I just bought a KLR650.  The prior owner left the plate on.  I noticed it has the standard MC plate and tab, but it also has an OHV sticker.  

Is this actually required?  I can't tell, the law is unclear to me.  

DMV says:




It's a dual sport, and by definition (in my opinion) is not designed primarily for travel over unimproved terrain.  It's 50/50.  

Basically, I just don't want to get in trouble, because I do plan on off-roading with it quite a bit.  For $25 I'll buy one if I need one, but do I?

I haven't bought one for mine. Are you coming up north a bit to do some KLR riding/camping with me? Hint hint!

Congrats on the new bike... where are the pics?

Shit! I didn't know you had one!

Going to have to do this!  


Here's the only pic I have of it at the moment.  I put on some side bags and a tank bag since. (came with it, not sure if I like them or not yet.).

A friend got a ticket on dirt with his street bike, they told him he had to have a OHV sticker to go off pavement. I can drive my truck to crown king but I have to get a OHV sticker for my street bike which is licensed for the street because it is not legal to go off road on a bike or a quad without one. This is a law we can thank California for. They have taken the money in this fund and closed trails with it, total bullshit.

Yes you need an OHV sticker. Anything under 1800lb has to have one. Just a way for the gov to get revenue from the off-roaders. This seemed to come about when the side by side's became popular.

Like others have said, it is required. I have one on mine. Lots of trails to ride in Arizona. Enjoy!

How do they decide it's required though?  A KLR650 is clearly not designed primarily for offroad use.  Would I have to have one if I rode an FJR1300 up to CK?

I'll get one, I suppose, but it seems like they can't legally require it.  (but $25 is WAY cheaper than having to deal with court. )

Well, you can take them anywhere.

QFT.
It's good that you posted your question, I guess I'll get one too.

I want one of those so bad...

I spoke to a "Bigshot" with the Tonto NF today. He said the Fish and Game or the Sherriff's Dpt are the ones who will write the tickets. He said the NF LEO's won't because it's a State Law, not Federal. I asked him who determines whether it's "primarily off-road" or not and he agreed it would probably be up to a court to decide.
ETA -

So, I went to the DMV this morning to get my bike registered and what not.  Talked to the girl about the OHV decal.  She gave me a form to fill out.  On said form I had to "certify" that the vehicle was primarily for offroad use.  I asked her what that meant.  

She says "here's the deal.  You DO NOT have to have an OHV decal for Dual Sport motorcycles.  It's not legally required.  However, Arizona Game and Fish and Sheriff's officers will often ticket people riding dual sports off-highway, even on maintained roads.  You will win in court, everyone who fights it does.  AZGF and the SO are of the opinion that it's not up to them to determine, in the field, whether a motorcycle is designed primarily for off road use; so they write you a ticket.  Is not having to go to court worth the $25?"

So, I bought one.

That echoes what the FS had to say.
You chose wisely!

And on the extra bright side, I went in planning on taking the motorcycle skills test.  She mentioned that I had to take the written test.  I said "Ah, bummer.  Sure wish I never let my endorsement fall off when I moved to Texas back when.".   She looked up and said Good news!  If you've already had the endorsement, you just have to pay $7 and we put it back on.  Woohoo!  Saved me at least an hour.