Salvage title

I've got the bug to get another bike that's a little more sporty, not to replace the VFR, but to have as a second bike..
I've been seeing salvaged bikes alot in craigslist.. Seems like lots of VFR's also.
Is it a roll of the dice?
When I've talked to people about their salvaged bikes they act like it's no big deal.
Anyone here have a salvaged bike?

 

Well kind of
my bike came from woman who teaches at Yale.
he husband caught her cheating and hit bike w/ truck.
bent forks, plastic and radiator on one side.
did not report to ins. just sold it to me as is for $1,500.00
I put in $ 2,500.00 to get it back to nice condition.

just look into the bike very close some are worth it some are not, up to you to see if bike has been fixed right or hacked back together.

 

I got mine as a rebuilt, prior salvage. I it was wrecked, not very bad new front fork some new plastic. I am very happy, drives great, I got it becuase it only had 1400 miles. I am up to almost 4000, not one problem.

 

Roll of the dice in my opinion. Two good experiences noted here but I know guys who've gotten bit by them, too. If it were me, I'd be sure to have it professionaly inspected.

With this economy it's a buyers market though and there are lots of good deals if you're patient, I'd spend the extra to get something that doesn't have a salvage. Plus, I'd want something I could turn around and sell pretty easily. Salvaged bikes are no doubt harder to sell.

 

yes much harder to sell that is why I like the fact owner did not file claim so title clear if I was to sell it.
but that will never happen I will never let it go.

someone posted a bad experience w/ salvaged titled bike look for it on threads.
but had enough sence to walk away.

 

Is it possible to insure a salvaged bike?
I know it's a risk to buy one, I guess I'm suprised how many there are for sale out there.
I wonder what the criteria for an insurance company is to salvage a bike.
Alot of people claim there was only plastic damage etc.

 

AFAIK, you can only put liability insurance on a salvaged bike.

And as far as the criteria for salvaging it, it has to do with the cost of the repairs versus the current value of the bike. Nowadays it doesn't take a whole lot to total a bike. So when a bike is crashed and the insurance company declares it a total loss, the insurance company pays the owner the value of the bike, plus registration, tax, and the value of any accessories they have on the bike, and then they take ownership of the bike. The owner can then buy the bike back for a certian amount, but the bike is then put on a slavaged title, because it was declared a total loss and has to be rebuilt.

This is what I know from my own experiences when I went down on my 600RR a few years back, your mileage may vary.

Oh and my VFR has a salvage title on it. The guy I bought it from had layed it down once. I just made sure to check it out well before I bought it and test rode it. It rode fine and had no mechanical problems so I bought it. Being salvaged I was able to pick it up for several thousand less then similar bikes were going for.

 

I bought my bike as a salvage last spring. It was an insurance write off after being dumped on the right side. It needed front and right fairing,right rad and needed the right engine case painted. I think in Ontario insurance will right a bike off after any major accident (for liability reasons) or if the cost to fix exceeds 50% of the value. It you start to price out these items and labour at dealer prices it adds up very fast.

Another point to consider. Although my bike was running when I bought it, I obviously wasn't able to test ride it. This makes the purchase even more of a gamble as its hard to check for handling issues (ie bent frame) with the bike on the side stand.

The gamble worked in my case and I got a nice bike out of the deal. Also in Canada the title laws are a bit different. My bike was has a clean title and is not listed as salvage.

I would only purchase a salvage bike if it would present a considerable savings. Often however by the time you add bike+time+parts+paint+gas driving all over to pick up parts you don't end up saving much if anything and you still have a bike you haven't even test ridden. Just my 2cents.

 

My 01 is a salvage. Im rebuilding it however and almost un-recognizable as a VFR. It was a insurance write off because of theft and it was low slided on the right side. Forks fine, only thing wrong was the right bracket was bent and the subframe. other than that, the bike was in sound condition.

Even after taking the bike apart and inspecting the frame and the engine, it was fine.

If you are buying an already rebuilt bike, I highly recommend you take it to a shop that knows the bike you are buying, or take someone with you who knows the version very well.

If you are rebuilding one, weigh in the cost on parts and labor, depending on whats wrong with the bike, it may end up costing you more than to buy a decent clean title bike.

I'm doing the labor my self, and for the price of the parts i've fabricated, and bought, I could of purchased a 5th gen or early 6th gen for the price. But then again, I dont want a stock looking VFR.

 

Some states require you document the repairing of the bike and keep all receipts for parts. Then the bike has to be inspected. Check your state's regulations...

 

Salavage

My bike now has a rebuilt title, I have had full coverage insurance on the bike for a year now.
The state the bike was titled in required that you show all paper work on repairs and the bike was inspected and give a l rebuilt title.

I saved some money and got a bike with very low miles, plus I don't plan on
selling it anytime soon.