Salvage title question
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 6
From: Greensboro, NC
Salvaged titles are bad ju-ju and no they can never legally be clear titled.
There a TON of salvaged title bikes coming out of Nashville right now due to the flooding there earlier this year as there is a major repo HD lot/seller there.
For the bikes to have salvaged titles the salesman is lying to you as the reason. Like already said, a dented gas tank or a stolen bike doesn't get salvaged titles.
$6,000 for bikes that old with salvaged titles is about twice what they are worth.
Also check with you insurance company as a lot of companies will not insure salvaged titled bikes and banks won't touch them and that is part of what makes selling them so hard.
There a TON of salvaged title bikes coming out of Nashville right now due to the flooding there earlier this year as there is a major repo HD lot/seller there.
For the bikes to have salvaged titles the salesman is lying to you as the reason. Like already said, a dented gas tank or a stolen bike doesn't get salvaged titles.
$6,000 for bikes that old with salvaged titles is about twice what they are worth.
Also check with you insurance company as a lot of companies will not insure salvaged titled bikes and banks won't touch them and that is part of what makes selling them so hard.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 727
Likes: 1
From: Silverdale, WA
Can't trade one usually either, dealer won't touch a salvage bike here for trade or consignment. I have a salvage '02 Deuce that I would happily sell you for $6000. Beautiful bike, ridden for 6 years since repair... I have spent some time fixing the corners that were cut when it was originally reassembled (not by me), but it is better now.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 1
From: LI, NY
Can't trade one usually either, dealer won't touch a salvage bike here for trade or consignment. I have a salvage '02 Deuce that I would happily sell you for $6000. Beautiful bike, ridden for 6 years since repair... I have spent some time fixing the corners that were cut when it was originally reassembled (not by me), but it is better now.
Who is in business to not make money on a deal, let alone lose money on a deal?
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
I bought a truck with a salvage title from another state and had to take the truck to get it inspected before they would give me a salvage title from the state i am in. costed about 150 bucks. Call your tag office and they should be able to tell you what you will need.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 5
From: Massachusetts
I was looking at an 05 FXDWG with a salvage title, before I got my Softy (clean title), and it was around 8 K, 2 years ago. Missing front fender, fugged up taillight and some very minor damage. But my credit union didn't finance salvage vehicles, so I got myself he other bike.
I was told by the dealer that salvage bikes come with some paperwork from the insurance, why the bike has been salvaged. Just ask for that report, and you will see why they had to pay it off. A crunched gas tank and a few scratches can be enough. If it's a flood damage: run, Forrest, run.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
Maybe 3-4K is a little low because you CAN part the bike out and get some money back. But I wouldn't be buying a Salvage title 05 Dyna Wide Glide for 8 Thou either. Just like you said, people don't want to finance them, and dealers don't want to trade them in. I would buy a salvage title bike if I got a deal on it (and planned on just keeping it regardless of value). But with Harleys current resale value there are enough clear titled Harleys around. My buddy bought an 02 Springer Softail nothing wrong with it for $4K. Guy needed to pay his mortgage. He turned around and re-sold it for $6K thinking he did good. Only thing wrong with the bike was the aftermarket paint job, the owner was stuck in the 90's I guess. It was lemon yellow with black and white checkerboard highlights on it.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs
Everybody would love to go out and buy a brand new Harley and chrome it all out but, many cant' afford that so they buy a used bike maybe a year or two old. Some can't afford that either so they buy one 5-10 years old.
Some can't afford that either or don't want a 10 year old bike so, they look at salvage title bikes. You get what you can afford if you really want a bike. A salvage title bike may be the only choice of the OP for a bike of that year and mileage.
As for resale, I can darn well gaurrantee that those that bought brand new chromed out bikes will lose WAY more money on resale after a couple of years of riding, than you would on a salvage title bike for 6k.
If all you can afford is a salvage title bike, make sure you know exactly the damage that occured, and know that it was repaired by a reputable shop. If you don't have either of that info, keep looking.
As for the price of the bikes the OP is looking at, I can't tell you if it is a good price because I haven't shopped around at S titled bikes.
Some can't afford that either or don't want a 10 year old bike so, they look at salvage title bikes. You get what you can afford if you really want a bike. A salvage title bike may be the only choice of the OP for a bike of that year and mileage.
As for resale, I can darn well gaurrantee that those that bought brand new chromed out bikes will lose WAY more money on resale after a couple of years of riding, than you would on a salvage title bike for 6k.
If all you can afford is a salvage title bike, make sure you know exactly the damage that occured, and know that it was repaired by a reputable shop. If you don't have either of that info, keep looking.
As for the price of the bikes the OP is looking at, I can't tell you if it is a good price because I haven't shopped around at S titled bikes.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 14
From: navarre ohio
most bikes that are totaled are from frame damage.. and 3/4 of that is just scratches that could easily be touched up or the tab between the downtubes bent where the crashbar mounts.. my bike had the botom frame tube smashed into the oil pan it was a big gamble but all it took to fix was strip the frame down and take it to a resto shop that cut the bad section out,put frame in jig to make sure it was strait and weld a piece from anouther "salvage"frame.. it cost me $150 for the repair. and i bought a oilpan on ebay for$20.. still had to buy a lot of little parts. i only have $6500 in to my 01 electraglideclassic
after the inspection i have a plain ohio, harley davidson, title.. it says rebuilt in small print in one corner
after the inspection i have a plain ohio, harley davidson, title.. it says rebuilt in small print in one corner
Last edited by j1mmy; Sep 22, 2010 at 04:59 PM.
