Dyna Super Glide with a salvage title
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
I have bought many bikes with salvage titles and resold them as such with no problems. The way I see it, is Im buying at discount because of the title so I can sell it for less and still make money. I have never lost money on one of these. The Dyna I am currently riding had a salvage title, again just the tank was dented and the primary scratched, healight bolts snapped. Thats it. I fixed it all and actually the title came back clean? Still not sure about that one. Its been my experience that as long as you are upfront with the buyer and are honest, they dont mind buying a good bike at a good price, even if the title is salvaged. When I buy a bike formyself I usually look for a salvaged bike. Its only really important if you plan to sell it and even then I have not had a problem.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: NoVa
For me, that may be the only way to afford a second bike and as long as I knew what to expect from a liability perspective, I could live with it and ride it into the ground.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
No, I even have had full coverage on them. I have gotten loans for them as well. I get all my loans through State Farm though? They have their own bank and do loans. I have bought 9 bikes in 5 years, at least 4 have had salvage titles. No registration problems, no title problems, nothing, but I also live in TN and dont know what your state laws might be concerning salvage titles.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
Just crashed my 01 RoadKing in Sept. and got a little insight into this.
My crash bent the highway bar, floorboard, saddlebags, and tank dent (about the size of a quarter). I did my own estimate, being very generous, and got about $4K. Harleys estimate was over $10K. In todays economy our bikes aren’t worth much and the $10K estimate was too close to todays selling price for an 01 RoadKing with 50K on the clock so it was totaled. The insurance company offered to sell me the bike as a salvage, with a salvage title. As the insurance company totaled it it has to, by law, be assigned a salvage title.
Yes, a salvage title will affect the sale of the bike depending on who you are selling it to. Some folks will see it as permanently damaged and worth less, others could care less if the price is right.
Some states may have inspection laws to assure that a salvage titled vehicle applying for tags is road worthy, the same can be said for some insurance companies (State Farm seems to be the easiest to deal with in this area).
It can sometimes be a headache to transfer a salvage title from one state to another.
The term “clean title” can mean different things to different people. To me, a salvage title is still a clean title, it just has more restrictions associated with it.
My crash bent the highway bar, floorboard, saddlebags, and tank dent (about the size of a quarter). I did my own estimate, being very generous, and got about $4K. Harleys estimate was over $10K. In todays economy our bikes aren’t worth much and the $10K estimate was too close to todays selling price for an 01 RoadKing with 50K on the clock so it was totaled. The insurance company offered to sell me the bike as a salvage, with a salvage title. As the insurance company totaled it it has to, by law, be assigned a salvage title.
Yes, a salvage title will affect the sale of the bike depending on who you are selling it to. Some folks will see it as permanently damaged and worth less, others could care less if the price is right.
Some states may have inspection laws to assure that a salvage titled vehicle applying for tags is road worthy, the same can be said for some insurance companies (State Farm seems to be the easiest to deal with in this area).
It can sometimes be a headache to transfer a salvage title from one state to another.
The term “clean title” can mean different things to different people. To me, a salvage title is still a clean title, it just has more restrictions associated with it.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: CA
I'm not completely out of the woods with this thing yet. When I spoke to the seller on Tuesday he agreed to have my refund back to me Thursday if not sooner. We'll see what happens tomorrow. I'm pretty certain the money will be there.
I do my very best to be fair and give people the benefit of the doubt. I can't say 100% that this guy intentionally misrepresented the vehicle, so I when tomorrow rolls around and I have my money back, I'll leave the guy the feedback I think he deserves. Problem after the sale but seller rectified the error, refunded. If he gives me a song and dance then I'm going after him with both barrels, and will do whatever I can to destroy his eBay reputation as well as any future WWW business that he's involved in.
There are a few hoops you have to jump thru in the State of California to get a salvage title vehicle back on the road. The biggest one is an inspection with the DMV. You also have to prove with receipts that the vehicle has been repaired.
Chalk it up to a learning experience! Run the carfax before you do anything!!
Matt
I do my very best to be fair and give people the benefit of the doubt. I can't say 100% that this guy intentionally misrepresented the vehicle, so I when tomorrow rolls around and I have my money back, I'll leave the guy the feedback I think he deserves. Problem after the sale but seller rectified the error, refunded. If he gives me a song and dance then I'm going after him with both barrels, and will do whatever I can to destroy his eBay reputation as well as any future WWW business that he's involved in.
There are a few hoops you have to jump thru in the State of California to get a salvage title vehicle back on the road. The biggest one is an inspection with the DMV. You also have to prove with receipts that the vehicle has been repaired.
Chalk it up to a learning experience! Run the carfax before you do anything!!
Matt
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I was hit last June on my 08 SB. The front end was totaled and needed to be replaced. The tank had a ding in it the size of a quarter. There was a scrape on one of the pipes and I broke a turn signal. OK no big deal. As soon as I get my check I will order a new front end and fix the tank and be back on the road in no time.......Well the insurance company claimed it totaled, I asked why as the damage was really not that bad.......The answer was simple, it is easier to total the bike then it is to take it apart to make sure the frame was not damaged. So I got a big fat check, bought an 07 LR and my SB was sold for 4K and change on a website called COPART.com. I actually watched the auction and I was tempted to bid on her knowing that she only had 5600 miles and the damage was negligible....but she would have a salvaged title which would definitely hurt any resale value......From what I gather the insurance companies will total the bike because it is easier than paying the repair shop to take the bike apart to determine the full extent of the damage, selling the wreck at auction with a salvage title is quicker and easier for them.
Just crashed my 01 RoadKing in Sept. and got a little insight into this.
My crash bent the highway bar, floorboard, saddlebags, and tank dent (about the size of a quarter). I did my own estimate, being very generous, and got about $4K. Harleys estimate was over $10K. In todays economy our bikes arent worth much and the $10K estimate was too close to todays selling price for an 01 RoadKing with 50K on the clock so it was totaled. The insurance company offered to sell me the bike as a salvage, with a salvage title. As the insurance company totaled it it has to, by law, be assigned a salvage title.
Yes, a salvage title will affect the sale of the bike depending on who you are selling it to. Some folks will see it as permanently damaged and worth less, others could care less if the price is right.
Some states may have inspection laws to assure that a salvage titled vehicle applying for tags is road worthy, the same can be said for some insurance companies (State Farm seems to be the easiest to deal with in this area).
It can sometimes be a headache to transfer a salvage title from one state to another.
The term clean title can mean different things to different people. To me, a salvage title is still a clean title, it just has more restrictions associated with it.
My crash bent the highway bar, floorboard, saddlebags, and tank dent (about the size of a quarter). I did my own estimate, being very generous, and got about $4K. Harleys estimate was over $10K. In todays economy our bikes arent worth much and the $10K estimate was too close to todays selling price for an 01 RoadKing with 50K on the clock so it was totaled. The insurance company offered to sell me the bike as a salvage, with a salvage title. As the insurance company totaled it it has to, by law, be assigned a salvage title.
Yes, a salvage title will affect the sale of the bike depending on who you are selling it to. Some folks will see it as permanently damaged and worth less, others could care less if the price is right.
Some states may have inspection laws to assure that a salvage titled vehicle applying for tags is road worthy, the same can be said for some insurance companies (State Farm seems to be the easiest to deal with in this area).
It can sometimes be a headache to transfer a salvage title from one state to another.
The term clean title can mean different things to different people. To me, a salvage title is still a clean title, it just has more restrictions associated with it.
As per CARFAX.com....
Salvage Title A Salvage Title is issued on a vehicle damaged to the extent that the cost of repairing the vehicle exceeds ~ 75% of its pre-damage value. This damage threshold may vary by state. Some states treat Junk titles the same as Salvage but the majority use this title to indicate that a vehicle is not road worthy and cannot be titled again in that state. The following eleven states also use Salvage titles to identify stolen vehicles - AZ, FL, GA, IL, MD, MN, NJ, NM, NY, OK and OR.
The term clean or clear title actually means that there are no liens on the title against the property. In this case the motorcycle.
I really do not know what you were thinking bidding on a damaged motorcycle on eBay, but hey it is your money. IMHO you are better off checking in with a local indy or dealer for a basket case if you really want rebuild a motorcycle...profit...will never happen you may break even or gain very little profit, if you are purchasing replacement parts through catalogs independently.....hope you get refunded on this auction. I believe you will be.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 4
From: NC
Carfax is whack... I wouldnt trust that crap anyways. Just do a google on Carfax problems. They are bogus.
I have owned a salvage or reconstructed bike, but if you ever file a claim on your bike be prepared for low payouts on your insurance if its totaled again. I dont mind them if I can get them for around 50% of book completed and ready to ride. Less if the works not completed.
I have owned a salvage or reconstructed bike, but if you ever file a claim on your bike be prepared for low payouts on your insurance if its totaled again. I dont mind them if I can get them for around 50% of book completed and ready to ride. Less if the works not completed.