I'm officially an idiot.

[knewsom]

It's been ages gents, I hope you all are well.

I sold my Maroon Baboon about a year and a half ago. It was beautiful, but I was moving to the East Coast, and just couldn't bring it, nor did I have room to store it here in Cali while I was gone. Matter of fact, I didn't know if I'd ever be back.

Well, less than 2 years later, here I am, back in CA, longing for the old beast. Granted, the coils were dying when I sold it, and I just didn't have time to fix it before I split, so I sold it for a song. It hurt. I think a little piece of me died that day.

Now I need a bike again, commuting in the cage both sucks and costs a lot in gas. I don't have much coin to throw down on a new one either - I had decided I wanted to get a V-max this time around, but cost is steering back to the good old XS11.

Found a Craigslist post by a guy selling 3 complete bikes and a spare engine for $750; two are completely disassembled, and the one that's in one piece hasn't been ridden in 20 years. Between the three, I figure I can probably put at least two working bikes together in not too much time with a little TLC. I have a garage now, and a lot more know-how than I did before. I've been driving and working on a Land Rover, which has really helped my technical ability.

Only one has a title, the other two will just be bill o sale - will I still be able to register them once they're built?

I think this is a good idea, even though work is a sometimes-thing at the moment... in fact, I think I could make a little money selling the two bikes I decide not to keep. Need some votes in my favor to sway SWMBO.

Anyhow. Hopefully will be back among the XSive here pretty soon. Keep 'em crossed, boys.

[Mendizale]

Hey, we haven't met, but welcome back to the forum. Sounds like your idiothood would be official if you didn't buy the bikes and fix 'em up. The part-time work will only give you more time and flexibility to do it!

[knewsom]

Thanks, Mendizale! Chalk one vote up on my side... I couldn't agree more that the part-time work will give me more time to fix 'em up!!!

[CatatonicBug]

Welcome back! You've got a few other XSives in your area, so assembling at least one bike out of 3 should be a piece of cake! You'll then have plenty of spare parts when you're done! I can't see a reason NOT to go for that deal, as long as you have the cash for it. Not sure what the laws are like in CA for re-titling a bike, but I'm in the process of doing it here in MO. Except for the hassle and paperwork, it's really not that big of a deal. Has cost me about $100 in court fees and postage.

[Mendizale]

Only one has a title, the other two will just be bill o sale - will I still be able to register them once they're built?

Some posts on this forum have indicated that California is really strict about titles and bills of sale--in that without the former, the latter do little good. With no experience, my only suggestion would be to keep the frame numbers and engine numbers matched up--especially on the one with title (so you can keep title without hassle) and on the others so you don't have to defend yourself from potential you-chopped-and-mixed-these-without-title-à-la-chop-shop allegations. But I have no idea.

Other than that, I say go for it!

Mendizale

[knewsom]

Some posts on this forum have indicated that California is really strict about titles and bills of sale--in that without the former, the latter do little good. With no experience, my only suggestion would be to keep the frame numbers and engine numbers matched up--especially on the one with title (so you can keep title without hassle) and on the others so you don't have to defend yourself from potential you-chopped-and-mixed-these-without-title-à-la-chop-shop allegations. But I have no idea.

Other than that, I say go for it!

Mendizale

Not sure if I believe anyone is going to actually accuse me of "chop-shopping" an XS! lol!

I've read from other forum members that it can be difficult and cost a hundred or two in fees, but I've also heard from other friends that it's not all THAT difficult or costly. I can run the VINs before I buy, of course, to ensure they're not stolen or anything.

CatatonicBug, thanks for the welcome back! I'm definitely hoping to meet up with some other SoCal XSers, lotta good dudes on these bikes.

The notion of restoring one bike to good stock working order to ride while building out a badass custom is EXTREMELY appealing... I could put in a big-bore kit, all sorts of chrome and other goodies too... custom paint. Hmmmmmm. I may have to do this.

[cywelchjr]

Not sure if I believe anyone is going to actually accuse me of "chop-shopping" an XS! lol!

I've read from other forum members that it can be difficult and cost a hundred or two in fees, but I've also heard from other friends that it's not all THAT difficult or costly. I can run the VINs before I buy, of course, to ensure they're not stolen or anything.

CatatonicBug, thanks for the welcome back! I'm definitely hoping to meet up with some other SoCal XSers, lotta good dudes on these bikes.

The notion of restoring one bike to good stock working order to ride while building out a badass custom is EXTREMELY appealing... I could put in a big-bore kit, all sorts of chrome and other goodies too... custom paint. Hmmmmmm. I may have to do this.

Don't know. I've been working on re-registering my old XS400 that had dropped out of the system and that the paperwork had been lost for. It used to be dead easy 20 years ago to do it, but it's gotten harder and harder over the years. Best case is you will need to post a bond for the value of the bike for something like 2 or 3 years before you can get a clear title, worst case is they will refuse to issue a title, and you can't tell until you have actually tried which is going to happen.

[knewsom]

Don't know. I've been working on re-registering my old XS400 that had dropped out of the system and that the paperwork had been lost for. It used to be dead easy 20 years ago to do it, but it's gotten harder and harder over the years. Best case is you will need to post a bond for the value of the bike for something like 2 or 3 years before you can get a clear title, worst case is they will refuse to issue a title, and you can't tell until you have actually tried which is going to happen.

I've heard different things about this from you and other people - I have to wonder if you have a bill of sale for the vehicle because you've recently purchased it if it's easier than if it was yours many years ago but you've since lost the papers etc for it.

[cywelchjr]

I've heard different things about this from you and other people - I have to wonder if you have a bill of sale for the vehicle because you've recently purchased it if it's easier than if it was yours many years ago but you've since lost the papers etc for it.

It's whether there is a transferable title or not. If there is a title no problem, if not, then problem. If the vehicle comes from a state that doesn't provide a title, then no problem, bill of sale is fine. But Ca vehicle that is out of the system, bill of sale means very likely a yellow title, meaning not clear, as in clear ownership is not established.

[knewsom]

It's whether there is a transferable title or not. If there is a title no problem, if not, then problem. If the vehicle comes from a state that doesn't provide a title, then no problem, bill of sale is fine. But Ca vehicle that is out of the system, bill of sale means very likely a yellow title, meaning not clear, as in clear ownership is not established.

What if the previous registered owner filled out and submitted a release of liability? Would the title then be clear?

If not, would I have to track that person down??

[cywelchjr]

What if the previous registered owner filled out and submitted a release of liability? Would the title then be clear?

If not, would I have to track that person down??

If they don't have a title, it's likely not in the system, if it's in the system, it's a matter of finding the last owner of record and getting them to get a duplicate title and sign it over to you. But if there has been no activity for 6 years, it's purged from the system and no longer exists as far as the state of Ca is concerned. This is where the problem comes in. Had I known this, I would have done something to keep the record refreshed on my XS400, at least every 5 years, and it would have still been in the system, and all I would have needed to do was gone down and gotten new tags. No problems no questions. But because it sat with no activity for over 6 years, it auto purged from the system, and so no longer existed in the system anymore.

[DGXSER]

That is screwy with the 6 years thing. In Ohio anyway, you must have a title. If you do not have a title, then it is assumed stolen and they will not issue you a title, no title no registration. The last registered owner can get a replacment titel for $20-30.

This is the part where I get very frustrated with people. Most people just want these old bikes gone, but want their money for them. But still will not bother with getting a replacement title for it. Also, here in Ohio, the signature on the title of the party selling the vehicle must be notarized.

The situations where I think the State needs to find a resolution is where a vehicle has been abandoned in a storage unit, a field, or where ever. Some years later, 3-6-15 years, someone finds it, wants or needs to sell it. Well, now it is only good for parts. It can all be there, start and run fine, but without a title it is a parts bike as it can not be registered and plated, and most likely not insured.