| Author | Message | ||
     Mmmi_grad |
Im curious with so many frames out there I guess I gota ask. Every state is maybe different but in general what happens to a bikes title if you change the frame??????? What is the deal with changeing frames anyway. If my title matchs the motor and the frame does not does that mean a cop can take the bike? What if I put this frame in and went to sell the bike , would you just have to note that change on the title or would it turn it into a custom build bike or something??????????????? (Message edited by mmmi_grad on June 03, 2006) | ||
| Phatkidwit1eye |
I'm dealing with this right now. In the state of Nebraska you must have the Title for the new frame you want to use. (the 200 dollar frame I bought, with no title, is only good if I wanted to make mine a track bike, even with a bill of sale) What they (Nebraska DMV) are going to do is: 1. Combine titles 2. I have to apply for a new vin plate with a new combined vin number 3. Get a new vin plate and have it riveted over the old vin. That's what I've been told so far with my dealings with the Nebraska DMV. As always YMMV | ||
| Mmmi_grad |
that sounds way too restrictive!!! i mean if the numbers are clean, this is just admin crap. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
That's just assinine. What possible reason could they use to rationalize that? Sounds like the most easy thing would be to register it in different state. | ||
| Tom_b |
Most have their own rules for this, but USUALLY as long as you have a good title on the frame you are using you are O.K.. The title has to match the frame vin not always the engine. A frame with a good vin can have almost anything done to it as long as the stock vin is unaltered. Harleys are the only ones they really worry about engine and frame numbers matching as far as titleing and registering. This is done to make it hard for dishonest people to try and use stolen vehicles. Different states also have different rules depending on the age. In kansas if the bike is 35 yrs or older a title is not needed at registration. Phatkid, try and do a title search on the new frame to obtain a title. A title company can do that for about a hundred dollars. Has happended to me before well worth the money. that is why I'll never buy a frame or cycle again with no title unless for parts. When you put your parts on a different frame, it becomes that bike and the old title stays with the old frame. (Message edited by tom_b on June 03, 2006) | ||
| Phatkidwit1eye |
I have no clue what their reasoning is. I tried my best to dig through all the DMV info, but most of it was terribly vague (to say the least). I also talked to just about every one from the local DMV, to the state and the sheriff's office. At this point, I've made up my mind to jump through all of their hoops. I haven't been on two wheels since last august and it's killing me. What I posted is considered the "correct" way of going about this. I wouldn't doubt there are other ways. I just don't know anyone that has been through the process in Nebraska. So to avoid having anything blow up in my face, I'm going that route. | ||
| Slaughter |
First of all - the mistake you might be making is thinking LOGICALLY - you gotta throw that out the window. Now that you've done that, your VIN that you are buying has to have a title attached to it and the title has to be transferred through the DMV (here in CA) IF you got a motor and frame with non-matching VIN's you have to pay the devil if you only have a receipt from the seller. Track-only bike, sure but street-legal will be iffy in most states, here in CA it's impossible far as I know. I'm considering doing it by putting a Blast motor in my spare (street-legal) XB chassis and race it but keep it street-legal too! (makes no sense but hey - nothing else I do makes much sense either) | ||
| Kdan |
I got two words for you. Dremel tool and metal numbers and letters punch. Ok, that's like 8 words, but you get my drift. I used to build VW's when I was a kid and people would sell them to me for nothing. One I even picked up off the curb during bulk garbage day. I always had a title for one or two and when I swapped frames or bodies the numbers always miraculously matched my title. Don't be afraid to lie and cheat. No one else is. | ||
| Odie |
When I returned from Germany I went to register my Harley in Alabama with title in hand. DMV told me I needed the previous registration. I tossed the Germany registration because I was sure, since it was a DoD document, that it wouldn't be needed for anything. Wrong! I brainstormed for a few hours and called the DMV. I asked them what was needed to register a bike I just bought used. She said a title and a bill of sale. I sold my Harley to my friend for $1 and gave him a bill of sale. We stood there together and he registered it, turned around (in front of her still) sold it back to me for $1 and then I registered it in my name (I gave him his dollar back too!). It was a pain but we beat the system. Maybe something you need to do where you are as someone above suggested. Good luck! | ||
| Cowboy |
Here in Louisiana you can get a dealer to make you a salvage title. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
You better be careful if you falsify the numbers on a case. If they catch you, I think it's a felony. My aunt works in a lab for the oregon police department and says you can get numbers from filed surfaced using acid and I think a polarized lens. I the original numbers turn out to have been stolen 15 years ago, tag! you're it! Remember that you can be thrown in jail for breaking dumb laws just as easy as breaking smart laws. | ||
| Kdan |
Remember that you can be thrown in jail for breaking dumb laws just as easy as breaking smart laws. If you get caught. Therein lies the rub. If you're dealing in stolen parts, yeah, if you're dealing in legally acquired parts, it's not going to be reported stolen. And then you'll say, "but how do you know the part isn't stolen?", then I'll say, "reasonable deduction and common sense." Then you'll say, "but you'll never be sure!" Then I'll say, "well, you have to assume some risk in life. I ride a motorcycle and smoke, I don't plan to live forever." There are at least 6 VW's running around the Northeast at this point that have non-original mated parts. So far, I'm not singing love songs to Bubba in Fulsom. | ||
| Mmmi_grad |
ofcorse its a felony to mess with any motor numbers. The FBI busted a dealership in north west OH for messing with Harley vin numbers and such. Cowboy you wana elaborate on that? "Here in Louisiana you can get a dealer to make you a salvage title." OK so still no news on a good way to make a good clean frame work with a titled motor.............hmmmmmmmm not good. I dont wana make this sound too complicated but what happens when the red neck mutant buell boys do it? They have a motor and a title and just add a custom frame and thats ok to everyone and the law these days? So maybe if thats so then i might ask what is the diff adding a OEM frame to a motor that is currently owned and titled. | ||
| Cochise |
My question is: Are you replacing a broken frame off your bike? If so, I believe you can call your dealership who can get you a new frame and with your vin number restamped, (on XBs) but I think by default it will have a disclaimer on the title. You can get a Special Construction, I believe for any frame, but it depends on what state you are in. Some states, if you buy a salvaged bike, you can rebuild it, have it inspected and all will be okay, your bike will be rebuilt, but you will have a regular title. Disclaimer:The views expressed by Cochise are not always the same as Badweb. | ||
| Smoke |
hey phat, what kind of frame did you get? tim | ||
| Chellem |
If you get the new frame from a Harley dealer, they MUST return the neck from the original frame in order to get the new frame restamped with the original VIN. Harley is incredibly serious about frame swaps, for good reason. But that doesn't sound like what you're trying to do here. At least in Jersey, no title, no registration. I don't know of any exceptions. And it is to reduce theft. It's not so unreasonable when you think about the opposite. Say someone stole your bike, broke it down for parts and sold it. Would you want DMV to just issue a new title with no word for the jerk who stole your bike? Or just the frame? Or just the engine? Ya know, "you look like an honest guy. Here's a title." You should try to contact the manufacturer of the frame, and see if they can reissue you a MSO, or direct you to the dealer/vendor who originally sold it, and maybe they have one. Frames come with MSOs. It's out there somewhere. We have people who don't realize how important the MSO is until they go to the DMV. If we sold the frame, we can usually call the manufacturer and ask them to issue a duplicate MSO. Fairly straightforward. | ||
| Chellem |
PS In jersey also, I believe a bike with an MSO for the frame and a separate one for the engine would be considered a "reconstruct", which you CAN get a title for, if you have all the MSOs and what-not. Good luck with insurance though. :P | ||
| Brucelee |
Each state is different. In CA, the frame and the motor S/N are both listed on the title. If you show up with a change from what is on the title, you have some 'spaining to do. | ||
| Mmmi_grad |
My question is: Are you replacing a broken frame off your bike? If so, I believe you can call your dealership who can get you a new frame and with your vin number restamped, (on XBs) but I think by default it will have a disclaimer on the title. You can get a Special Construction, I believe for any frame, but it depends on what state you are in. Some states, if you buy a salvaged bike, you can rebuild it, have it inspected and all will be okay, your bike will be rebuilt, but you will have a regular title. Yes Cochise thats how it works in IN for cars I know cause a totaled my car a few years ago. Kept it and fixed it for about $500 bucks took salvage title to the BMV it was looked over and a new title was made. Good info to know if you ever want to swap a frame or something. | ||
| Slaughter |
As said above, HD and Buell both will sell a replacement frame with the same VIN if you send them the sawed-off steering head with the original VIN (I had even seen a Buell frame with the head sawed off on E-Bay!!!) The "value" is in the eye of the beholder. Mis-matched VIN's while legal would tell me (as a buyer) that there is a "story" hidden somewhere. It might make me think that there had been serious damage somewhere along the line in the bike's history. | ||
| Mmmi_grad |
Yeah ok great Harley will sell us a frame, Id rather buy a good frame that lost all its parts to a chopper or ebay if I had too. It doesnt make sence to write off a good frame. |
