If I wanted to make money off of it, I'd probably dump the Harley frame/VIN, turn the parts into a cool custom chopper/bobber with a $1,000-1,500 hardtail or softail frame and sell it for a profit, titled as a custom instead of a salvage.

Second choice? part it out on Ebay and make a profit.

You only lose if you are dead set on restoring it with the original VIN.

 

Not true

 

If I didn't plan to ever sell it and the bike had a straight frame then yeah I'd consider it.

Value will always be lower on a salvage bike Vs and clean bike. Thats a fact.

 

Not all salvage titles mean the bike was wrecked. My brother-in-law bought two Sportys several years ago when that hurricane hit Homestead Florida. They had water damage. He changed the oil a couple of times in each one. We rode them for awhile and then he sold them. Made a good profit too.

 

My current bile had a salvage title to it. I had no problem insuring it and have had no problem at all. I've had it to 125 MPH it rides straight as an arrow.
Arizona took the salvage off the title when i replaced all the broken parts tank,speedometers,brake peddle. It not for sale so I never worried about resale on it.

 

Personally I would my last three groundup builds are all salvaged titles.A lot of the bikes getting totalled by the insurance Co.s have nothing more than sheet metal damage nothing wrong with the frames.
Building bikes gives one a better idea of what to look for and it is not rocket science.Too many people are afraid of salvaged titles because of the greedy lowlifes that will try to pass on vehicles that are basically junk,or need more work than they are worth.
A buyer knowing what to look for can save a lot of money and in some cases get an incredible deal.For example thinking about selling our 02 RK 124"S&S with IST all polished aluminum approx 5k miles on complete new drivetrain.
All the issues you hear about must be state specific in our state except for financing, salvaged bikes are treated like new or used bikes.

 

Exactly.

 

When I was looking for my bagger I looked for wrecked bikes. There is a place nearby that picks them up from the insurance auctions. 06-09's go for around 7-9,500.00. Most of them need forks, fender, one side bags, one side acessories replaced/upgraded due to scapes, and paint. I ended up buying the one I have already done for 11K. It was parked and a nice elderly lady backed over it and proceeded to drive away.

Most bikes in my area like mine with a clean title go for 15-17K. I would buy another one.

 

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I bought my 07 rk knowing it had a salvaged title . after completely getting it checked out. I got to take it for a long ride. the seller explanded to me the story of the bike . it was stloen from his driveway then recoverd after it was wecked, the insurance company had already paid him off. he bought it back from them and put it up for sale . this was what the damage amounted to bent tweek front fender dented cow bells two small dents on the upper left hand side of the gas tank . not to much as to think the insurance co would have fixed it right ? here is the reason they did not . #1 the paint can not be matched the paint cant be bought not even from Harley them selves Harley wil not even paint anything you send to them . strange you may think ? ok here is why as it pertains to my road king . the paint color was only on less than 100 road kings they wanted 900.00 + for a pre painted fender in my color . now add what ever the pre painted gas would have been plus the labor and they had already paid off on it .. would I expect to get even a low blue book trade in value if I was to sell it ? nope do I plan on or did I plan on selling it when I bought it ? nope I have made changes on the bike to suit me ie lowerd it down some added dual headers and pipes new hard bags bad lander seat tunes with amp . polished the front forks pinstriped windshield and such this bike gets incrediable gas milage depending on how I ride it . on the botton scale ive got 36 mpg running hard and fast . riding nicely I have got 60 mpg . average im running 46 mpg . ive done a lot to this bike everything done buy my self or with help from a retired Harley mech. its fast enough for me it rides great I have never had any problems with it .. so sell it? not on your life not even if I could get top clean title price for it .

 

Once a title is branded, there are states where you cannot register the vehicle. There are additional states where you cannot get insurance which = you cant register it. Most banks will not issue a secured loan on it... My buddy who's an indy will buy them for 35 to 50 cents on the real dollar and only use them for parts..