Utah ? Cant be as bad as Washington.
WA does like to tax imported vehicles. All of mine came across the river from Oregon.
WA always gets its cut
Good luck to you in Utah !
I picked up a bike without a title for next to nothing. WA has a process, that's for sure, but other than being a bit tedious and time consuming...it's not all that bad depending on how you acquired the thing....if I recall correctly, the steps below outline a quick and dirty for WA state. (For me, I bought it from a guy who had found it on his property...no title, no interest in it...and couldn't be bothered...so I had to go the long route)
Step 1) Have the previous owner relinquish rights to the bike. (There's a form to do that. Send via certified mail w/proof of delivery)
Step 2) Get either the form back signed and relinquished or Don't get it back and have receipt of delivery that it was sent:
2a) If you get the form back, you can go straight to the DMV and get a new title...simple.
2b) If you don't get the form, then take the receipt of delivery/failure to sign to the DMV, and they'll give you a form to take to the State Patrol.
3) Make appointment w/State Patrol to have it inspected.
4) Show up to appointment and they'll verify it's not stolen and has the required equipment to be road legal
5) Take documentation from State Patrol back to DMV and they'll issue you a REGISTRATION and classify it as a "Title in doubt" which comes with a 3 yr. waiting period (For the previous owner to potentially claim it). No title is issued at this point.
6) You can now ride the bike (legally), sell it, do what you want with it. For the next 3 yrs, it's as if you own it and when the 3 yr period is up, you apply for a title and it's yours.
No, not simple, but can be done without a whole lot of work. Assuming the previous owner doesn't come looking for it. In my case, VERY doubtful anyone is looking for it...so I wasn't worried.