I did mine in Cali with no issues. Basically did it as a special construction bike. Reg'd it as a 2000 Honda 250. Took me about three trips to the DMV, and one trip to the CHP.

Didn't have any connections, no help, just let the people at the DMV walk me through the process.

Tips:
1. Don't argue with the DMV people
2. Be nice to them
3. Ask them how to register a bike that isn't in the DMV system.
4. Don't lie, but don't give any more info then needed.
5. When they hand you the plate/reg/title don't jump up and down and yell "I BEAT THE SYSTEM!!!".
6. When the friendly Inspection officer asks you if you mix the gas with oil, tell them "No, I just put gas in the gas tank and go." Remeber item 4. You don't need to tell them you put oil in another tank and it gets mixed with the gas elsewhere?

The Short VIN was repalced with a California Vehicle ID, so in the end it doesn't matter what the VIN is.
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Charles Gallant