[Triple Jim]

It happens all the time, and the reasons vary from the owner crashing and getting scared, to a minor problem like a broken wire that prevented spark, to a major mechanical problem inside the engine.

Since you mentioned some crash damage, it might be that the owner crashed, parked the bike, and it sat there for 15 years. In that case you can expect to repair the crash damage, and then deal with the entire fuel system that's now full of corrosion and/or the remnants of fuel that have turned into a gooey varnish-like mess. The carburetors on these 250s are unusually difficult to get clean, so you should probably plan on a hundred or two bucks to pay Ducatiman to restore them to new condition. The petcock can be replaced or disassembled for cleaning. Lacquer thinner or acetone can dissolve the varnish from the tank, but you indicated that it might need to be repaired too.

Of course if the crash explanation is true, then you have to wonder why there is no title. Could it be possible that the nearly new bike was stolen and crashed, and then hidden?

You have to decide if you have the time and skill to bring this bike back to running condition, or if it might be better to find a used running 250 with a title for a couple thousand. I got a rough but running 2005 for $1,150 a few years back.