how do i find out if bike is stolen or if $ is owed on it?

[spc]

I swear my 94 was riveted............ shouldn't even be a topic of discussion, if a cop sees a VIN plate that he suspects has been altered he has the right to have the vehicle impounded in most states.  Just dedicate and afternoon to doing the full swap.  It'll be good for you and the bike, you can make sure everything is nice and clean and in spec while forming a closer bond to the bike through your knowledge of it.

[lewismug]

Just make a few phone calls, or do a carfax to see the history of the bike.  When I purchased an old Jeep without a title, I carried the bill of sale to my insurance company and paid $65.00 for them to issue a title bond.  With that, I was able to do to the courthouse and get a title for it in my name.  Why swap anything out?  Why go through all the trouble if the bike's already in decent shape.  Why try to swap frames or vin's?  It's simple.  Call around and find a place that does title bonds and that way you're 100% legal, no questions asked!

[makenzie71]

^Because you can sometimes find a free frame and title and be out nothing but a little time.  It's only about 6 hours work to do a swapand you don't have to do much running around.  Plus, in some states you can't just get a title bond from the insurance agency and have the courthouse issue a new title...you have to go through a bonded title process ni Texas an you're looking at a minimum of $175 and 6 weeks.  That's why I just got a new frame for my CX instead of getting a bonded title: it was going to cost me $225 to get the bond and I had to wait 4 weeks for a potential claim and two weeks for additional paperwork before even getting to fill out the title application...where as buying another frame and title cost $50 and 100 miles.

[lewismug]

I see clearly now!  Well, I'll be the first to say that I'm no expert on other state laws!  It was worth a shot.

[suzukimx4789]

well if i do go frame route.......i cannot just swap plates....its glued on
and if i get a frame it gives me the ability to paint it the color i had planned for the frame anyways.. metal flake/metallic red basically the same as the silvers look but in red  with gloss black tank fender and tail with no suzuki emblems but maybe some bike parts logos and gs forum logos plus a nice new coat of engine paint on the motor and rims....also gloss black

lol idk id id be kinda unique with a bright orange engine, orange frame and everything else gloss black.....little weird tho id have to see it on a bike to like or dislike it. ya kno cus everyone else will have  brushed aluminum or powdered black motor....id have problems hiding from cops tho u can change ur tank fender and tail paint ezily but for a motor its more work

[yamahonkawazuki]

yeah, pretty sure it's just 2 rivets.  grinding em off will leave scratching on the plate that cops (at least here) are trained to look for.

thats what a drill bit is for, if one must go into thqat. BUT id say finda titled frame, a case of beer, and a friend with tools. and yoll have it done quickly

[The Buddha]

Yea ... cops freaking have never looked at my vin ... ever, not even in CA where I was stopped by a bike cop several times. Not even when I was in a at fault accident, and not when I was in a not at fault accident. I also know they cannot recognise one bike form another usually in many states. Show them a bike without logo's and give them a title/reg, they'd never question it.
Cool.
Srinath.

[cd]

i think its funny you guys are having such a frank discussion about this stuff, and no negative nancies have pissed all over the party. just buy it, and rip it apart and make it yours. fact is if its been sitting for over a year, no one gives a shaZam! about it. all you need to cover your ass, unless you are a shady @$$hole and you end up in front of a judge that wants to rape you, is a bill of sale from the previous person in possession of it, thats all. then you are covered.  break it down and do what you want with it, if you dont, someone else will, i certainly would. most people would, they simply wouldnt say so openly.

as for vin numbers, some cops will run them for you, and remember that they did when they see you on the bike, but also almost ALL dmvs have a service you pay a nominal amount for, and they run the vin number. its simple, legal, and accurate.

[The Buddha]

Oh yea, if its stolen, you definietly dont want any money owed on it ... 
Cool.
Srinath.

[suzukimx4789]

Just make a few phone calls, or do a carfax to see the history of the bike.  When I purchased an old Jeep without a title, I carried the bill of sale to my insurance company and paid $65.00 for them to issue a title bond.  With that, I was able to do to the courthouse and get a title for it in my name.  Why swap anything out?  Why go through all the trouble if the bike's already in decent shape.  Why try to swap frames or vin's?  It's simple.  Call around and find a place that does title bonds and that way you're 100% legal, no questions asked!

whats the point of a bill of sale from someone who never "legally" owned the bike to an insurance company?.... its still in the guys name who the person im buying it from bought it from .....maby 
so theres no way in hell any insurance agency will accept it cus itd be no different than having a total stranger write a bill of sale for something they have never seen or owned to the insurance agency

[suzukimx4789]

Oh yea, if its stolen, you definietly dont want any money owed on it ... 
Cool.
Srinath.

well i dont mind owing the current owner

[cd]

if you are too dumb to figure out what the value in getting a bos is, you probably wont last that long riding, so make sure to call me when you eat shiit so i can buy your bikes and make some money off them

[suzukimx4789]

...............OK        

[The Buddha]

if you are too dumb to figure out what the value in getting a bos is, you probably wont last that long riding, so make sure to call me when you eat shiit so i can buy your bikes and make some money off them

Some states give a lot of weight to a BOS including let you keep and register it if its old like GA I believe, but other states dont give a crap even if its from the previous owner like I believe CA and TX. NC does want BOS but it must me notarised and have title with it in the same name as previous owner. NC does not want a double transfer even if the state it is from allows it, and heck SC allows that.
So BOS has value depending on your state, it will more than likely keep you from getting arrested with a "stolen bike " while transporting it especially if you get the guy's license number and address and have it notarised in almost any state unless you're on the terrorist watch list.
Cool.
Srinath.

[spc]

GA doesn't require anything more than a handwritten BOS for a vehicle over 25 years old.  It doesn't matter who the Bill of Sale is from.  SC appears to be awesome for registering shaZam!.  It seems like they just don't care.........salvage, totalled, whatever if you want to register it they'll let you

[suzukimx4789]

GA doesn't require anything more than a handwritten BOS for a vehicle over 25 years old.  It doesn't matter who the Bill of Sale is from.  SC appears to be awesome for registering shaZam!.  It seems like they just don't care.........salvage, totalled, whatever if you want to register it they'll let you

why cant michigan be like that