VFR dancing in the Rain..struggles at CT DMV

If you ride bikes for any length of time, you'll sooner or later find yourself riding in the rain. I have a temporary registration on my VFR800, and needed a "VIN Verification" in order to complete my registration. In most states with any degree of common sense, the DMV guy would walk out, look at the bike, verify the VIN number, end of story. But I live in Connecticut, so it's not that simple. After paying the sales tax and various other fees, I was given a 10 days temporary registration and told to come back with a VIN verification.
I had planned to go to DMV's inspection section yesterday to take care of this, but it was raining fairly hard and I didn't know how the VFR would do in the rain, so I left it at home. I drove my car to the DMV and asked the person at the inspection station whether this was the right place and where to go for VIN verification. After he confirmed that it was the right place and where I should bring the bike, I left. Today, I rode my bike because the weather forecast was dry and sunny....a good time for the VIN verification. Around 1100, I walked out of the office...and into a drizzling rain. New England looks alot like Old England today. Nevertheless, since I already made the effort, I trudged to the wet bike, hopped on, and rode to the DMV office. Although I didn't put her through the paces, she handled the light rain fairly well, no issues that I was aware of. Started right up and performed as expected.
As for the DMV story, that also went as expected -- when I arrived they said they no longer did VIN verification and I had to go to a gas station and pay $10 to get someone to read my VIN number and print out a piece of paper for me. Amazing....they are too lazy, so I have to pay....

 

When I took my 2003 to the DMV for the VIN verification, they also asked for the engine number! I had no clue where it was, couldn't find it on either side, had to run home and look up in my manual, it is on the back of the engine, down by the shock linkage. Got out my simple green and cleaned spot to make it easier to read.

 

Yes, plenty of experience riding in the rain (not racing, just riding) growing up in SE Asia. Rode in rain and (unfortunately) ice/snow in New England too....
New to VFR, so here's a few pictures...

 

I wrote all that stuff down, made sure I could find it all.
Got the gas station to look at my VIN and enter it in the computer system and gave me a print out. Cost me $10.
Emissions test (for cars) is similar...the gas station mafia hooks up the computer and reads the OBDII readings, gives me a printout, and I give them $20.
DMV here is a scam.

As for the VFR, I'm getting used to it. Still finding my way around the gearing (stock), but realize that 5th gear works the same as my Ninja's 6th. VFR's 6th is only good for highway cruising...
Also, I wish Honda would've used a GREEN turn signal indicator instead of amber....flashing amber always makes me look for the Master Caution light and engine fire handles of my yesteryears....

 

I actually had a good experience at the DMV! Registered out of state car and motorcycle, and got a CA MC/DL, but the first time the girl didn't mark my license as a Motorcycle, said already processed, had to wait. Talk to supervisor lady, after almost 2 days getting everything sorted out, and she made the girl do it over. This branch was closing the next day for 3 month renovations and I didn't want to be left hanging. All in all they were very helpful.

 

Be glad you don't' live in California. Did the VIN verification on a bike, which the DMV did. But the Motherf***ers at the DMV demand a light and brake test. I had to go to their "approved" locations and get some one to look at my lights, verify that they work and then shine a little fashlight at the pads and verify I have brakes. Mofos charged me $70 F***ing dollars for less than ten minutes work, including papers. F***ing scam here!!! I was told by a DMV employee that the DMV is the only part of the California government that turns a profit. Oh and I also had to go to the CHPto have them do a safety check as well. More $$. F***ing DMV. Damned Money Vampires is what it should really mean.

 

All they did was verify VIN and engine number on bike and VIN on car. Had smog done ahead of time on car.

 

Yes...but I live in the PRC (People's Republic of Connecticut)...
As a former California kid (Lived in Lancaster, went to AVHS, USC grad), I never had much trouble with CA DMV...maybe that's because I was young and not as grumpy....:glee:

 

The actual DMV experience was decent. I'm still grumpy over all the fees and it's been over a year!

 

Are you shitten me Lint? So it was registered out of state when you bought it?

 

Aboot the only thing the various DMVs do not make complicated is handing oot drivers licenses to illegal aliens.

 

Don't get me started...oops too late...
I went to get my Dr Lic renewed. They gave me a choice: "Verified" or "regular". The "Verified" can be used at airports for ID purposes. However, the requirements creates a two-tiered citizenship status. If you are a "born" citizen, all you have to do is show your birth certificate or passport. Keep in mind a "born" citizen doesn't have to pledge loyalty to the country, he just has to be born here. HOWEVER, if you legally obtained citizenship, in other words, went through all the requirements, passed the background checks, took the history tests, AND pledge your allegiance to this country, forsaking all others, in a court, before a judge and witnesses...if you did all that just to finally become a US citizen, in order to get get one of those precious CT "verified" driver's license, you must "prove presence" AND they will take your US passport and run it through a check that takes around 10 days.
In CT, some citizens are more "equal" than others....
Needless to say, I opted out of that. I still have my US passport, Passport Card, and retired Military ID card to prove who I am at airports....

OK, Rant over. Back to riding....

 

Not to worry. Somebody will find some South of the US border dude to drive that load of meth into CT.. No retired card but a DD214 is no good. I physically lost my DL in Washington a few years ago and the DOT rules required that I have three items of ID to get a new card. I asked if I could see that in writing. In Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Thai, Somali, Russian and Canadian.. (not really Canadian)

The irony on this is that we can't blame it on Obama or Bush...

My rants are never over... I am riding to Walmart just to calm down..

 

I hear ya.
What really irritates me is that I'm what they call a "natural born" citizen (born to US citizen parent). My dad was serving his country (USA) in a little skirmish called Vietnam War when I was born (in Thailand). So...I'm treated like I snuck in here and stole a passport!

Anyway, I'm done with CT DMV for the time being:
Sales Tax: $350
Temp Registration: $20
VIN ID: $10
Regular Registration: $130
Something else I forgot what it was: $100

Now my local area will also get a chunk...to be paid...

This is why I really appreciate the VFR...I can jump on the freeway and relieve some of the stress...of registering the VFR....

 

SoCal boy mself. Got my first license at sixteen. Ahh the good ol days.. Lancaster-Palmdale-Willow before the gates, poker in Rosamond.. Four years at EAFB and some classes at AVJC.. Finished up at UofHouston and Rice. Circa BW (before Walmart)

Not so bad in Ogeron.. Tags are done online with proof of insurance and good for a year. Bikes less than cars.. Drivers licenses are good for eight years. No sales tax here..

They really nail you guys back East. I call it, taxation with too much representation. Somebody famous probably said that already but how the hell would I know..

 

Those were the days..Antelope Valley, Palmdale, Plant 42, making out on Challenger Way before it became Challenger Way....had a girlfriend in Rosamond, I lived in Lancaster. Those late night high desert drives could get tricking dodging the jack rabbits and the tumbleweeds...but at least the streets were all in square blocks, exactly 1 mile apart...not like here in CT...

OK..snapping out of my old guy reminiscence and getting out my gear for the 40 miles ride home on I-84 EB...

 

Aboot 17 miles from EAFB to Rosamond with a sidewind coming off the Tehachapis . Fun in a VW Bug. Third gear, pedal to the plastic then from Rosamond to Lancaster a tailwind. The speedometer spooled up max..

A few jackrabbits but at the time dodging mostly the CHP that used that stretch as a training area..

Seven miles to Walmart...

 

NY has an enhanced DL... this takes the place pf your passport... but wait there is more.... it is only good to cross into Canada from NY. so you still need your passport.. easiest 70 bucks NY DMV can make.