.
First, after model year 2021 no two stroke offroad motorcycles will be allowed to be sold, registered, or ridden on public lands in California. No, you won't be able to just go to Nevada and buy a two stroke and then register and ride it in California. Public lands not only include state SVRA's like Hollister or Carnegie, but all of our National Forest and BLM lands... all the good stuff. So if you want a modern two stroke, buy one this year. That fact isn't going to change with this bill.
Secondly, all the other previous Red Sticker bike models, i.e. competition four strokes, will also not be able to be registered after the 2021 model year. That's pretty much the majority of any bikes ridden by most folks who aren't already riding two strokes. If you can't register them, you can't ride them on public land. Basically a ban as well. This also includes a huge swath of beginner play/trail bikes too.
You will be able to buy and title a Red Sticker four stroke bike in California, but the title is not a registration to ride on public lands. California title and registration are two different things. Your California titled Red Sticker four stroke will only be allowed to be ridden on PRIVATE land.
Important take away is that this is not just about two strokes or even just competition motorcycles. Its about two, four, and many play/trail bikes.
Don't expect the OEM's to come in a fill the hole with a bunch of Green Sticker bikes. While we are a large market in the US, that market is still pretty small, tiny in world scheme of things. It hasn't and isn't happening as of yet.
Yes there are a handful of Green Sticker bikes that people could still buy. A few that have been grandfathered in with no changes made (so they aren't subject to the new emission rules) like a CRF250X, along with other models made to meet the new emission rules like the KLX300. In addition there are few street plated bikes like the FE350 etc that meet California Street Legal emissions.
None of the bikes mentioned in the previous paragraph would be raced by most folks. For most regular folks, one bike is all they have, and if they race, where are they going to ride, train, or practice offroad? Certainly not public lands anymore.
Speaking of racing, what affect would not being able to register a race bike have on races themselves. Most offroad races also take place on public lands.
What about any of the competition non emission compliant four stroke bikes still sold after 2021 and their registration fees? No registration, no money going into the OHV fund. Fore those not racing but still wanting a rideable bike, that will mean one of the Austrian plated dualsports that meet street legal emission standards. No big deal right? Again, plates don't put money into the OHV funds either.
As you can hopefully see, this is going to have a MAJOR detrimental impact to all aspects of offroad riding, the sport, and industry here in California.
Am I getting your attention yet? Hope so :laughing
Last year Senator Jones sponsored SB 1024. The gist of this legislation would have at least allowed the state to register Red Sticker four stroke competition motorcycles. Not saving the two strokes, but the fourstrokes. Riders who wished to ride such a bike with such a registration on public lands would have to carry a valid and current competition license. The state would then also be required introduce rules for riding seasons for such bikes, just like.... you guessed it..... red sticker bikes and their seasons again. Its step in the right direction.
Unfortunately, SB 1024 did not become law last year. It moved through all the committees and got the votes it needed, but did not get signed into law. Many folks just assumed it was going to pass and become law.... it didn't. Most likely another casualty of Covid, dunno.
Senator Jones has reintroduced the bill for 2021 as SB 227. It's obviously now or never.
Hope to use this thread for folks to keep track of the legislation and the very important issue to all of us who love offroad riding of any kind.
Perhaps Butch can provide us some updates with his contacts or anyone else who wishes to. I'm not an "insider" and looking for updates and or action we can take.
If I have made any errors in my summary above, please feel free to comment and I will edit. This is the issue as I know it.
Follow along, comment, get involved.
To make things easy, Red Sticker = non California emission compliant and Green Sticker = California emission compliant. Note the exception of non California emission compliant model year 2002 and older bikes which were grandfathered in as Green Sticker bikes
As many folks know and understand, the Red Sticker program is going away. Many folks seem to focus on the fact that all the old Red Sticker (non emission compliant) bikes will eventually be able to be ridden year round on public land after 2025. In 2025 there will no longer be a designation or difference between Red and Green Sticker (emission compliant) as things stand today. While this may be true.... there is A LOT, actually many more negative impacts.
First, after model year 2021 no two stroke offroad motorcycles will be allowed to be sold, registered, or ridden on public lands in California. No, you won't be able to just go to Nevada and buy a two stroke and then register and ride it in California. Public lands not only include state SVRA's like Hollister or Carnegie, but all of our National Forest and BLM lands... all the good stuff. So if you want a modern two stroke, buy one this year. That fact isn't going to change with this bill.
Secondly, all the other previous Red Sticker bike models, i.e. competition four strokes, will also not be able to be registered after the 2021 model year. That's pretty much the majority of any bikes ridden by most folks who aren't already riding two strokes. If you can't register them, you can't ride them on public land. Basically a ban as well. This also includes a huge swath of beginner play/trail bikes too.
You will be able to buy and title a Red Sticker four stroke bike in California, but the title is not a registration to ride on public lands. California title and registration are two different things. Your California titled Red Sticker four stroke will only be allowed to be ridden on PRIVATE land.
Important take away is that this is not just about two strokes or even just competition motorcycles. Its about two, four, and many play/trail bikes.
Don't expect the OEM's to come in a fill the hole with a bunch of Green Sticker bikes. While we are a large market in the US, that market is still pretty small, tiny in world scheme of things. It hasn't and isn't happening as of yet.
Yes there are a handful of Green Sticker bikes that people could still buy. A few that have been grandfathered in with no changes made (so they aren't subject to the new emission rules) like a CRF250X, along with other models made to meet the new emission rules like the KLX300. In addition there are few street plated bikes like the FE350 etc that meet California Street Legal emissions.
None of the bikes mentioned in the previous paragraph would be raced by most folks. For most regular folks, one bike is all they have, and if they race, where are they going to ride, train, or practice offroad? Certainly not public lands anymore.
Speaking of racing, what affect would not being able to register a race bike have on races themselves. Most offroad races also take place on public lands.
What about any of the competition non emission compliant four stroke bikes still sold after 2021 and their registration fees? No registration, no money going into the OHV fund. Fore those not racing but still wanting a rideable bike, that will mean one of the Austrian plated dualsports that meet street legal emission standards. No big deal right? Again, plates don't put money into the OHV funds either.
As you can hopefully see, this is going to have a MAJOR detrimental impact to all aspects of offroad riding, the sport, and industry here in California.
Am I getting your attention yet? Hope so :laughing
Last year Senator Jones sponsored SB 1024. The gist of this legislation would have at least allowed the state to register Red Sticker four stroke competition motorcycles. Not saving the two strokes, but the fourstrokes. Riders who wished to ride such a bike with such a registration on public lands would have to carry a valid and current competition license. The state would then also be required introduce rules for riding seasons for such bikes, just like.... you guessed it..... red sticker bikes and their seasons again. Its step in the right direction.
Unfortunately, SB 1024 did not become law last year. It moved through all the committees and got the votes it needed, but did not get signed into law. Many folks just assumed it was going to pass and become law.... it didn't. Most likely another casualty of Covid, dunno.
Senator Jones has reintroduced the bill for 2021 as SB 227. It's obviously now or never.
Hope to use this thread for folks to keep track of the legislation and the very important issue to all of us who love offroad riding of any kind.
Perhaps Butch can provide us some updates with his contacts or anyone else who wishes to. I'm not an "insider" and looking for updates and or action we can take.
If I have made any errors in my summary above, please feel free to comment and I will edit. This is the issue as I know it.
Follow along, comment, get involved.
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