"That you can't see"? Like invisible? What pray tell invisible problems may exist?

I could certainly see a person who isn't capable (or not interested) in a rebuild, but there are no problems that would exist that could not be found and remediated by a skilled bike builder.

Major or minor bent frames included.

This tread is a fountain of misinformation.

 

You go buy a salvaged bike, pay good money for it, then you find out down the road the funny way it handles on a sweeping left turn is because the frame is tweaked and must be replaced.... now you are "upside down" in a huge way because you need to lay out some cash for a frame, deal with the title issues that are going to come with it when you change the VIN's, etc.

If you were going to start with a Aftermarket frame, with a certificate of origin and a 17 digit federally compliant VIN from a "manufacturer", a salvage bike is a good source of parts.... it is one thing if you start a project that way, it is another if you are forced into it because you got a bad frame on a wreck.


and yes anything can be fixed... you can jack up the front master cylinder cover and slide another bike under it... problem solved.

The reason it is totaled is not because of damage, it is because it is not economically wise for an insurance company to repair the vehicle.

I have sectioned cars, and there is a ZR-1 vette out there in MA with a clean title and the back half of a ZR-1 from Texas... Owner wrecked the car, no insurance, sold it cheap, buddy bought it, got a back clip shipped up from Texas and we spent the weekend on the frame machine measuring it out and putting it back together....

 

ok so he buys them and fixes them for resale .. oranges and douhnuts here I thought we were talking about buying a salvaged titled bike for your self and ridding it for a while then trading it in or selling privately . if this guy is fixing salvaged titled bikes and reselling them he has to charge for his time and parts no? geeze

 

For spare parts,if cheap enough.I wouldn't be putting money into one.

 

I have purchased and rebuilt two in Minnesota. You get them inspected after the repairs and get a brand new clean title. Traded one to the dealer at kbb value no questions asked. State dependent I guess.

 

The purpose of my post was to show that these bikes do have some problems with resale. After further checking it seems this guy has had his 4 bikes for sale for more than the few months I originally though, at a 30% discount off market value. I would expect that he is indeed expecting to enjoy a profit for his labor and parts, as I would expect the original poster would like to be able to sell his salvage bike for market value or near market value at some time down the road. The question is how is market value effected on salvage bikes? THAT is what I was pointing out, Or did you miss that? geeze .

 

Some flippers know how to "wash" the title and get the stigma removed, so they can sell you a recovered-wreck bike without you knowing about it.

 

Several years ago I bought a Harley with a salvage title. I didn't personally know the guy selling it, but knew of and heard many good things about the guy who rebuilt it from wrecked to running. Based on his reputation and a long test ride (most of the afternoon) I bought it cheap. Paid cash and put liability insurance on it without hassle. Had it a couple of years and put several thousand miles on it, even got arrested on it for doing 100mph, lol. Then I started making more money and decided to upgrade to a new fatboy. Harley dealership took it without flinching and gave me more on trade than I paid for it.....true. Spoke with the salesman few weeks later and he said they sold it within two days. And from what he said, they made money on it.

With all that said, I would do a lot of research on the bike and builder before I bought one and would take a long, long test ride. If I was trying to sell one, I'd take it for many long trips, like sturgis, take a lot of pics to show the prospective buyer where all you've taken it and all the miles you've put on it without hesitation. Demonstrate the reliability and safety of the bike.

Guys, this thread is a couple of years old....Kevinmach1, what happened with the duece?

 

oh I thought every one already knew a salvage titled bike will not bring market value . unless you can fix the bikes title .I know in some states you can get the title changed from salvaged to rebuilt or in some cases a new clean title

 

thanks kicksjay some people are so frightend about a bike with a salvaged title here in ca once you have a salvaged titled bike it can not be changed . there for in ca if you buy a salvaged titled bike do not expect to be able to sell it very easy nor trade it in or sell it at any great profit hence forth know what your buying know what its going to take to fix it and expect to hold on to it for a while. as I have stated before I got my rk for a song .. notice I did not say a song and a dance , I did not have to put very much money into it it was ridable from day one the money I did put into it was for looks ie new fender and paint , the rest of the money I have put into it was for my personal likes and desires. like dual headers different seat exc. see I already knew I was not going to sell it . again thanks for the info on minnesots rule on fixing a salvaged title .. I just might move to minn get a new title for my rk , before I sell it ,if I ever deside to sell it which I doubt I ever will.i think the most people that have negative things to say about salvaged titled bikes my already be thinking about selling a bike if they really don't like riding enough . who knows ?fact is I have a rare bike hd says less than 100 of mine were built . because of the color .any one that has ever complimented me on my rk never said wow nice bike is the title clean or is it salvaged !!!