To Buy a Salvage Title Bike or Not

[Goat_Herder]

I have been browsing craigslist and ebay for bikes.  Just window shopping and day dreaming.  What caught my attention was that a good percentage of bikes have a salvaged title and they are barely damage at all.   Just some cosmatic damage from stand still tip over.  The prices seem too good to be true.  What life has taught me is that, if it's too good to be true, it's too good to be true. 

So what is the story with salvaged bikes?  Am I still able to ride it on the street and renew the tab year after year?  If I am able to find one with minimum damage, can I repair to like-new condition and rid of the salvaged title?  Can I apply for a "regular title", if there's such a thing?

BTW, I am in Washington State. 

[ghosthound]

all i know is last week i saw an 07 1098 on CL for 7500 with 2k miles... salvage title.  Owner said it runs fine and rides.  It was totaled for cosmetic reasons and the pictures seemed to agree.

Shot him an email and he responded and told me to give him a call... I was expecting the "Im currently out of the country" deal but was shocked to have someone actually willing to arrange a meet... I was so tempted. 

[Greg]

all i know is last week i saw an 07 1098 on CL for 7500 with 2k miles... salvage title.  Owner said it runs fine and rides.  It was totaled for cosmetic reasons and the pictures seemed to agree.

Shot him an email and he responded and told me to give him a call... I was expecting the "Im currently out of the country" deal but was shocked to have someone actually willing to arrange a meet... I was so tempted. 

Track Bike !!!!

[Howie]

Salvage bikes can make track bikes.  A salvage bike as a street bike?  Varies by location.   Check your local laws, getting the bike registered can be difficult.  Also, keep in mind, the bike will always have diminished value.

[the_Journeyman]

To resale, no.  To beat the hell out of on the track?  Yes.

JM

[swampduc]

Had a salvage title on an sv650 that I wrecked - bought it back from insurance, registered it and rode it another 1 1/2 yrs before I laid it down again 
Funny thing is, when I wrecked it a 2nd time and decided to let it go, the insurance paid me the full blue book value of a regular-titled, 3 yr old sv. That's the only way to get full value on a salvage titled bike, but I don't recommend it. Too many scars 

[Bun-bun]

So what is the story with salvaged bikes?  Am I still able to ride it on the street and renew the tab year after year?  If I am able to find one with minimum damage, can I repair to like-new condition and rid of the salvaged title?  Can I apply for a "regular title", if there's such a thing?

BTW, I am in Washington State. 

My current Monster is a salvage title bike. In Virginia, once the bike has been rebuilt, it has to be able to pass a safety inspection, and all of the old parts have to be accounted for. You also have to prove the origin of any parts installed on the bike(receipts).  The inspection is performed by the state police and cost $125. Once that is done, the DMV issues a salvage title. This operates just like a regular title, and you can ride it cross country if you desire. The salvage title stays with the bike for the rest of it's life, and does diminish the value at resale. I was told that the bike will need to have the safety inspection done in the state in which it was totaled, so don't buy a totaled bike in Ohio and ship it to Oregon to be fixed.
Mine needed a new headlight and front turn signals.

[Doctor Woodrow]

I am also in Washington State and my Monster is a rebuilt title. You have to rebuild the bike (unless this has already been done). Then you have to get it inspected (usually by the state patrol, cost=? but $125 sounds about right), then you register the bike and receive a new title which wil be a REBUILT TITLE. You cannot get a new title that does not say rebuilt. You can keep the same liscense plate so that is a few bucks saved. This title will stay with your bike for the rest of it's life. You can register, insure, and ride it just like a completely clean title. Rebuilt titles have no affect on fees, or use, or anything else once you get through the inspection and get your new rebuilt title. And yes the resale is going to be crap, but mine was to ride, not sell and make a profit.
Everyone please remember that this is only in Washington, this does not necessarily apply to any other state, I only know how it works here b/c I have had to do it.

When I was buying my bike I called up the service shop and got the complete rundown on service intervals, previous owner's maintenance and care levels, asked about any fishy stories. Then I called up the DMV and had them run the VIN number to make sure the guy selling it was really the owner and also if it was stolen or had any other problems in their database. If you have a friend in the P.D. in your area you might be able to convince them to look up the VIN and plate. Everything checked out okay so I bought my bike and haven't had a single problem. Just check all your bases, and if you aren't familiar w/ Ducatis specifically have a friend go along with you. Oh, and watch out for scams.

In case anyone else was wondering; motorcycles are not regularly inspected each year here in Washington state. They are re-registered and you get new tabs every year for them just like a car.

The Doc

PS: what area are you in?

[Goat_Herder]

Thanks all for your replies.  Very informative, as usually.

PS: what area are you in?

Hi Doc Doodrow - I am near Seattle.  Kent to be exact.

[greenohawk69]

I guess in Texas here it is much easier.  Fixed up some of the damage (e.g. added front turn signals), bike passed inspection ($15) and then got it titled and took a little extra time at the DMV.  Had to pay their "first time titled in Texas tax, I mean "fee" of $90, but nothing out of the ordinary.  I believe the cost to get it titled was ~ $150. 

[DucatiBastard]

My SRT-4 is salvage title, and in MO its the same process for bikes.  Similar process to what Bun-bun said, fixed the car, kept all receipts,  when using used "major" (being motor, frame, front/rear clip, etc.) parts there had to be a copy of the donor vehicles title or VIN.  Took it to Highway Patrol to get inspection, IIRC cost was about $65-ish.  It seems the big reason for the inspection process is to make sure you're not using stolen parts or not running a chop shop.  The title is branded as "Prior Salvage"  This stays with the vehicle for its life. 

This process was a huge pain in the ass, due to the car being bought in KY, titled in OH, and fixed in MO, with about three people missing between the last person on the title and me.  Learn from my mistake, make sure the title is current!  But i would totally do this again, for a bike or car, just make sure it's something you want to have till you ride it into the ground cause resell sucks.  I would make sure to do all this crap in the same state, too    Know that some insurance companies will not insure salvage vehicles (Nationwide) and most dealers have a policy of not giving more than a certain amount (low, like $100) on trade-in.