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View Full Version : How to buy a bike without title??


Turbo Ghost
10-25-2012, 10:28 AM
I've found a bike on CL that was purchased from a storage auction. I called the county clerk and they said the last title holder had to apply for title. A friend said to buy it and post an ad in the paper for the previous owner to collect the bike and if no response to apply for a mechanic's lein title. That sounds a bit iffy to me since I was never contracted by the original owner for any services. I'd really like to get the bike but, the situation has me worried. I don't want to get stuck for the money and lose the bike. Has anyone here had any experience with this situation? Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

Trip
10-25-2012, 10:29 AM
Not worth the hassle, find something else.

OneSickPsycho
10-25-2012, 11:05 AM
Frame swap or track bike... I wouldn't trust fucking around with all that other shit unless I got the bike for free or cheap enough that I could unload a few parts easily to make my money back.

Turbo Ghost
10-25-2012, 06:13 PM
It's a very rare and (to me) a special bike. I've found some good info online so, I think I can make this happen for less than $1,000. It only has 1,800 miles and is in great shape! It's a 1983 920 Virago which is nothing like the rest of the Virago line. The original models were brought over to take on Ducati but, they were referred to as the XV920 and had an enclosed chain-drive. The motor was the same for the three years they were in production but, the 1983 is the only one I'm interested in. I owned one years ago. I put 21,000 miles on it the first 9 months I had it! Best all-around bike I've ever had period! I'll let you know how it goes IF it goes!

Gas Man
10-26-2012, 03:17 PM
Skip the ad... just put a mechanics lean on it. That is very common.

askmrjesus
10-26-2012, 08:55 PM
Vermont.

Vermont is the Honey Badger of DMV states, because they don't give a shit.

Send them a bill of sale, and they will send you a title, a registration and a plate for cheap.

Wait a year, and convert your Vermont title to a Tennessee title. And no, you don't have to live there, or like maple syrup.

JC

Turbo Ghost
10-26-2012, 09:14 PM
Vermont is probably the way I'm gonna go.

askmrjesus
10-26-2012, 09:35 PM
Vermont is probably the way I'm gonna go.

Worked for a few people I know.

JC

Turbo Ghost
10-26-2012, 09:56 PM
There's a thread on ADV that has nothing but positive results so, hopefully it will work!

No Worries
10-26-2012, 11:50 PM
I always liked the chain-driven one. But with the enclosed chain, how do you check the slack? Here's an article from 1982 comparing the shaft and chain Virago's: http://www.viragotech.com/920virago.html It's from Cycle Guide magazine (RIP), written by Paul Dean, who now writes the Service section in Cycle World magazine.

Apoc
10-27-2012, 08:48 AM
Vermont.

Vermont is the Honey Badger of DMV states, because they don't give a shit.

Send them a bill of sale, and they will send you a title, a registration and a plate for cheap.

Wait a year, and convert your Vermont title to a Tennessee title. And no, you don't have to live there, or like maple syrup.

JC


How the fuck could anyone not like Maple Syrup?

askmrjesus
10-27-2012, 10:07 AM
How the fuck could anyone not like Maple Syrup?


http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/217908/1/Should-True-Christians-Eat-Maple-Syrup

JC

Turbo Ghost
10-28-2012, 10:01 AM
I always liked the chain-driven one. But with the enclosed chain, how do you check the slack? Here's an article from 1982 comparing the shaft and chain Virago's: http://www.viragotech.com/920virago.html It's from Cycle Guide magazine (RIP), written by Paul Dean, who now writes the Service section in Cycle World magazine.

I think I have that issue somewhere! Cool link Bro! I can't remember exactly how to adjust the chain (too lazy to go get the manual from the basement) but, with the constant lubrication, adjustments were pretty far apart. I have to say, I'm a fan of shaft drive. Practically bulletproof, quiet and easy to maintain and much cleaner than a chain! Some people complain about chassis-lift when accellerating but, I never saw it as a problem. Chains do it to. Some more than others. IIRC, there was a particular year of Ninja that had the countershaft sprocket below the pivot-point and it would squat under accelleration!