Wayne
Active member
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) set up a plan to gradually force the off-road motorcycle manufactures to eventually produce bikes that met clean air standards, essentially smog legal. It began in '04 with the red and green sicker program. Red sticker meant you could only ride in the months of October 1 through April 30. Green sticker were bikes that were typically dual purpose and street legal which met the emission standards. These are not serious dirt bikes with exception of a few European models such as KTM, Gas GAS, Husqvarna etc. Even at that those are heavy, have lights emissions equipment and are neither great dirt bikes nor street bikes. During that phase private and BLM land was exempted as was closed course competition events. Beginning January 1, '22 motorcycles that did not comply with emission standards could not be registered with the DMV for off road use and the red sticker/ green sticker program was eliminated. If you buy a '22 or newer dirt bike the only place you can legally ride it is on a racetrack that is privately owned. The BLM is also enforcing this as well. In California we have an amazing network of state off road recreational vehicle parks https://ohv.parks.ca.gov/ which are paid for in part by the red /green sicker program. Unfortunately, if you purchase a '22 or newer dirt bike you can compete on a track or practice a limited number of days at a track but that is it. pre '03 dirt bikes are grand fathered and can be ridden all year. '03 - '21 can ride half the year. I had just sold my two KTM's motocross bikes surprisingly fast and at a very high price in '20. I went to replace them when I was informed of the current law. I was able to sell them both in less that 30 minutes sight unseen because they had become in such high demand given the new law and the renewed interest in off road recreation due to Covid -19. My KTM, Husky, Gas GAs and Honda dealer which specialized in off road closed shortly thereafter as I'm sure is going to be the case with many similar dealers. I am a long time AMA member and try to stay up on all the impending legislation but somehow overlooked this one.