Have you Revived/Salvaged one? Before and After

[CookieMonster]

Ok here is a question for you, for my past experience with automobiles being revived (Salvaged titles) tend to not feel the same, something about the car itself feels/seems different. Like when a car would come to my shop and I got in it I was able to tell that the car had been rescued per say hahaha.

Have any of you (and it's up to you if you want to disclose if your bad ass Monster is a salvaged bike) have gone thru the process of picking up a damaged bike and restored it. Does it feel/ride the same (cause I mean only you know that it's salvaged)? I will be honest, the thought has crossed my mind of restoring but have fear of driveability being compromised some how. I am moderate/highly mechanically inclined with all my tools to tackle the job.

Do you have pix of before and after? If so post.

and if you have done it but no pix (even of just the after) can you list what the extent of the damage it had and at least the after pix

ALSO if you have any pros and cons in doing it post. All info is greatly appreciated.

[zooom]

is your aim for a street bike or for a track bike? people do it for track machines all the time...in club racing, I would guesstimate that at least half the bikes on the grid are probably salvaged candidates rehabbed for racing...for the street...different story...you have to 1st consider the state in terms of the process, then the insurance company, and thirdly with the machine having changed hands at all...

lemme explain further...if you own a bike and it gets wrecked to the point of or beyond totalling and you keep it and "buy it back" and make your own beast from there, it is one thing, as you don't necessarily have to go through some of the state pitfalls of the DMV process in registering for the street that they have in place for to more or less keep unsafe vehicles off the roadways..

then there is the insurance company...some of them, if you buy your own bike back, you avoid turning the title over and not getting it branded as having been "salvaged"...some you do and then they reissue it back to you...and if there isn't a bank loan involved, that can be another aspect/easier portion of the process, but a lien holder can throw a monkeywrench in that works as well, in the feeling of it not being up to the value for what they are protecting themselves for in value of the loan.

the state has their own protections and it seems it is much easier to register a car that is salvaged than a moto....but that being said...it is yet another hurdle in the process IF you are purchasing said bike for street use knowing it has a salvaged title.

YMMV and it is best to check with your local state authorities on legalities involved in and around these processes.

[avizpls]

He has solid points on the legal/red tape side of things. On the mechanical side, the simple asnwer is this:

If done properly, you wont ever know that the bike ha been totaled. If the frame, swing arm, and forks are all straight (replaced if not) you're good!

Computrack chassis machines can tell you in great detail if everything is straight.

[Raux]

Another thing that determines the situation is the type of damage
a duc can be totalled just on cosmetics
and even if the frame is tweaked there are expert shops that can straighten one

i bought my bike back with a dent in the frame from the triple
an expert straightened it
that with the upgrades i did and i have a bike that exceeds the original

[CookieMonster]

Thank you guys for your input and to address some of the questions for me, well I was considering salvaging one for street use and the ocasinal track use. I want an S4R but I highly doubt I could find one like that. That's why I might just end up buying on in great working order.  I love the SSA look, I think it's what set a Ducati apart from others, that and I always wanted one anyway.

[Düb Lüv]

i went to my BMV yesterday about buying another monster frame and building one for street use. the lady printed me out an entire packet on getting a rebuilt title or salvage title reissued also a bill of sale formatted for my state.

buying a frame off the forums is probably going to be the only way to get a clear title frame. just by looking at all the frames on ebay, the sellers typically just junk the title even if it was a perfect running bike. but i could be wrong.

[pitbull]

I bought and rebuilt a 2000 m900 that was totalled, but never salvaged and had a clean title.



I'm not a very good mechanic, but after being really careful and getting lots of help here, I put it together and it rides as well as my 2001 m900

[Howie]

Salvage cars usually have extreme damage.  Body parts often get repaired, not replaced on cars.  Many parts are also less expensive.  Frames are also straightened on cars.  Not so with bikes.  on a Monster cosmetically dented tank, scuffed or broken levers and damaged exhaust can spell total loss.  Any frame damage is total loss, even a bent steering stop.

[Radar]

Howdy folks,

I'll fess-up. I bought my 05 S4R from a motorcycle salvage dealer.

The damage was so slight, I replaced the front brake lever, removed the lightly rashed windscreen, changed the oil and it rides like new.   ...Oh, the tank was dented too...

My advice would be to look the bike over VERY closely.

Mine rides/tracks perfectly, has a butt-load of power, and I'm perfectly satisfied.

Thanks,

Eric M.

[He Man]

whihc salvage dealer did u geti t from? i always thought u couldnt buy salvage without a license.

[Radar]

I think it is called Safari Motorcycle Salvage in LA.

I just bought it, made a couple of quick repairs, got a California inspection, dropped by the DMV and licensed it.

No sweat at all... except the DMV made me pay for more than they should have.

They're bastards.

Eric M.

[CookieMonster]

Thanks guys once again, I almost bought a M800 last week, I should've gotten it but it was definitely not worth what he was asking, frame was jacked-up, tank, tires and handle bars were a mess and so was the wiring harness looked like a raccoon had at it! I was really considering it cause it was an 800 and the engine sounded pretty good.
I will keep that option very open in the backburn as I look for the 800 I want.

[freeclimbmtb]

whihc salvage dealer did u geti t from? i always thought u couldnt buy salvage without a license.

I have a friend that lives in Maine and bought a salvage 620 from a dealer in NH.  (Argo cycle in Raymond NH)  She had to go through some crap with the state of Maine to get it registered, but all in all it wasnt bad considering the bike and the price.