Topic: Need Advice: Bike registered by Engine number instead of Frame

[dmulk]

So here's the situation.

I purchased a 1976 K6 about 4 years ago with the intention of restoring it. I purchased it on Ebay from a guy in Wisconsin and had the bike delivered to Oregon (at the time, my state of residence). The Wisconsin title I got with the bike had a clean title registered with the Engine number. To make sure there were no obvious problems, I called the Wisconsin DMV and had them run both the frame vin and engine vin. Both came up clean.

I then took the bike to the Oregon DMV, had them inspect the numbers on the title and engine and they re-titled the bike in Oregon, no problem. I then registered the bike.

About a month ago, I ran across a nice K0 and decided to sell my K6 and purchase the K0.

I put the K6 up on ebay and it sold to a gentleman in Florida. 

I get a call today from him stating that the Vin's don't match and he couldn't get the bike registered in Florida.
 I asked him to verify that he is checking against the Engine number and he said swears he did and that NONE of the numbers match. (They matched when I registered the bike and when I sent it to him...)

So... I have two different sets of questions:

1) Provided the Engine number matches the signed title I sent him....should he have any problems registering in Florida?
2) Any other examples of titles registered by Engine number instead of frame on a 1970's bike? (It's interesting to note that this guy purchased 3 other CB750s and he had problems with ALL of the registrations....)

My next question is more legal than technical:

Let's preface this by saying this....Everything was good on my side when I sold him the bike...once it left my place on the truck it was pretty much out of my control. I want to help the guy, but I can tell he is freaked out right now and he's making all kinds of threats. I didn't have a problem registering it and the last guy obviously didn't have an issue....so what would you do? At some point I might have to tell him to go pound sand...but I want to make sure I am legally right in doing this...


Thanks,

<D>

[bistromath]

Sounds like you gotta figure out what the problem is before you tell him to pound sand. How is it possible that the VIN on the title you gave him doesn't match the frame OR engine numbers? What other numbers could be be giving you? Tell him to give you the title, frame, and engine numbers so you can compare yourself.

[andy750]

Tell him to take PHOTOS of the engine number and frame number and title number (although Im assuming you kept a copy of the title?).

I had this issue once in Mass. I got a bike from Ebay and it was in NC. The engine number was on the title. No problem in getting it registered like this. And to correct it I could have gone to the local police station to get it visually inspected and a form from the Mass RMV signed by the cop to verify the frame number as the new Title number. I didnt do this as I had the bike shipped to the UK where I sorted out the problem by getting it inspected by the UK version of the RMV. No problems doing this either.

Anyway look up the Florida RMV website or contact them by email and ask about this. Dont just rely on the buyer to do this. But get photos of the numbers hes talking about!

good luck and keep us posted!

cheers
Andy

[dmulk]

More info:

He just came back and after "swearing" all the info he was giving me was correct, he double checked and, indeed, the engine number matches what is on the title.

He's a bit cooler now....(probably a bit embarrassed). However, he is still being told that there is a problem if the frame number isn't on the previous title....

I'll keep you all updated.

<D>

[dusterdude]

most states title by frame number,now who`s to say if they know the title has the engine or frame number on it.unless they inspect the bike,they have no way of knowing.

[dmulk]

Apparently they DID inspect it and I think I know what happened.

Turns out he purchased 4 CB750s at one time, two of which were registered in Oregon. Mine was one of these. He had all of the inspections done at one time. Apparently the "other" Oregon bike's title doesn't match EITHER bike. I think what happened was the inspector never matched my pink against my engine. He must have matched the other one against both frames and then matched my title against only the frames....

....at any rate, I think I am in the clear at this point.

As always, this is a great community. Thanks for the feedback!

<D>

[fmctm1sw]

Florida is a pain in the a$$ when it comes to this stuff.  The first time you register it from out of state, they will inspect the VIN.  Not a bill of sale state either.  No title, you're screwed...  They will only read the frame number that's stamped too, not the little tag.  I had to convince them my frame number started out "CB" and not "CD."