This might be a complicated question to ask. I got my project bike as a trade with a friend of mine, he was rebuilding the bike as well but he didnt have time to continue so he gave it to me in exchange of work. Long story short, I was taking apart the bike so i can send the frame to powder coat and I noticed the vin number on the frame doesnt match the vin number on the title of the bike. According to him after he go the bike he replaced the frame he got with a better frame but the numbers on the title didnt change.

Will that affect in any way when I go register the bike on my name after I finish rebuilding it? How does that work? Should I CarFax the vin number to see if it was marked as stolen or something like that? I am a little concerned in that part.

Opinions?

I believe it's the same all over... the title is to the frame.
Your buddy can't just swap it for a better one.
I hope he still has the old frame.

And yeah, I'd check it 1st.  It'll take some explaining for sure.

stewmills wrote on 01/08/15 at 07:37:50:


This would be something i would totally do! IF i didnt have kids haha thanks for the advice tho lol

jorge__mendez wrote on 01/08/15 at 08:04:44:


Yep, it has been done before.  The only weird part is you most likely will end up with a different year frame.  All the parts will fit - but it makes it confusing when you need to buy parts that have been changed.....like electric controls or wiring harness (major changes in 2004 when the emergency and headlight flasher were added).

I suspect the piece of paper, the ‘title’, that the vin  is on,
their is a frame, with that vin, which no longer exists. (Scraped etc)

I suspect the frame you have, which you don’t have a title for, most probably,
someone else has, or had, a piece of paper with that number on.

You, could go, to the DMV, with the previous owner.
With a ‘bill of sale’, from him/her to you.
Then when that number is run, and if, it does not come back owned by someone else.
You could possibly get  a title.

Don’t know the laws where you live, but here, it would be called, ‘bonding’.
A unit is sold, ’With Out Title’.  The seller gives a B.O.S., and the new owner, ‘bonds’, that sale.
then they can license it, and sell it. and in time, get the bond money back.

Happens all the time, with a older car, which perhaps has been setting around, then sold,
But usually, the ‘recorded’ owner is long passed, and no relatives come forward to claim it.
And it is usually with something from the teens, to the 60’s.

If you go in, and the title number comes back, ’stolen’,
you most probably will not face any repercussions,
except, turning over the stolen frame.

Buy a frame, with a valid title, or jump through the hoops.
Your choice.

Again, another reminder, buying ANY, unit, that has a title,
Check, that is the Correct & Valid, Title to that unit.
Before, laying down any money.
(Or accepting the responsibility, of trading it for something)

Fuel for the fire: if I built a custom frame, I'd have to register the bike as an experimental or something? Just curious.

Can't you do an online check on the vin of the frame you have now?  If so and everything is clear just get a b.o.s. and file for a lost title?  

That's true