Does a frame with no title have any value?

CrabbyCustoms

CrabbyCustoms

XS650 Addict
XS650.com Supporter
Messages
132
Reaction score
341
Points
63
Location
Scarbrough, Ontario Canada
Hi There,

I just finished tearing down a 1978 XS650 for parts. The frame has no Ownership/Title, i'm just curious if this has no value due to this fact? i'm guessing that I can't use it on a future build?

Also, I'm in the Toronto Ontario area, would anyone want it?

Thanks, Marc.

December 26, 2019-17.jpg
 
If it isn’t stolen it is worth something. Check the vin number on the neck of the Frame at https://www.nicb.org/vincheck. Not sure about Canada, but in the US of A most states allow for lost titles; especially on motorcycles older than 20 years.
 
That does have some value probably locally. (Shipping) That frame appears to be of the drum rear brake variety? Could that actually be a 79 Special II frame ? I sure wish I had that...
I recently titled a cut up 79 here in WA State USA which has no numbers.
That registration process was pretty dicey however.
-RT
 
Call the non emergency police number and have them run the vin. VIN checks don't show stolen unless the investigation is active, so the only way to be sure is to have the cops run it.

I ran a VIN through NICB, sent an info request to the state dmv, asked at the tag agency and the only place that had a record of it being stolen was the cops. Thankfully I hadn't purchased the vehicle, but I wanted it and didn't trust the seller. So moral of the story, save time call police department or state patrol, they are the best source on if the VIN is clean or not.
 
Ratranger, here is an example. WA state in my own case could not verify theft even across the river in Oregon. WA does not look out of WA apparently. It's all on you..
I rolled the dice and got lucky (this time)
;)
 
I'm in WA, they make it a pain in the back side. I also think it is BS that the different VIN check companies like carfax and others will take the stolen line off the record if the investigation is closed.
 
Crabby here in New Brunswick no signed over registration, no chance to have it in your name. I tried it on a parts bike that I purchased. It could be different over in Ontario, but not sure.
 
I've gotten $50 out of a no vin frame a time or two. I've given some away and sliced others up into small parts as guys needed this or that tube or bracket. Cutting an engine "cradle" out of the frame is kinda popular.
Decent side and center stands have value.
 
Yes, the stands have value for sure, save those. The centerstands have a nasty habit of breaking a leg, lol, so good to have a spare.
 
Marc,
Another option is to find a wrecked bike with a title. It really doesn't matter what it was, so long as the neck (with the VIN) is similar (length and diameter) to that of the Xs. Chances are, the front end for that bike is available for parts, if necessary. Then, transplant that neck to the Xs frame, and build away! It would be titled as whatever donor neck you have, even if the rest of it was Xs, and it would all be perfectly legit, because everything else (except the neck) is just parts... :twocents:
 
Go to Service Ontario and get a UVIP for it - they will complain about the short VIN, but persist politely, they will probably have to call head office hot line which will find it for them and give them a file number, then you can buy the UVIP, from that you see all the p. o' s,
then you can try to contact old owner/do a lost ownership affidavit and get a title.

Or hold onto it until I am next in Toronto.....
 
Last edited:
I know down here in TX, getting a title for something like that is certainly possible but can take awhile. For example, my Free.99 build was complete but had a lost title with no known information to the last time it was titled.

From Post #6 of my thread:

-Yesterday, went to DMV title office and was told bike has never been registered in TX, so I needed to do a VIN check. "Go get an inspection anywhere". Ya, that doesn't work because they don't have the proper form.
-Today, go BACK to DMV w/ bike in tow and tell them to come out and look at the bike. They say they're not authorized and I need to go to a special office of a few municipalities. One of the two offices that will service my city said they only do it the 2nd Thursday of each month, next one being Sept. 14th. The more distant office does it twice a month, and one of those days is tomorrow luckily, so I'll get to take the bike 30 min south to get a simple form filled out.
-Then BACK to the DMV office to fill out paperwork, then to get a surety bond (which the state needs to be valued at $6k!!!!), then FINALLY to the tax assessor office to file for a bonded title.

The one saving grace is that I didn't spend any money on the bike, it's "only" cost me my time. The paperwork will cost $15, bond $100 and title another $25 or so. But I figure that having a solid title will easily net me that price if time ever comes to sell it, so there's that.
Click to expand...
 

Similar threads

Astrolite
Is this Bike Worth the asking Price, Opinions
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
XSJim
X
G
Can anyone date this frame please ?
Replies
7
Views
744
Downeaster
Downeaster
Diebold2020
Cafe Racer build in Texas
2 3
Replies
40
Views
3K
jetmechmarty
jetmechmarty
Firestorm102389
Help deciding between these carbs
Replies
10
Views
1K
toglhot
toglhot
W
XS400 parts on an XS650: Will it work?
Replies
6
Views
1K
MarkL
M
Back
Top