Is there something like a Carfax for bikes?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,179
Likes: 684
From: Forest Hill, Md
There was a place I used (or tried to) before I bought my Ultra. I paid the 29.99 and entered the VIN#...unfortunately I miss typed a number and it showed no record. When I realized what I did I re-typed and it said I could only do 1 search per month!!!!! Well I was heading out two days later to get the bike so that was no help, and I was never able to get hold of anyone at the site to help, or refund my money.
Carfax is a joke since it won't list things that were never reported. I bought a used Sebring convertible in Feb that had a "clean" carfax...when I did some stereo upgrades and removed the rear seat the floor had a bunch of broken window glass and you can see that there is body work done. The price reflected the condition so I'm not surprised, just hate seeing people trust the almighty Carfux...(yeah, I meant to do that)
Carfax is a joke since it won't list things that were never reported. I bought a used Sebring convertible in Feb that had a "clean" carfax...when I did some stereo upgrades and removed the rear seat the floor had a bunch of broken window glass and you can see that there is body work done. The price reflected the condition so I'm not surprised, just hate seeing people trust the almighty Carfux...(yeah, I meant to do that)
Stage I
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: MI
There was a place I used (or tried to) before I bought my Ultra. I paid the 29.99 and entered the VIN#...unfortunately I miss typed a number and it showed no record. When I realized what I did I re-typed and it said I could only do 1 search per month!!!!! Well I was heading out two days later to get the bike so that was no help, and I was never able to get hold of anyone at the site to help, or refund my money.
Carfax is a joke since it won't list things that were never reported. I bought a used Sebring convertible in Feb that had a "clean" carfax...when I did some stereo upgrades and removed the rear seat the floor had a bunch of broken window glass and you can see that there is body work done. The price reflected the condition so I'm not surprised, just hate seeing people trust the almighty Carfux...(yeah, I meant to do that)
Carfax is a joke since it won't list things that were never reported. I bought a used Sebring convertible in Feb that had a "clean" carfax...when I did some stereo upgrades and removed the rear seat the floor had a bunch of broken window glass and you can see that there is body work done. The price reflected the condition so I'm not surprised, just hate seeing people trust the almighty Carfux...(yeah, I meant to do that)
They even have a disclaimer on their page "CARFAX Vehicle History products and services are based only on information supplied to CARFAX. CARFAX does not have the complete history of every vehicle. Use the CARFAX search as one important tool, along with a vehicle inspection and test drive, to make a better decision about your next used car."
I'm going to check the VIN on this Night Train and hope that it's all good and if something wasn't reported, it's harder to hide accident damage on a bike frame as exposed as it is. And thanks to the OP for asking the question!!!
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 125
Likes: 9
From: USA
The service they offer can be a joke without it being "their fault." Since much (perhaps most?) of the damage done to cars goes unreported, Carfax is, frequently, useless and a waste of money. Their motto should be, "Carfax, a great idea that's severely limited by the patchwork of laws, regulations, insurance companies, and repair shops that may or may not have reported the damage to the vehicle you're considering buying." I don't think their marketing department would have approved that slogan though.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 503
Likes: 1,423
From: Tn.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 5,157
Likes: 740
From: new caney, tx
I know this thread is old (and I just joined because I was looking for this exact question as I get ready to buy a Night Train) and thought I would comment on this..."Carfax is a joke since it won't list things that were never reported". My question is, why does it make it a joke? How is that their fault? Like Carfax is supposed to know that a vehicle was in an unreported accident (or had unreported flood damage as one person mentioned which that is a really shady dealer/seller to not report that stuff, which also means they didn't file an insurance claim or it would have shown up). Had you skipped the Carfax you would have saved $30, but still had a car that was in an accident (or somehow damaged, may have been something like an ex-girlfriend going at it with a baseball bat, busting windows and doing body damage that didn't do anything structurally.) You did say the price was reflective of it, so it's not like you overpaid.
They even have a disclaimer on their page "CARFAX Vehicle History products and services are based only on information supplied to CARFAX. CARFAX does not have the complete history of every vehicle. Use the CARFAX search as one important tool, along with a vehicle inspection and test drive, to make a better decision about your next used car."
I'm going to check the VIN on this Night Train and hope that it's all good and if something wasn't reported, it's harder to hide accident damage on a bike frame as exposed as it is. And thanks to the OP for asking the question!!!
They even have a disclaimer on their page "CARFAX Vehicle History products and services are based only on information supplied to CARFAX. CARFAX does not have the complete history of every vehicle. Use the CARFAX search as one important tool, along with a vehicle inspection and test drive, to make a better decision about your next used car."
I'm going to check the VIN on this Night Train and hope that it's all good and if something wasn't reported, it's harder to hide accident damage on a bike frame as exposed as it is. And thanks to the OP for asking the question!!!
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Aug 18, 2011 10:06 PM
