HELP! Advice on purchase of "Salvage" Monster

[zimpat]

Would anyone be able to advise me with purchase of a salvage monster? I have found a reasonably priced '08 S4 and don't mind putting a few $$$ to get the bike to be roadworthy and more importantly, safe. Since I'm not technically blessed, I need some help on what to look for when purchasing a salvage title. With a bit of TLC I could get to own my first Monster!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I've copied details below if you're interested (unedited from an ad on ebay!)...

[font="Courier New"]First of all since scratch on the frame will almost always make the bike Salvage its exactly what happened to this unit. There is a small about 1-1.5 inch scratch on the right rear grab handle. Its actually almost invisible since the scratch is basically on the warning label. Also original front end with Ohlins forks was swapped out for Showa front end from Monster 1000 (not by me). The bike starts and runs perfectly and is still covered by manufacturer warranty until 2010 (I think August). It also comes with an awesome optional Ducati performance accessory - full Termignoni exhaust. Right hand side rearset is slightly bent but can be easily straightened out by anyone specilaized in aluminum welding. As far as I can tell there are no other issues.[End]
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Thanks again for your help.

[Howie]

If this is going to be a street bike your first step is to find out what you need to do to get the bike registered in your state.  It can be a PITA.  Then bring someone with moto knowledge to look at the bike with you so you have a non-biased opinion.  Be careful, the fact that forks have been swapped is suspicious.  What else has been swapped?  I would never pay more than half value including repairs (like new Ohlins forks) for a bike with salvage title, but that is just me.  I also wonder what Ducati's warranty policy is on salvage bikes.

[mojo]

Swapping Ohlins forks for Showa's seems like an interesting downgrade to me.  Just curious why someone would do that.

[Howie]

Swapping Ohlins forks for Showa's seems like an interesting downgrade to me.  Just curious why someone would do that.

Either the Ohlins were FUBAR from the not so minor accident or the Ohlins were kept/sold by someone before the bike went to market.  Either way, quite shady.

[zimpat]

Thanks howie. Never thought about the "suspicious" side and the change of forks sounds a little suspect! There should be some type of insurance report that would list damage? I should look into this as well. Your first reply about checking with the state about "salvage" titles.

Thanks again for the useful info.

[ScottRNelson]

I've owned two salvage title Ducatis.  If the bike has been 100% fixed, it's worth about 20% less than the exact same bike without the salvage title.  You need to find out if the bike already has the salvage title or if you would still need to go through the bother of getting it recertified for your state.  (It would help a lot of you mentioned what state you live in, or better yet, fill out the "Location" entry in your profile.)

I would be quite suspicious of that particular bike that it might have a bent frame.  I bent the rear subframe on my 1997 M900 when I crashed it in 2003 without putting a scratch on the frame anywhere.  The "important part" of the frame remained unbent and the frame was used for a Norm Brown project bike by his son.

Replacing the forks would be a major red flag for me, since an impact strong enough to bend forks could also bend or crack the front part of the frame.

Although salvage title bikes can be good deals, I would avoid this one.

[redhouse7]

I bought mine as a salvage and it was easy (I'm in MN) Here you can get tabs for the bike for one year with no inspection. During that time you're supposed to get an inspection (which I did). If all of the safety equipment works and the major components aren't stolen it's no big deal. FYI, keep recipts for anything, they will want to see them.

Of course it varys from state to state.

[zimpat]

Thanks again for your helpful input. I do appreciate it. Maybe I will give this on a miss. BTW the bike is for sale on ebay where there are more details...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2008-Ducati-Monster-S4RS-Tricolore_W0QQitemZ360174089839QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_motorcycles?hash=item53dc0c766f&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

Thank you all again for your help and advice.

[ScottRNelson]

Assuming nothing is actually wrong with the bike, I would knock the value down another $2000 or more with the different front end.

An S4RS Tricolore is a special bike, but without the Ohlins forks and radial calipers it is obviously a modified bike.

Too bad the seller "doesn't know" why the forks were changed.  That is a huge red flag for buying that bike.

[scott_araujo]

If the front end hit hard enough to mangle the forks you should also check that there are no fine cracks in the welds at the head tube and do your best to ensure the frame is still straight.

Scott

[Slide Panda]

I vote to walk away.  The replaced forks and down graded calipers are worth a couple grand... probably closer to 3 to replace w/ new ones...

Also, this photo - looks like the sub frame is bent.  The beer tray doesn't align with the rest of the bike as it aught to.


You can see it even more clearly in the fender, license plate holder.  It's possible it's due the the angle of the photo... but it happens to be angled the way it would be bent based on the damage to the seat cowl - coincidence?  perhaps... but I have my doubts

[ScottRNelson]

Also, this photo - looks like the sub frame is bent.  The beer tray doesn't align with the rest of the bike as it aught to.

Good point.  That bike has been bent.

Only buy it for parts, it has some serious problems that need to be fixed before putting it back on the road.

[zimpat]

Thanks everyone. Your insight/thoughts have helped me make a decision to walk away. I definitely see the "bend" in the rear and very prominent in the fender and license plate holder. I'm not enough of mechanic to fool with most of this. Cosmetic changes, no issue. I will get back to looking for an older Monster with hopefully no structural issues.

Again, really appreciate your help and advice. You've saved me from a potential headache!

[cduarte]

what a shame, if the bike could be purchased cheaply enough, there's a clean titled S4 frame on ebay that could be used to transfer all the parts over to...  of course, the shit forks on the bike are a deal killer. They look like marzocchis, not showas.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ducati-Monster-S4-Frame-Clean-Gray_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem3ca5432ff0QQitemZ260470681584QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[cyrus buelton]

I don't think the RS motor will fit in the S4 frame.


If I remember, didn't Strati try to put a SBK motor in an S4 and it needed some heavy frame mods?