title/frame help? my bike doesnt exist?

[adidasguy]

You said CarFax shows it shipped to a dealer? Isn't the dealer listed?
Curious about the other places that show 3 records for that VIN.

Don't people realize that sometimes a computer record could get lost? 

If the original dealer doesn't exist and no other records show, I guess it is just lazy DMV and government people that don't want to just do a title. Here they can look up even a partial VIN. Could be the VIN was entered wrong on some transaction and now it is lost. I had that happen when someone left out a digit on the VIN. Records were found and even the VIN corrected in the system.

Maybe time to call your local politicians or a TV station with a problem solver?

When you run the plate, does anything come up?

[aaronmact]

The Carfax didn't say. It just said march 1993 shipped from manufacturer to original  dealer. And that was it. 
As fas as the plates nothing came back. So I don't quite know what I'll do since I have no clue where to start but I might buy one of the "3" reports first.

[adidasguy]

I'd buy one with 3 - as all probably have the same 3.
CarFax seems lame if it doesn't list the dealer.
There are pay-for services that do plates.
After all, if you have a real VA license plate - the state MUST have a record of it. If not, then computer records were lost somewhere. A clever person might check adjacent plates and see if they, too, are missing from the records. And again it can be someone typing in a wrong number somewhere.

Not sure if you said, but did the person you bought it from ever have a registration for thee plates? If so, then they can be looked up by that person's name.

It looks more like a block of computer data got lost somewhere along the line. Probably corrupt data or data lost when someone wrote bad database software. Too bad you have to pay the price for computer problems.

What's the plate number, state and year? (If you don't mind saying so some of us can browse in our spare time)

[Old Mechanic]

The PO could have just run a plate without registration, but the state inspector is supposed to look at the registration when he performs an anual inspection. I bought my 94 in late May-early June (not operational). A week or so later I got it operational and transferred the title and got plates. Now the DMV says I bought it a year earlier, even though my title shows the previous title number. It's not worth the crap to get them to straighten it out.

regards
Mech

[aaronmact]

No he didn't have a registration for it either. He was just some redneck and I bought the bike for 100 bucks.   Here's the plates

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[The Buddha]

No he didn't have a registration for it either. He was just some redneck and I bought the bike for 100 bucks.   Here's the plates

In some of "those" cases, I'd first register the thing before deciding if it was going to live or die ...
I'd do a vin cut job ... in any case try it otherwise, some states are simply put, harda$$es.
Cool.
Buddha.

[radodrill]

You may even look into getting it titled as a reconstructed/specially constructed/replica vehicle.

just trying to throw out additional possibilities.

[adidasguy]

What about the abandoned vehicle process? You can do it on-line. $25 fee.

http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/#abandoned.html

https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/apps/AVP/AbandonedVehicles_FAQ.aspx

What is the AVP?

State law automates DMV's AVP, making it easier for people to remove and dispose of an abandoned motor vehicle, trailer, or manufactured home left on the highway and public property, or private property. For a $25 AVP fee, information about an abandoned vehicle, trailer, or manufactured home in your possession may be entered into the AVP on dmvNOW.com. Not all vehicles and users are eligible to utilize the AVP. Vehicles which qualify for a Mechanic's and Storage Lien may not be processed as abandoned vehicles. The website explains the legal requirements for vehicle removal and disposition. Owners of vehicles, trailers or manufactured homes that are considered abandoned may be notified by a certified letter from DMV that they must reclaim their vehicle or trailer within 15 days (120 days for manufactured homes). If it is not reclaimed, it may be auctioned, re-titled or demolished after an additional 21 days.

Who is eligible to use the AVP on DMV's website?

Individuals, businesses, or government agencies in possession of a vehicle, trailer or manufactured home that meets the definition of abandoned

How does the online AVP work?

The new procedure allows those in possession of an abandoned vehicle to initiate a records request on www.dmvNOW.com. If a Virginia vehicle owner or lienholder is found during the records request, DMV will send a certified letter advising them to remove the vehicle from the property.

If no vehicle owner is found in Virginia, DMV will provide that specific state's contact information for use in a letter requesting the vehicle's owners or lienholders, provided the state participates in the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System.

[The Buddha]

Usually that abandoned vehicle process they send a registered mail to the previous registered owner on record.
The response/or lack there of from that delivered mail makes it to where it will be titled to your name.
If the letter never gets delivered, or it does not "exist" you wont get squat.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Turd Ferguson]

Sounds to me like this thing was simply never "sold" by the original dealership.  I bought my GS after it sat in the crate at a dealer for 1 year.  If I hadn't bought it, who knows where it would have ended up.  They probably had an MSO at one point, but perhaps the bike was loaned out or used by friends or shop employees because it didn't sell.  I know some guys with a bike shop and this has happened with a couple of cheaper bikes.  It becomes the loaner for several years and eventually trades hands and ends up with bogus plates on it.

If you know the dealership, you should definitely contact them.

Dan

[adidasguy]

Here  they allow 3 years for the original  owner to show up. No response or no address is irrelevant. It is on public record. If you can't contact anyone or no one shows up, in 3 years it is yours free and clear. Until then you do get a dirty title and a license plate.
The law has to allow for situations where there is no one out there, who was there is dead, or whomever is out there doesn't care to respond.

There are other ways to get a title. "Custom Vehicle" comes in to play. That's how you license a totally hand built bike (like Custom Choppers and so forth). Though those usually would require an inspection to be road worthy.

[Blueknyt]

im telling you, Find a titled frame and transplant everything.   retain original bill of sale as proof of purchase for the engine as parts, everything else that makes up the bike is un traceable.

[adidasguy]

im telling you, Find a titled frame and transplant everything.   retain original bill of sale as proof of purchase for the engine as parts, everything else that makes up the bike is un traceable.

That really would be an easy thing. Since you paid $100 for the bike, even at $300 for a titled frame you're way ahead.
Motor serial numbers are not on titles around here nor any I have seen. I guess because bike motors get changed out too often to bother tracing. Since there's no paperwork on your $100 bike, then get a frame. Move the parts. And go riding. If you were in Seattle, I'd consider selling you one of my spare frames. They show up on ebay. I've bought 3 that way. No, make that 4 frames. No, 5 frames. There's Frank, Phenix, the Husky bike and 2 more in the works. Never more that $350 and that was Phenix that was already cleaned and repainted. Others more like $150-$199 plus postage. always a clean title. Insure title is clean.

[aaronmact]

I'll probably just buy another frame since this is all such a hassle. Just wasn't sure if they came with titles. But I bought the bike for 100 and dumped 5-600 (If not more) into new parts or parts to get it to run. That's why I was trying to find a cheaper solution

[Old Mechanic]

The other side of the coin.

1962 Corvette, restored to 100% condition is sold at an auction. Ownership records show the same vin number was stolen from a used car lot in Florida 25 years earlier. The guy who owned the used car lot got the Corvette back, even though it was sold for $53K at the auction. The parties involved in the restoration lose the car and every penny of parts and every hour of labor spent fixing the car, which was on the lot for $2500 when stolen.

regrads
Mech

[aaronmact]

true.. and that's something I want to avoid. I know I've put quite a bit of my own money in (being this my first official vehicle without any parental help), so I'm afraid of taking a loss, either property wise or monetary wise.  Have any of you ever dealt with "usedcycleparts" on ebay? I believe they're based in Charlotte, Nc. They have a frame for 120, I asked about a title and he says he has a title, but the guy he bought it from signed his name on it.

[The Buddha]

If you do a frame transplant get the frame powdercoated your favorite color, no sense going to all this effort and not do that, the frame is painted with watercolor from the factory ... you want to get that replaced with something that may stand up to elements for more than a week.

Cool.
Buddha.

[adidasguy]

true.. and that's something I want to avoid. I know I've put quite a bit of my own money in (being this my first official vehicle without any parental help), so I'm afraid of taking a loss, either property wise or monetary wise.  Have any of you ever dealt with "usedcycleparts" on ebay? I believe they're based in Charlotte, Nc. They have a frame for 120, I asked about a title and he says he has a title, but the guy he bought it from signed his name on it.

I would not buy with a questionable title. No way. You would now have a title not in your name. More problems.  The seller can transfer the title into his name so it is clean.
Otherwise, look elsewhere.

You want 1989-2000 so your tank and tail plastics fit . Be sure of a clean title. Not a salvage title or "slvg" (usually salvage requires extra inspections and hassles). Motors are not on titles so you needn't worry about your motor number.

Try this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/00-Suzuki-GS500E-Frame-Chassis-Clean-EZ-Reg-Not-Slvg-GS500-GS-500-/130999142788?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e80284984&vxp=mtr

[TwistedKestrel]

Sounds to me like this thing was simply never "sold" by the original dealership.  I bought my GS after it sat in the crate at a dealer for 1 year.  If I hadn't bought it, who knows where it would have ended up.  They probably had an MSO at one point, but perhaps the bike was loaned out or used by friends or shop employees because it didn't sell.  I know some guys with a bike shop and this has happened with a couple of cheaper bikes.  It becomes the loaner for several years and eventually trades hands and ends up with bogus plates on it.

If you know the dealership, you should definitely contact them.

Dan

My gut tells me that this is along the right lines. It's common practice, at least here, to buy new bikes without titles for use as race bikes. Generally it's done to save a few bucks - dealership is happy to do less work, etc. This is a completely legal arrangement, with the consequence that the bikes are impossible/extremely difficult to ever register down the line. So it's possible that the dealer sold it in good faith without a title for some reason.

I would contact Suzuki US, explaining your situation, and see if they can tell you what dealer the bike was shipped to.

My gut also tells me that if it does turn out that the bike was never titled to begin with, you're never going to be able to register it (but I don't know enough about US law to say this is definitely the case)

[aaronmact]

forgive my ignorance but what is suzuki na? Suzuki national?  And I feel the same way about the frame I found, Ive figure Ive had enough bad luck dealing with dodgy titles.