question about re-titling salvage bike

I was in an accident last year and the insurance company totalled my bike. I bought it back and repaired it and I have an appointment for the highway patrol inspection but I have a slight problem. The guy I bought the bike from years ago had replaced the engine. He gave me both titles but only one title was in his name - the title with frame. The title from the bike the engine was from was not in his name but he gave it to me with the bike.

I never thought anything about it until I scheduled the inspection and then I remembered the engine had been changed. The guy I bought the bike from had moved since he bought the bike originally so the address on the title was not his then current address and I have no way to track him down. Unless I can get a bill of sale from the previous owner that is notarized I will be out of luck.

Anybody run into this and if so did you find a way out?

Thanks.

 

If the title for the motor was signed off by the owner and you have it in your possession, you shouldn't have a problem.

 

I have no answers for you. Just wanted to say hello from Oberlin!

 

Here in Florida, the S/N on the frame is the only one that counts. Was the same true when I lived in Michigan.
On Kawasaki's, the engine S/N is never the same as the frame. At least on the Z1's and KZ's. So I really think it is
an non-issue unless the rules in your state are different. And if they are, how would they handle the Kawasaki's?

 

Engine swaps are common enough that you should only need a bill of sale from "someone" for the engine, even if your state requires the VIN for the engine to be checked.

 

Hi Bald Wonder! One of these days we'll get together!

 

kmoe - thanks for that. I may resort to that. I went and looked in my strongbox at the title the previous owner gave me for the engine and it was notarized by the original owner but never transferred into the name of the guy I bought the bike from. So this may be easier than I thought. Usually the title bureau in my town is pretty easy going as long as you have a notarized title. So I will stop there and see if they will transfer the title into my name and I should be home free. The only issue I can see being an obstacle is that the title was notarized in 1986!

 

Notarized is notarized. As long as the title was not reissued to a new owner the bike is in the clear for transfer.

 

So, you just acknowledge the fact that 'you bought the engine in 1986'! In NY, they don't care about matching numbers on old bikes. New ones, different story.........THOSE they go over everything. Old ones, long as you have the title for the bike, who cares what engine is in it. By now, could have had 5 or 6 engines in it......Blah blah

Good luck!

 

I would just go to the inspection and see what happens. My XJ was an out of state bike and required an inspection, didn't even look at motor number. When I titled my out of state boat, they wanted the motor and sterndrive SN just so they had it to put on the title.

 

Thanks guys! I will go to the title bureau tomorrow and see about getting the engine title transferred into my name. Should be home free after that. I rebuilt a salvaged car once and it wasn't too bad. Just took all the receipts and bills of sale and they passed me. I am hoping it is the same this time.