Salvage Title Question

[PitBull43]

I am looking into buying an older model HD Road King or Ultra Classic or some sort of cruiser so my ld lady won't feel so left out and can go riding with me on occasion. SHe isnt too fond of the rigid Pitbull so i figured i could find a cheap older cruiser to use every once in a while. My question is does anyone know if a "salvage" title is a problem ? I dont want to spend too much (Under 8k) being as it wont be used very often at all. I have seen several on cycle trader at or under that price that are just a little scatched up but otherwise decent. Anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks

 

[barhopper]

I just think you will always have to sell it a a salvaged bike. Don't put alot of money into it as you wont get it back. Forever on the title. Just look hard for bent frames. I am sure there are many good deals if you have a good eye.

 

[BIKERDAD61]

I found this info, and I think it explains it pretty well........

A salvage title is an automobile title with a notation that the vehicle has been damaged in excess of approximately 70% of its pre-accident market value. The exact percentage depends on the insurance provider and any applicable laws and regulations. This notation gets applied to a title when an insurance company pays a total-loss claim on a vehicle, but then allows the owner to retain or buy back the vehicle at its post-damage market value, which is often negligibly low. Often a vehicle is still safely driveable even if technically considered a total loss by an insurance company, particularly with older vehicles where even minor cosmetic damage would cost more to fix than the vehicle's original market value.

A junk title is a similar notation to a salvage title, but generally indicates that the vehicle is not roadworthy.

A rebuilt vehicle is a salvage vehicle that has been repaired and restored to operation. These vehicles are often severely damaged before they are rebuilt and refurbished parts are typically used during reconstruction. In most states, an inspection of the vehicle is required before the vehicle is allowed to return to the road.




There is no specific formula in most states that specifies when a vehicle is deemed salvage; this is typically decided on a case by case basis. Once the auto is determined to be salvage, it is sent to the salvage auction or offered to the owner as an insurance buyback. With an insurance buyback the owner is responsible for getting the repairs made and having the car inspected by the highway patrol or a state regulated inspection facility. At this point, the car is rebuilt salvage and will carry that stamp with it until it is recycled. If the auto is not a buyback, it is towed to a salvage auction where it will be sold to an auto recycler or a rebuilder. A recycler will dismantle the auto and sell inventoried parts. A rebuilder can sell the car as-is or fix the car and resell it as a rebuilt salvage car. Undisclosed rebuilds sold to consumers are obviously feared by prospective buyers.

My main concern would be selling the bike in the future, resale value but that may not be an issue you would be concerned about. I'm sure several buyers would walk away know it was a rebuilt vehicle. Just IMHO.

 

[mcgroom]

All I know is that if an insurance company determines the loss to be greater than a vehicles actual value, they will total it out.

Now this can happen from damage during an accident, fire, flood and maybe even theft.

If the bike is sold from the insurance company it then will have a salvage title.

I think I read some where that the engine must be seperate from the frame if someone is buying a salvage from the insurance company.

Basically ground up rebuilds is my understanding but I could be way off.

Inspection, inspection, inspection. That is my recomendation.

Not like buying a car that has been salvaged. Something wrong with the frame of a car, it drives poorly. Something wrong with a frame of a bike, it can be deadly.

 

[PitBull43]

Thanks,
Like i said i am looking for something pretty inexpensive and pretty much just going to ride it til the wheels fall off of it. (as long as it doesnt happen when we are on it) I would most likely have no intentions on reselling it once i got tired of it. There are alot of good deals on older bikes that are listed as salvage.

 

[Dakotabos]

my 2 cents

Its a good deal and you get what you pay for. Some GREAT DEALS some not so good. Its easy to "Total Out" bikes now days and a good mechanic can get it 100% again for little cost because at $75 plus dollars a hour for labor its not hard to add up pass the bikes value.
Great if someone else already fixed it up and put miles on it to road test it

 

[hoat]

ask about insurance. I heard its near impossible.

 

[mcgroom]

I thought there was a way to get the "salvage" off of the title once it was sold to someone as a salvage.

Not sure.

 

[semi]

cmon D, get of of some of that money.. Sell a couple extra trucks this month and buy a new Street Glide >>>>

 

[waykool]

Pitbull43: Where you located?

 

[Moespeeds]

I used to buy salvage bikes and rebuild them for racers. Every once in awhile a guy would turn it back into a street bike and put it on the road. I got them up at a salvage yard in NH called "argo cycle salvage". Anyway, in NJ you could get a rebuilt title but you had to get it inspected by a special inspector. This was in 1999-2002, so I'm not sure if the rules have changed, or if this is the same as the NJ "special construction" title that they give us for homebuilt choppers. What you need to do first is call your DMV and tell them what you want to do, and what type of title you will end up with. Then call your insurance company, and find out if they will cover it. In my experience, by the time you got a salvage bike back up to street standards, you were pretty close to used prices.

 

[sh8kr]

I have bought 5 HD and yes my Big Dog came from the salvage dealer. I have only had 1 problem with the 6 bikes and it had to be the Big Dog. in Virginia there are 2 ways of titling :
1 Salvage - must show receipts for repair parts.
2. Repaired -The repaired title cost an add'l $125.00. the difference being that you must give the DMV ALL RECEIPTS for the repairs. These documents stay with the info on the repaired vehicle.
As far as Insurance we have no problem insuring any of the bikes. We still own 1 HD Fatboy(wife's ride and the Big Dog). We pay the same premium as anybody else with the same driving record and other similar expeirence.
So if you have the tools and knowledge this is a great way to learn and repair your own motorcycle without a huge investment.

 

[07bigdog]

If you are interested in fixing up a salvage bike try "crashtoys.com" They are sold on e-bay.

 

[Biker Babe]

Definitely watch out for the bent frame. We've declared bikes 'totaled' before because we felt they were unsafe and then turned around and the used dealer down the street has it for sale.

How often does your wife join you? You're pretty nice to buy a whole other bike to have her along but I've never been bothered by riding a ridgid.

 

[PitBull43]

cmon D, get of of some of that money.. Sell a couple extra trucks this month and buy a new Street Glide >>>>

Big Paul i don't want to be buying something so expensive and nice that she will want to go riding every time i go haha

 

[PitBull43]

Pitbull43: Where you located?

In Maryland, Between DC and Annapolis

 

[PitBull43]

Definitely watch out for the bent frame. We've declared bikes 'totaled' before because we felt they were unsafe and then turned around and the used dealer down the street has it for sale.

How often does your wife join you? You're pretty nice to buy a whole other bike to have her along but I've never been bothered by riding a ridgid.

BB She used to like to ride with me when i had a HD Fatboy but the Pitbull isn't really that comfortable for someone riding on the back. I figure if i can get a nice cruiser for under 10 it might make her happy.

 

[HuskerChop]

Salvage?

Pitbull43, I just got done building my 07 Chopper from salvage. I got it fairly cheap. I had it painted and powdercoated by big dog and it looks as if it came off the showroom floor. All other work I did myself. In Nebraska, it cost me $30 bucks to get a title and as everyone else said, my 'new' Nebraska title says salvage on it. It doesnt bother me cuz I know it was done right. If the neck stops are broke or bent, u can cut off the neck, send it to big dog and you can buy a replacement frame with the same vin on it, Harley is the same except they require I believe 2" of the back bone and 2" of the down tubes to be attached to the neck. If you are mechanically inclined and aint afraid to tackle the job, go for it. Every nut, bolt, weld joint needs to be inspected for cracks, bulging, etc. I got in my 07 chopper about $11,800 which is bout half of new and a bit less than half of used. I live 4 hours from Wichita so I took the ECU and the Ignition Module to them and they read it, told me how many times it had hit the rev limiter and all that other BS, registered it to me and they used this info to program my new speedo with the correct mileage. They are awesome to deal with and are very helpful. Hope this helps!