Buying wrecked bikes to repair.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 540
Likes: 36
From: Tulsa Ok
There is a guy about 50 miles from me that makes his living rebuilding wrecked bikes. We bought 2 bikes from him. Both bikes were lightly damaged. 1 had a dent in the tank and lost the saddlebag. We live in Oklahoma and paid cash. No issues with tag or insurance.
I hope this helps.
I hope this helps.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 393
Likes: 308
From: Northern Cali
This is my impression as well, not to mention the bad mojo that can go with a wrecked bike!
Why the eff do we ride with gremlin bells
Why the eff do we ride with gremlin bells
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,131
Likes: 3,638
From: backwoods
I might do it as project with hopes of saving money if I was going to keep it.
Probably better off with one that hasn't ran in years or something wrong and owner doesn't want to fix. Rollthe dice
Probably better off with one that hasn't ran in years or something wrong and owner doesn't want to fix. Rollthe dice
Stage I
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: MI/AZ
Salvage Bikes
Sign up with Copart. There are locations nationwide. You can pick a lot of stuff up on auction quite cheaply. Yes, some have fire damage, other ones it's only cosmetic (fender, fairing, etc.) that insurance companies deemed totaled. Look on FB Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist and OfferUp.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 7,675
Likes: 8,401
From: Utah
I rebuilt 2, both totaled 2012 ultra limiteds. Both had a lot of damage, found 1 on eBay the other in a salvage yard in Michigan.
When I finished the first one, spring of 2013, my wife and I rode about 30 miles out of town, swapped bikes and she rode the new bike home. When we got home she just grinned at me and said, this is my bike! She rode it for 2 years.
The second one I traded in on a new 2015 and was very happy with the deal.
In Utah you get a rebuilt title.
I really enjoyed fixing those 2 bikes.
crashed Toys looks like a good site.
When I finished the first one, spring of 2013, my wife and I rode about 30 miles out of town, swapped bikes and she rode the new bike home. When we got home she just grinned at me and said, this is my bike! She rode it for 2 years.
The second one I traded in on a new 2015 and was very happy with the deal.
In Utah you get a rebuilt title.
I really enjoyed fixing those 2 bikes.
crashed Toys looks like a good site.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,380
Likes: 3,347
From: usa
I would say , it would be to get the bike from the owner if he is still in possession of it . Because once the dealer get it , they look at it as a new bike sale if they total it . But then the bikes title get branded for life . And believe me the service managers are masters of swindling you out of your bike and insurance companies out of their money .
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,239
Likes: 3,261
From: west Michigan
I shopped for wrecked bikes at a few local junkyards several years ago, mainly BMWs. I made notes on the price of the bike and the parts that I would have to replace. When I priced the replacement parts and added that to the price of the bike, I wound up at blue book retail value, with no allowance for a salvage title. My labor would have been worth nothing. The bikes that showed the most promise for me were Touring bikes with damaged bodywork that were still in good running order. I could have stripped them and made them into Base model bikes but that still wasn't worth it to me.
I did buy a nice looking, non-running, theft recovery, Honda XR100 for my ten-year-old daughter. When I was done with the bike, I had replaced the engine's entire top end. For the money I had into that bike, I could have bought a clean, running used XR100. We did have some good times trail riding.
I did buy a nice looking, non-running, theft recovery, Honda XR100 for my ten-year-old daughter. When I was done with the bike, I had replaced the engine's entire top end. For the money I had into that bike, I could have bought a clean, running used XR100. We did have some good times trail riding.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 3,167
Likes: 2,207
From: College Station, TX
I've purchased several over the years and enjoyed repairing them. But I had no expectation of making money form it. After repairing them, I typically rode them for a year or more before selling. And then setting the price low because of the branded title. Usually just braking even, but enjoying the process and riding them. Insurance them has never been a problem.
Personally, I'd avoid Copart like the plague. I've seen bikes that have been stripped of parts, so seeing the bikes in person to inspect is a must because there is no recourse after the fact.
Each state has their own set of rules, so I'd urge anyone considering it to check that out first. Again, keep your expectations realistic. Do your homework on the needed repairs to estimate the cost so you know how much to spend on a damaged bike. Keep all receipts for parts purchased for the repairs and document all repairs including some pictures along thwe way. But don't expect to sell a bike with a branded title for KBB full retail price.
Paul
Personally, I'd avoid Copart like the plague. I've seen bikes that have been stripped of parts, so seeing the bikes in person to inspect is a must because there is no recourse after the fact.
Each state has their own set of rules, so I'd urge anyone considering it to check that out first. Again, keep your expectations realistic. Do your homework on the needed repairs to estimate the cost so you know how much to spend on a damaged bike. Keep all receipts for parts purchased for the repairs and document all repairs including some pictures along thwe way. But don't expect to sell a bike with a branded title for KBB full retail price.
Paul
Last edited by pgreer; Mar 11, 2024 at 11:39 AM.
