View Full Version : Fixing a bike on a salvage title
ruthabagah
06-28-2012, 20:29
Anybody here ever tried that? I have friend who just "wrecked" (his term) a recent bike. What i see is "damage" and I may be able to fix it. Now the insurance is going to cover him and take the bike but they will let me buy it (long story).
The damages are:
Fork
Front wheel
The tree thing
A little bit of front fairing
It's a ducati monster, 2010, with low mileage, I count 2000$ for the parts, 1000$ for the bike.
Let me know what you think.
If you are looking at reselling it, 95% of the people who see the ad be it on craigslist or ebay are going to immediately stop looking at it.
just my .02, but if you are going to keep it and enjoy the bike, then go for it
SideShow Bob
06-28-2012, 20:33
Not worth the time once a salvage title always a salvage title. Unless you replace the serial numbered part, I don't know if CO. Goes by frame number or engine number. Either way you are adding big bucks to the cost.
Now as a parts bike it may be worth 1K.
clublights
06-28-2012, 20:47
what the others have said plus make sure the frame is TRUE...
it could be outta whack .
If you are looking at reselling it, 95% of the people who see the ad be it on craigslist or ebay are going to immediately stop looking at it.
just my .02, but if you are going to keep it and enjoy the bike, then go for it
+1
Sounds like he ran it into something and fairly hard if he damaged the tripple trees as well. Look at the neck real well make sure he didnt actually damage the frame. I bought an old bike once with plans of restoring it and found out the hard way most of the way through the restoration that it had a slight tweak in the frame. [Bang] Not visibly noticable but extremely noticable while riding. Ended up picking up another frame on ebay and starting the process over again
ruthabagah
06-28-2012, 20:52
Thanks for the info! Keep it coming.
It's not an investment, just an expensive hobby for next winter for a bike I could use to go around for cheap.
clublights
06-28-2012, 20:56
thought of something else too ..
I'm pretty sure the motor is stress mounted in those monsters.
it makes up part of the frame and could have weakened cases if the wreak was bad enough..
and curiosity has me
What did he hit going about how fast ?
Zundfolge
06-28-2012, 20:57
Before you do anything, make 100% sure the bike's frame isn't stolen.
A friend of mine built a chopper out of a Harley frame he dug out of a salvage yard, when he went to tag it (after finishing it) he found out the VIN number came up as stolen. So it took him a year and a half of wrangling with the state and his attorney wrangling with the state just to keep it.
If it is for you and not for sale, do it, it's not hard to do and will be a very cheap way to get that bike. By all means, if you don't want to, let me know where it is..... [Muaha]
Tinelement
06-28-2012, 21:01
I'm gonna go a little bit against the grain here.
I personally have no idea what this bike is worth. IF, it is something you want and know you can fix it and be in it for a good price, do it. If you hate tinkering and wanna turn a profit, don't do it!
You say you can be in it for 3k. If you buy it and fix it for that and have a great time with it for a few yrs, and lose half of it in a sale because of the slavage title?? Is it worth it for you.
No worse than gambling your your cash in the market right now! And you don't get the wind in your hair and bugs in your teeth doing that!! [ROFL1]
Just my $.02
palepainter
06-28-2012, 21:03
Ya, if you are going to build it and keep it. No big deal other than insurance hassles, possibly. If you are going to do it for a quick flip, there are better ways to make money with less headaches.
argonstrom
06-28-2012, 21:04
If you're sure and comfortable with the money it'll take to fix it, go for it. You won't be able to get full insurance on it, though.
Zundfolge
06-28-2012, 21:06
I personally have no idea what this bike is worth... You say you can be in it for 3k. If you buy it and fix it for that and have a great time with it for a few yrs, and lose half of it in a sale because of the slavage title??
Used Ducati Monster in good shape with low miles is $6000-8000 right now, if he can get into the bike for $3k and then decides to sell it in a couple years even with the salvage title he should be able to get all his money out of it. I think he's more concerned about it being safe.
Personally, I'd stay away.
Since they're worth 6-8k, the appraiser doesn't believe they can fix it for that price. To me that indicates the frame/engine are damaged, since fork+wheel should only be about $1500 or so.
SideShow Bob
06-28-2012, 21:15
Personally, I'd stay away.
Since they're worth 6-8k, the appraiser doesn't believe they can fix it for that price. To me that indicates the frame/engine are damaged, since fork+wheel should only be about $1500 or so.
^^^ This ^^^ Was about to say the same thing.
ruthabagah
06-28-2012, 21:16
You guys have a good point about the insurance. I need to check that.
Again if I do this it is not to resale it.
SideShow Bob
06-28-2012, 21:19
You guys have a good point about the insurance. I need to check that.
Again if I do this it is not to resale it.
You will still have a money pit and be throwing good money after bad to get it up and going.
I haven't done it here in Colorado, but have flipped 3 bikes in other states that were salvaged. This is how it works in Mass, MI, and PA.
The insurance company will give you an itemized list of EVERYTHING that they think is wrong with the bike (right down to orings on on pegs). You will have to replace EVERY item on this list
SAVING RECEIPTS for everything you buy (an ebay receipt from a private party does not work). Once this is done, you'll trailer it to an inspection station (I believe that Colorado state police do the inspections here). They will check the insurance report, your work, and ALL your receipts. They will decide if the bike is safe and parts not stolen.
Some states will assign a new vin, others will just stamp salvage on the old title (both ways will be a salvage title).
You'll then look for an insurance company (progressive will insure salvage bikes, but only compulsory insurance). You'll then pay taxes and fees at the DMV and get your plate.
PA was awesome, MI and MA sucked
If you are looking at reselling it, 95% of the people who see the ad be it on craigslist or ebay are going to immediately stop looking at it.
just my .02, but if you are going to keep it and enjoy the bike, then go for it
I'm the 5%...I have no problems buying salvage BUT keep in mind that the value is about 60% of a clean title, and if you do try and sell, the buyer will be unable to get a loan on a salvage bike.
ALSO here's some advise. Take LOTS of pictures both of the damage and your repair. If you show how minor the damage was in one picture and show a good quality repair in the next...the bike will be much easier to sell when the time comes-you may even get better money for it that way
Tinelement
06-28-2012, 22:03
You will still have a money pit and be throwing good money after bad to get it up and going.
Or you could spend 3k on ammo and shoot it up in a day. That would be a money pit too.....
Take whatever you expect to spend and multiply it by two possibly three and that's what you're going to actually spend on the rebuild.
Personally I wouldn't do it. Lets say you can be into this thing for $4K. You're $4K into a bike that's worth $4-$5K and running a bike with a salvage title. I don't care how well you rebuild a bike once the frame has taken an impact the structure has been compromised and will never be as strong as it was new.
For $4K you can have a bike with a big giant question mark on it. We're talking about a machine that is capable of reaching high speeds in a very short amount of time and you WILL push that machine harder than you might think. You can spend an extra $2K and not have that big question mark.
Peace of mind doing 100+ MPH is worth a lot more than $2K to me.
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