I got my XR inspected last month and the only thing they check was the brakes. I had to ride up the parking lot and hit the brakes. They didn't check tires, turn signals, head lights or anything else.
I think it depends entirely on how the inspector feels that day.

I may be wrong, but I think the rule is that if it is equipped from the factory with blinkers, front brake signal, etc., they have to work.

Yes, and the signals did work.

A DRZ400E, however, is not equiped with brake switches at all. I put on a rear one to make it road legal. The bike is road legal (except for sticker and tags) in TX but they didn't know the full criteria.

I just went through this process with a 2002 DRZ400E dirt model. I put a brake switch on with an Acerbis LED talilight, attached a hi/low beam switch hooked up to the stock headlight. On 2002 and later DRZ's they come stock with a 2 way bulb - just look for the 3rd wire and that is low beam. I bought a 12v horn (sold through bicycle shops), and a fold down mirror.

I also put on DOT knobbies (Dunlop 606 in rear and Pirelli on the front - note all Pirelli knobbies are now DOT legal)

I did not have the high beam indicator. I got the green sheet TJ's, who did the inspection, and took it to the TDOT office for my plate with no problems.

The only thing I learned is this was a used bike I bought and since I was licensing it for the street I had to pay sale tax! If I was smart, I would have transferred the title while it was still a dirt bike and then changed it to a street legal bike with the title already under my name.

I'm looking to convert either DRZ400E or XR400 to D/s. Any pros/cons that make one choice better than the other. Looking for lots of off road fun, but not competition, and will be riding almost daily back and forth and around work (~20miles) daily.


Thanks in advance for any help
BM

If you can find a good DRZ, it's a much better bike on or off the road than the XR400. I had a 96 XR400 until I bought my 2000 DRZ. It's a better bike in every respect except low end torque, but the DRZ has so much more power everywhere else, it's an easy tradeoff. As far as making them street-legal, I don't think there's any difference. You can buy a kit or assemble your own from aftermarket and/or junkyard parts. I went the latter route with my present DRZ, but on the XR and my 2 previous bikes, I went the kit route. The kits are great, but they tend to add stuff that you don't need in Texas, like a battery and turn signals, on/off switch to replace the kill button, hi beam indicator light, etc. Just more weight and more stuff to break. Another factor is cost, the kits are around $400 bucks now! I made the DRZ legal (enough) for about $100.

Hey Cav,I have a 99 yamaha wr 400 that is already converted and ready too go.I live in killeen if you want to ck it out--It already has all the work done for you.Email me at txmxracer@hotmail if interested--
Im gonna be out of town this weekend so i might not get back at ya till sunday pm---shane

Shane,

Got your e-mail, but now mines down (go figure it's a war zone). Anyway, I'd love to check out your WR when I come home on leave. Saw you ride with CTOR I'd like to check that out too. I've been out of riding for a while, and looking to get back in with a few of my buds from the Army. I'll give you a shout when I get into own.

Bill

Hoop,

THanks for the advice. One last ? How does the WR400/450 stack up against the DRZ? Buy the MSRP you can tell that yamaha sure is proud of it.

Bill