Anyone running dirtbikes on the street?

You can puts lights on a offroad bike and sneak it by the registration office and insurance but if the vin has a restricted code on it, and you are in an accident insurance is void. Roll the dice or buy a factory legal bike.

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The KTM and Husky dual sport bikes also have emissions equipment on them to make them street legal. If i remember correctly it is crankcase breather that vents into a carbon canister. The EFI models are also equipped with a locked map that is leaner than the offroad version. The older carbed models had a collector located in between the shock and swingarm that caught any gas through the venting and overflow.

The older ones you had to remove the emissions crap to get them to run right (I bought a brand new 08 530exc back in the day)
The new ones (I have a 16 now) with EFI run better without but run pretty well with the emissions crap still on it, much better than the old ones with the emissions stuff

Been 2 years since I sold my KTM but I don't remember anything that looks like emission stuff on it. Was a 2010 and ran great. Maybe it was taken off before I got it??

Honestly if you managed to go in with OHV registration and come out with street legal with just a simple change at the registry, count yourself lucky.

Many bikes imported into Canada from Europe like KTM, Beta, etc do not have a designation. The Japanese bikes are generally all closed circuit racing bikes and will say such or carry OHV designation. I am not sure if a KTM SX race bike says such though. Generally the off-road bikes just say motorcycle. If you have a class 6 you can easily register it the first time as a road bike and have the best of both worlds.

So it's not true that they all come pre classified.


I could have road registered my KTM but it didn't cross my mind and now to go to road registration I have searched and the process is a pain. Like mentioned a "OOP" inspection basically would be conducted. It's not a true OOP but it's the same standards. It ensures the bike would meet road requirements in AB.

As far as the insurance company not covering you and so on, if the bike has a valid registration and the accident was not a result of a fault with a system which would be found on compliant like tire failure of a non DOT tire or a rear brake like not functioning they have no argument as their system doesn't recognize it as off or on road either.

Things to keep in mind, DOT tires have been the only item I have seen the RCMP check on guys bikes when stopped on the road running a dual sport. My bike rims actually have a DOT stamp, I am not sure this is a requirement but my KTM has it. I haven't looked at my buddies Beta.

Required motorcycle equipment is listed in the Alberta motor vehicle act. One mirror, signals, brake light switch, horn I believe, and so on.

There is very little difference in a KTM 350 EXC and a 350 XCW. One comes road ready, the other is designated as a off-road bike. Both say motorcycle on the NVIS. We had Blackfoot pull them and look when we were there one time. Put the road equipment on the XCW and there is no difference.

The evaporator box or whatever it is I believe only came on certain bikes like the Huskys. It was a California compliant thing. But as far as I know none have it any longer and there is no requirement for such in AB.

Great info!