Topic: Salvage title

[longshanks]

I found a '76 CB750 for sale on Craigslist in California and it has a salvage title. Does it work any differently for bikes? Especially since the 750 is considered a collector bike? Am I dreaming or could it ever be transferred to a clear title?
Thanks

[goldarrow]

you mean this one ? http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/mcy/3641679040.html  it's been on CL a week now.

[Stev-o]

That looks good.  Salvage title means it was in a wreck and totaled from the insurance company. Obviously it's been fixed.
Havent heard of someone getting a clear title?

[phil71]

Being totaled doesn't mean anything. It's possible the bike got a dent in the tank, that would have cost $400 to return to pre-accident condition, and the bike was only worth $400 when it happend. . that's a 'total loss', but nothing really bad happened.
The bike will need to be inspected by the state dmv division that handles that, and the salvage title becomes a real title.

[xnoahx]

I dont think you can get a normal clear title from a salvage title in CA.  That being said.  It doesnt really make any difference as to the bike itself.  My 78 is a salvage title, registered and insured just fine. 

[goldarrow]

To some people, clear title means everything and salvage title kills the deal. Vehicle with Clear title hold its value.

I would rather get a bike that has been out of system and then apply for a new title. Otherwise, that bike would have been sitting in my backyard a week ago

[goldarrow]

If you are looking for a project, Give this ad a try and report back.  http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/mcy/3645957820.html

He's a flipper in the area though, so his price may be steep. 

[dhall57]

Here in NC once a salvage title vehicle always a salvage title vehicle as far as I know.

[Scott S]

 I think the salvage title would lower the value a little. If you plan on keeping it and riding it, who cares? If you plan on flipping it, adjust your buying price accordingly.

 Like Phil71 said, often it's just cosmetic damage that causes a bike to be salvaged, especially modern bikes with a lot of plastic.
 I'd ask WHY was it salvaged and check the forks, check for frame damage, etc.

[longshanks]

you mean this one ? http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/mcy/3641679040.html  it's been on CL a week now.

yes. that's the one. pretty clean, I was planning on flipping it but its already set kinda high for a salvage. I wish the rules concerning salvage titles were different when it comes to classic vehicles.

[DustyRags]

I have never heard of a salvage vehicle in CA being labeled anything but a salvage vehicle. Once the title is besmirched, that's it. The tricky bit is that, as people have pointed out, a salvaged title may just mean a dent in the tank or an ex with a key and a razor blade destroying the paint and seat. But we don't know that, and that's the beastliness of it all. They may CLAIM it's just a wrecked paint job and never tell you about the front-end collision that bent the forks and cracked the neck joint, and you'll never know about because they swapped in the forks off another bike. Or something. It's aggravating. You might be able to Carfax it (is that possible for bikes?).