salvage title
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
salvage title
thought about getting a salvaged bike for cheap, fixing it over the next few years, and giving it to my son some day (he's 2 1/2). what's up with buying a bike at auction with a 'salvage title'? anyone had any issues, or been scammed?
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 195
Likes: 4
From: Washington
A neighbor bought a sporty from a auction with a salvage title and fixed it up. don't know the ins and outs but know here it had to be inspected before it was licensed. With a salvaged title it will never have a good resale value.
You may also want to fined out if your state lets your license it and if your insurance company will insure it.
If you decide to purchase one be sure to post what was entailed to get it licensed and insured.
You may also want to fined out if your state lets your license it and if your insurance company will insure it.
If you decide to purchase one be sure to post what was entailed to get it licensed and insured.
Tourer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
I buy wrecked bikes and fix them. You get an inspection done by the sheriff here and submit the paper work usually with a week you have a rebuilt title. It does affect the resale but not as bad as you would think when selling to an individual. Dealers usually wont buy them. My advise is to get 1 with a nice sideways fork hit. I personally have kept 2 of the bikes I built and like them as much if not more than my bought new wideglide atleast they are paid for and have been since day 1. Now with insurance you can still get full coverage on it all you have to do is either send the labor statement and pics of the repaired bike or take it to them to see all they look at is if it is actually fixed.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 784
Likes: 12
From: Texas
Friend of mines nephew buys / repairs bike for a money making hobby.
The bike i had before my bones was one he did.
Had no trouble getting full coverage INS along with no issues selling it to an individual.
It brought bottom end of blue book pretty easy i paid much less than that.
The bike i had before my bones was one he did.
Had no trouble getting full coverage INS along with no issues selling it to an individual.
It brought bottom end of blue book pretty easy i paid much less than that.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
Been buying and building salvaged bikes for 40 plus years it really all depends on your comfort level. And despite what some say it can be very profitable done right. A lot of the bikes I build start with neckless Harley frames.
Whatever path you choose keep good records it means a lot to a potential buyer.
Whatever path you choose keep good records it means a lot to a potential buyer.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,184
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From: KMHT KFMY
I am a licensed insurance appraiser, former shop owner that did lots of salvaged cars
I would never touch a salvaged bike unless it was mine that was totaled for cosmetic reasons
no bank will loan money on a salvage title
value of a salvage titled vehicle is a LOT lower than a clean title
it is real easy to have a bad frame on a wrecked bike, unless you are an expert on frames and can measure one out it is a huge risk safety and money wise
In MA, you need to have the appraisers report that totaled the bike, every item that I write on my appraisal has to be repaired or replaced, you need to have a reciept for every replaced part, either OEM from the dealer, or from a salvage yard, and salvaged part reciepts need the VIN of the donor vehicle. NO Ebay, Craigslist, or swap meet parts allowed. If you can't prove the parts are not hot, you can't use them.
Vehicles over 10 years old don't get salvage titles, so if you want to play with rebuilds, go over 10 years old and pay accordingly.
And that brings me to my final point, salvage vehicles are not cheap, at auction they bring big money, 50% ++ of ACV, which is why it is so easy for me to total a bike.
Bike is worth 10 grand, it goes for 6 grand at auction, you need 4 grand in parts and a lot of time to put it together and jump through the re-inspection process to get a new title issued... where are the cost savings?
If you were going to buy an aftermarket frame with a certificate of origin and a 17 digit compliant VIN and do a custom build, salvage bikes are a good source of parts IF you can buy one at the right price. THe other choice is you have a frame with a clean title and want to reconstruct it
I would never touch a salvaged bike unless it was mine that was totaled for cosmetic reasons
no bank will loan money on a salvage title
value of a salvage titled vehicle is a LOT lower than a clean title
it is real easy to have a bad frame on a wrecked bike, unless you are an expert on frames and can measure one out it is a huge risk safety and money wise
In MA, you need to have the appraisers report that totaled the bike, every item that I write on my appraisal has to be repaired or replaced, you need to have a reciept for every replaced part, either OEM from the dealer, or from a salvage yard, and salvaged part reciepts need the VIN of the donor vehicle. NO Ebay, Craigslist, or swap meet parts allowed. If you can't prove the parts are not hot, you can't use them.
Vehicles over 10 years old don't get salvage titles, so if you want to play with rebuilds, go over 10 years old and pay accordingly.
And that brings me to my final point, salvage vehicles are not cheap, at auction they bring big money, 50% ++ of ACV, which is why it is so easy for me to total a bike.
Bike is worth 10 grand, it goes for 6 grand at auction, you need 4 grand in parts and a lot of time to put it together and jump through the re-inspection process to get a new title issued... where are the cost savings?
If you were going to buy an aftermarket frame with a certificate of origin and a 17 digit compliant VIN and do a custom build, salvage bikes are a good source of parts IF you can buy one at the right price. THe other choice is you have a frame with a clean title and want to reconstruct it
Last edited by Neggy ZRXOA 5248; Dec 21, 2013 at 07:24 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 727
Likes: 1
From: Silverdale, WA
In Minnesota you can get a clean title on a salvage bike after a rebuild and inspection. It should be a salvage from Minnesota by law. What happened to me was that a salvage title from Arkansas was laundered in Minnesota, and when I moved out of state it was discovered to be an out of state salvage bike. A car fax may show a salvage history still, and it can affect financing and insurance, may want to check with your insurer on a rebuilt bike. Mine was ok with it. I had a clean title bike that wound up a salvage branded bike that no dealer will touch and is hard to sell in spite of being trouble free for the last 9 years.