May have giant paper weights..title issues in Illinois

[Moto Josh]

Back story. I bought a 1972 Honda CB350 about two months ago. Then about a month ago I found a guy on Craigslist who was selling two Honda CB350's (1970 & 1971) extremely cheap with a TON of parts. Enough parts to build one bike for sure, and almost enough to build the second. One bike didn't have a title, and one he had. I figured with all the extra parts, and being the same as my 1972 I could use to help build too, I could sell of the rest. Here's where it gets sticky..

Arrived, 5 hours away. He accidentally signed the title in his name. He's a cop, and we agreed on an even more insanely low price since I had to drive 5 hours, and would send him the remainder of the money upon mailing me the title after he got it in his name. I also verified both bikes are NOT stolen.

Well surprise surprise...guess who completely lost touch with me and now I have no way of getting ahold of? Hmm..he also moved so he's not a cop in that town anymore. I know I took a risk getting motorcycles without the titles and just bills of sale. Just the parts alone (one engine is professional rebuilt!) are worth WAY more than I paid for even for being the cheap 350 model especially with the dual purpose of I can use for my 1972 project, but my intentions were not to be a parts seller and flip them... I wanted to build another bike. What can I do? Am I SOL? He was also suppose to send me a bill of sale for the one he never had a title for, and I was going to go through Moto Recycle with their loop hole for a title. Bummed out as I said before I wasn't in this to make money off parts.

 

[chris7981]

In My state you only need a title for vehicles 79 and newer. Bill of sale will get you tagged and on the road. I understand this is not the case in other places. however, my roomate got a title for a new bike through Maine. apparently, you can get a title for pretty much any kind of lost title, abandoned vehicle or anything like that through the mail, from them. I think he paid a total of $200. It's an option. you could read up on it. this might be a good place to start
http://www.getnewtitle.com/maine-lost-car-title-vehicle-title-replacement-service.html

 

[focusinprogress]

http://benboyle.com/blog/?p=16


do the vermont loophole....

just have a friend "make" you a bill of sale for the bike and send in the paperwork and check, wait 2wks, receive plate and vermont transferable reg, profit.

 

[aircooledTOM]

Ditto the VT route... see my previous post on the topic. I am awaiting a PA title (have been told that it's been processed and approved). Fairly painless process, there is a very in depth thread on AdvRider that shows 100s of success stories with this particular method. Do yourself a favor, call and get a tax value to pay VT sales tax in the correct amount. Also use the VT bill of sale. It makes it easier for them to process.

It works. It's like magic.

 

[Moto Josh]

Read up more on the VT route. Seems legit and will try it out. Thanks guys!