Could this motorcycle be stolen? I need advice.

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Jnox · #1 Unread post by **Jnox** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:25 am

I am planning on getting my first motorcycle.

Yesterday I looked at a 2001 Yamaha R6. The motorcycle has 16000 miles on it.

I has been dropped atleast couple of times as both sides are scratched. It has sliders so the damage is not too bad. It doesnt have mirrors and turn signals, but it's not too expensive to get new ones.

What really puzzles me is the title. The guy says he is the second owner of the bike. The bike was originally purchased in Minnesota, and I am located in St. Louis Missouri. It still has Minnesota plates on it. What also really puzzles me is that the title is not in his name. It is in the first owners name but it has been signed in the back as if it was sold.

The guy said that his information is not filled out because that is what most people do when they buy motorcycles. They dont fill out the information of the seller on the title that way you can fill it out yourself and you wont have to pay as much tax on it because you can put down lower selling price on it.

This seems a little shady to me, but could this be true? I really need some advice!

Thank you!

qwerty · #2 Unread post by **qwerty** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:33 am

Yes, it's shady. If you want to know if the bike is stolen, just call the guy on the title and ask. Phone numbers can often be found by googling a name and address like this: "insert name here" "insert address here". The quotaion marks make it all work. Or, call 411 since you have the owner's name and address.

My guess is the guy selling the bike to you bought the bike legally and never changed the title over. That's why when I sell a vehicle, I keep the vehicle until the change of ownership paperwork is complete. NEVER let anyone drive off in or ride off on a vehicle in your name, because as the legal owner, you are liable for anything they do, like smack into a Lambo or something.

VermilionX · Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:33 am

get the VIN# and frame# check it w/ the police.

also, i would just like to say that it's not a good idea to get a race replica bike like the R6 as a 1st bike but im not gonna scare you away from it.

good luck.

CNF2002 · #4 Unread post by **CNF2002** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:39 am

I believe that if the second owner never transferred the title with the DMV, and so never paid taxes on it, there would be fines and back taxes owed on the vehicle. Call your DMV and ask. You have to pay more taxes on the vehicle every time its sold (which is greedy govt BS if you ask me).

Jnox · #5 Unread post by **Jnox** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:39 am

I do have the vin number written down. The guy said I can contact the guy that owned the bike before him. The only thing I should have mentioned, it is in his mothers name.

More information about the guy. He doesnt have license. He got insurance, and he was using the title as proof of ownership.

Since I have the vin number, should I just visit my local police station and ask them to run a check?

Jnox · #6 Unread post by **Jnox** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:41 am

CNF2002 wrote:I believe that if the second owner never transferred the title with the DMV, and so never paid taxes on it, there would be fines and back taxes owed on the vehicle. Call your DMV and ask. You have to pay more taxes on the vehicle every time its sold (which is greedy govt BS if you ask me).

I dont think they would know dont you think? If he gives me that title, I can just fill it out with my information and techincally I would be the second owner.

But I could be wrong!

WVUChrome · #7 Unread post by **WVUChrome** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:41 am

I would definately run the vin# through the your state police before considering it. What it sounds like is he left the title in the original owner's name to avoid paying taxes, registering it, etc. I'd be surprised if he even had insurance on it.

It may be a good deal, just run it through the state police to make sure it clears.

Later,
Chrome...

Jnox · #8 Unread post by **Jnox** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:56 am

I'm gonna run to the police station.

I'll be back in about 45 min. I'll let you guys know!

Jnox · #9 Unread post by **Jnox** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:33 am

I just got back from the police station. I was told they cannot disclose that kind of information to the public.

I think they are full of "poo poo"!

Sev · #10 Unread post by **Sev** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:37 am

They should at least have been able to check and see if it has been reported as stolen. Especially since it's illegal to buy stolen merchandise. Maybe call them and ask. Call the DMV as well.