ninjette.org - View Single Post - What's the value of a bike with a rebuilt title?

DannoXYZ · November 27th, 2018, 01:56 PM

Note that there's difference between totaled bike vs. restored bike with salvage-title.

Totaled bike can be bought from insurance-auctions or outfits like Co-part. These are discounted well below market-value due to repairs needed costing more than current market-value of bike. So crashed 2017 ZX-10R can be had for $1000 of less (depending upon condition) if you want one.

Salvage title is attached to a restored bike. You spend whatever's needed to bring vehicle back to street-worthy operation. In CA, you file "application for salvage certificate", "application for title/registration", etc. along with a bunch of other paperwork. Then vehicle gets inspected by CHP/qualified-shop for various safety items like suspension, brakes, lights, etc. Take all that paperwork to DMV and get registration with "salvage title" for vehicle.

In CA, when you see "salvage title" that just means restored vehicle from whatever condition caused insurance to total it, to its current useable/registerable state. It has minimum operating condition, perhaps not very good cosmetics. Some restored/salvage-title are better than most used vehicles or as good as new vehicles. Pricing for such vehicle is then relative to its condition vs. new one or other used models on market. With mark-down for liability-only insurance since its market-value has already been paid-out once. You buy "salvage title" bike like any other used one; get PPI and check everything.

I bought my 2006 CBR600RR in 2008 well below market-value for $2500 as race-only bike with salvage title. Market-value for similar bikes were around ~$5500+ at time. Original owner dropped it in corner and broke all bodywork. Insurance totalled it, and sold it to 2nd-owner (a friend) for $250. The 2nd-owner then repaired all damage and replaced bodywork with Optimal race-fairings and raced it for a year. I bought is as 3rd-owner and installed headlights, turn-signals and taillight to make it street-legal. Used it for 10-years and sold it last month for $4500; almost doubling my money. The salvage title will never go away, and discount for liability-only insurance varies. Most used bikes won't carry full-coverage comprehensive anyway as 4-5 years of that will cost you as much as another similar bike. So in CA, discount for salvage title isn't that significant provided condition is comparable to other vehicles without salvage-title.

November 27th, 2018, 01:56 PM	#11
DannoXYZ ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: AKA JacRyann Location: Mesa, AZ Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17	Note that there's difference between totaled bike vs. restored bike with salvage-title. Totaled bike can be bought from insurance-auctions or outfits like Co-part. These are discounted well below market-value due to repairs needed costing more than current market-value of bike. So crashed 2017 ZX-10R can be had for $1000 of less (depending upon condition) if you want one. Salvage title is attached to a restored bike. You spend whatever's needed to bring vehicle back to street-worthy operation. In CA, you file "application for salvage certificate", "application for title/registration", etc. along with a bunch of other paperwork. Then vehicle gets inspected by CHP/qualified-shop for various safety items like suspension, brakes, lights, etc. Take all that paperwork to DMV and get registration with "salvage title" for vehicle. In CA, when you see "salvage title" that just means restored vehicle from whatever condition caused insurance to total it, to its current useable/registerable state. It has minimum operating condition, perhaps not very good cosmetics. Some restored/salvage-title are better than most used vehicles or as good as new vehicles. Pricing for such vehicle is then relative to its condition vs. new one or other used models on market. With mark-down for liability-only insurance since its market-value has already been paid-out once. You buy "salvage title" bike like any other used one; get PPI and check everything. I bought my 2006 CBR600RR in 2008 well below market-value for $2500 as race-only bike with salvage title. Market-value for similar bikes were around ~$5500+ at time. Original owner dropped it in corner and broke all bodywork. Insurance totalled it, and sold it to 2nd-owner (a friend) for $250. The 2nd-owner then repaired all damage and replaced bodywork with Optimal race-fairings and raced it for a year. I bought is as 3rd-owner and installed headlights, turn-signals and taillight to make it street-legal. Used it for 10-years and sold it last month for $4500; almost doubling my money. The salvage title will never go away, and discount for liability-only insurance varies. Most used bikes won't carry full-coverage comprehensive anyway as 4-5 years of that will cost you as much as another similar bike. So in CA, discount for salvage title isn't that significant provided condition is comparable to other vehicles without salvage-title.