Topic: Title scare! Is my bike stolen property?

[Wisconsin Jeff]

I recently picked up a K8 with a clear title.  I never bothered to check to see if the numbers matched.  After about a month of it sitting in my backyard I decided to do so.  I was shocked to realize that the number stamped on the frame and the # on the title were completely different.  I looked up the number and realized that the number on the title was actually the engine number.  

It was last titled in Wisconsin.  I made a few calls, one to my local Honda dealer, to see if anyone heard of this.  I discovered that when the MSO came from Honda they stated the engine number on the documentation.  The WI DMV decided that the engine number was sufficient.  

I guess everything is fine, but I was a bit shocked at first thinking I had a hot bike.

[ksmith0034]

The engine number and frame numbers never match - it's a long story that probably makes sense to someone, but that's how they did it.  With that being said, the frame number is usually what the bike is titled under.  But hey, if you have a clean title and registration then ride on!!!

[Caseygroh1]

yep, wisconsin uses the engine number. you're fine.

[JLeather]

Yeah, that's a Wisconsin thing.  No problems man.

[SHELLFISH]

That's bizarre that Wisconsin use the engine number and not the frame number!
The frame and engine number are usually pretty close but in CT that's not close enough!
Glad to hear you are OK! I would be having psych problems for a while if that happened to me here!

[Old Scrambler]

Its not just Wisconsin..........I have several out of state titles to the motor ID on other bikes.  All HD products were titled to the motor until 1978 or so....they did not have frame numbers.   One advantage to the mixed system is that if you have a bike with no title, you could buy a motor with a title from Wisconsin, or the other way around...........Anyone out there with a frame or rolling chasis and a title?  I have a few motors without titles.....two don't even have numbers. 

[Old75_ratafe]

I guess I can kinda understand that as alot of builders use custom frames it would make more sense to title the engine.  I do have to wonder though how many people have not realized this and done a motor swap.... 

[Johnie]

I had a deal here in WI last year when I bought my K4 from a WI owner. Had a hard time checking the VIN with the dirt on the motor but it looked correct. Once I got it home and could spend some time cleaning I found 1 number off on the engine ID compared to the VIN. I called the DMV and they ran the number on the title to find out it was not HOT. So they said to just send in a picture of the engine number with an explanation of the problem. Took only a month and I got the title all squared away. But yes, it does give you the willies for a while...