Help Please!!! VIN tag sandblasted off frame! Where else is it on frame??

B

BrapNewb

New Member
Hey,


I am about to drive 3 hours to hopefully pick up a '78 CB750f on Sunday. But, the owner just said the VIN was sandblasted off when the frame was powdercoated.


Is the VIN imprinted into the frame or is it tacked onto a tag on the bike, like a car??? Is there another way to verify the VIN of the frame to the registration??


I am from Kansas and the DMV here needs the VIN on frame to match the registration.


Any suggestions??


Thanks!!
 
I ran into the same thing on one of my bikes. It was an early 70's Suzuki and the vin was only PRINTED on the riveted on tag at the front of the frame. I purchased a metal punch set for $25 on ebay and hammered the vin number into the frame. Your DMV isn't going to know where the vin is supposed to be or how it was marked on your bike. Here in Utah we're just required to bring the bike to an independant testing facility for vin verification. That's just what worked for me. No guarentee..

Burnin' oil and smellin' royal!
 
yep... exactly what I was going to suggest... Just stamp the vin# to the frame...

althought it does sound suspicious... "oop... by the way... the VIN number was accidently removed..."
 
locO leoN - our friendly neighborhood VIN expert ;) I'm pretty sure you carry your stamps around in your tool kit :D
 
So, would a mechanics lean be my next option?? I have zero experience nor do I know what that really is.


Also, do you think riveting on a makeshift VIN would be acceptable??


I love this bike and its a great price but this VIN deal is a huge hangup...


Thanks for the help so far!
 
I can't vouch for '78, but the vin on my '75 CB750 is stamped on the left side of the steering head. The riveted tag was on the right side of the steering head, but was removed by the PO.
 
I honestly don't think you would have any issue if you stamped the vin into the steering head.

Making a vin tag and riviting it on will most def bring issues for you as it will probably be questioned.


Burnin' oil and smellin' royal!
 
Also, if a '75 is stamped i'd have to assume that a '78 would also be stamped.

Burnin' oil and smellin' royal!
 
Pretty much all Hondas have the vin stamped into the neck. If its been powdered it may be covered up though. Id be real wary of buying a bike w no title, and a missing vin. Sounds like youre getting a stolen bike to me.
 
Can't see where he said there isn't a title, but if that is the fact I'd turn around and walk the other way. I've done it once and will never buy a bike without a clean title and call to the dmv to check the vin and verify that it hasen't been reported stolen and is lein free!

Burnin' oil and smellin' royal!
 
Slightly off topic,


I live on the other side of the world, and am rather confused as to what this is about.
What is a title and what is the VIN? I presume the VIN is the serial numbers stamped on the frame and engine block by the manufacturer? So whats the title? Is it a registration document?
 
HK_Sailor said:
Slightly off topic,


I live on the other side of the world, and am rather confused as to what this is about.
What is a title and what is the VIN? I presume the VIN is the serial numbers stamped on the frame and engine block by the manufacturer? So whats the title? Is it a registration document?
Click to expand...

A vehicle title, in some ways is like a deed to a house. A title is a document that shows who owns the vehicle. It designates the vehicle by it's Vehicle Identification Number-VIN. The purpose, and strictness of titling varies from state to state. But in most cases it also traces the transfer of ownership, and the odometer reading at the time of sale. In most states, it is the title that you use to register your vehicle. Registration is a separate document in itself, which really more or less tracks the license plates, more than the actual vehicle. Most likely there is someone who can explain it more eloquently, but that is the gist of it.
 
God I feel like a muppet going this far off topic but....


If you picked up an old bike from a scrap yard and built it up. Wouldn't you be in lack of the title?
This all sounds strange to me, in terms of paper work for my bikes all I have are registration documents and insurance cover notes....
 
Hows this sound, call and ask a DMV. Tell them the deal and ask. Doesent the engine have a matching ID tag to the frame?
 
HK_Sailor said:
God I feel like a muppet going this far off topic but....


If you picked up an old bike from a scrap yard and built it up. Wouldn't you be in lack of the title?
This all sounds strange to me, in terms of paper work for my bikes all I have are registration documents and insurance cover notes....
Click to expand...

I'm not 100% sure how that works, sailor. In most cases yes you would be without a title. I have seen just a frame, or just a motor sold with original title from private sellers... But I think if you are building straight from the junk pile, there are ways to get the bike titled fresh when you're done. As if you built a one-off from scratch. Which is sort of what that would be, I suppose. I agree it is a lot of papers. It is to prevent someone from registering a bike that they stole, I guess. There are fees involved in paperwork every step of the way, so it is also a revenue generating thing for the state.
 
HK: It depends on where you live here in the US. Some states require no title. Just a bill of sale (which is basically just a piece of paper that you and the seller sign, saying that the bike was aquired legally) whereas in other states you need hardcore documentation from the state goverment.

The state I live in makes it nearly impossible to aquire a new title for a motor vehicle if the original owner has gone missing. Here in Pennsylvania, you have to first get insurance for the bike that you havent even legally purchased yet, than you need to get the title, than get registration papers and a liscense plate, than a yearly state inspection.

Its annoying at best, and can be downright frustrating with an old bike at worst.

They actually just passed a law saying that when you transfer a title, both the new owner (you) and the seller have to be present, with state issued photo IDs. Doesnt seem like a big deal, but when you buy a bike from an old lady or just a jerk who doesnt want to come to a notary with you it can really suck.
 
And if you buy a bike from a salvage yard in most places here, they can file paperwork with the state to issue you an "R" or salvage title. Its no different than a standard title, other than it implies that the bike has been in an accident at some point.

And Garage Rat... On Japanese bikes, thet engine code and frame code do match yes. That said though, the title goes with the frame. My nimbers arent matching on the 350 chop. Doesnt matter though, the title matches the frame.

Now on older HDs the title goes with the motor...
 
Be careful with non titled bikes too, here in Alabama before 73 or 74 does not require a title only a bill of sale however that always makes me nervous so I call and have the VIN numbers checked before I buy anything.
 
Engine #'s and frame #'s are not always exact matches on Jap bikes in my experience. You should at least call DMV and run the engine #'s. Feel around the headstock to see if there is evidence of an imprint, and tell the guy you'll buy it if the #'s are legit after you grind the powdercoating off.

FYI, if you stamp it yourself you could go to jail if you are caught, and I'm sure there are several cops on this site...then again I'd probably do it if I wanted the bike bad enough, I just wouldn't advertise it.
 
some of the old frames have tags but also have stamps... should be on the neck... it would take alot of powder, filler and sanding to fill that in wiht powder... something is not to up and up on this ... it would take such an agressive media to blast it off the frame, not just like a simple go over, you would have to intentially hide it
 
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