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I purchased a 1999 HD Heritage Softail Classic about a year & 1/2 ago from a "friend." It had a clear title & I registered & titled in my name. I decided to sell the bike & discovered there was no vin on the frame. The bike had been modified with a S & S Super Stock engine & other extra's. I talked to the person who sold it to me & he told me that the frame was a after market light weight frame, & had no vin number on the frame. So I ran the vin number on the title & it's for a 1998 MG.The title reads Harley 1999 mc. My question is should the S&S engine have a vin number & on it & where would it be located? I found out that in the state of Ms the police can conficate any bike without a vin as contraband. Can anyone please advise me on how to correct this PLEASE?
How did you run the vin? A Harley vin should start with a 1 and an MG should start with an S (assuming they are still made in England). Online decoders meant for cars and trucks can say funny stuff about bikes. Use the motorcycle decoder at motoverse.com. I've found it very good.
Unfortunately, if the vin on the title can't be found on the bike, you may not actually own the bike, and the title may be worthless. Depending on the laws in your state, you may have to get a home built or custom title and affix your own vin. Here in TX, the engine numbers are ignored.
Or keep renewing what you have, register and insure it every year and hope it gets stolen.
Sherrie, these things with questionable titles in Mississippi can be a nightmare. I would probably just go to DMV, explain the situation, and hope for the best. I'm just praying you're not dealing with a stolen bike. Good luck.
I reread your original post. It's a '99 Heritage, but it has an S&S engine and aftermarket frame, and the only VIN numbers are on the title that the seller gave you, if I read it right. Something is just not right here. Did you look closely at the base of the engine on the left side, around the base gaskets for numbers? The frame, in the neck, left side, in front of the gas tank?
She said she thought it was a modified frame. If it was a modified Harley frame, where did the numbers disappear to that should be stamped on the neck? We're talking about a Heritage Softail here, not a garage built chopper.
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