During my search for a bike I have come across a fair share of clean bikes, the hot models (GSXR750, CBR600RR, R6), and they are salvege titles, which means you can get them for a couple thou cheaper than a bike of the same caliber that is not a salvage title.

Well everyone of the dealers that I talk to seems to be pretty honest in telling me if a bike has been down hard and which ones were just cosmetic damage to the fairings where the price to fix it...IE, (labor + parts), is more expensive than the same bike at wholesale, so they salvage it.

They said that just because it is a salvage does not necessarily mean that it was a victim of an accident. They also said that they completely guarantee and stand behind the quality of their salvage bikes and that they have to pass rigorous tests before they are allowed on the road again.

My current dilema is this. I found a 2002 Suzuki GSXR750 with 5000 miles and NEVER been droppped. Owned by an older fella that garaged, babied and never raced or stunted it. He is the original owner. Paid $11k for it straight from the dealer. His ex wife stole it while going thru the divorce and after a certain time period the insurance company declares it stolen and salvages the title. He then found out after they salvaged it, the new address of his wife, sent the cops over there to investigate, which is where they found the bike and returned it to the owner, (salvage title and all ). She didnt mess it up or anything in fact the mileage matched the mileage from his house to hers. So he is willing to let it go for $4500 and this is exactly what my budget can do and I dont care that its a salvage just that it is safe to ride.





Modified by gumtape_deathmatch at 6:48 AM 11/22/2004

 

My buddy picked up a salvaged R6, great condition. Chcek it out for yourself it everything checks out, buy it.

Carfax might work too?

 

i would buy one, but after a very careful examination of the bike. i wouldn't just buy one on ebay or over the net. if your looking at one that has been damaged don't buy it unless you can do the labor, otherwise you might pay more after everything is done than it would have cost you to buy a clean bike of the same model/year. most of the people i know with salvage bikes race or stunt them.

 

A very trustworthy guy who owns a personal bike shop in town(old asian guy), told me that they salvage bike with a lot less damage then cars and in theory it makes sense because bikes are typicaly worth less. He had a Ducati Monster with a salvage title because the gas tank was badly damaged and they wanted like 2 G's for one from Ducati.

So yes I would trust a salvaged bike if the frame was straight.

 

Used bikes in general need to have maintenance addressed by a professional mechanic. I would never buy one without inspecting it. Whether its salvaged or not.

Only dilemma with salvaged title is when you're trying to resell it. Because of its salvage title, the prospective buyer will use that against you. And you as a loving seller, will see the 'worth' of the bike being much more than its actual worth.

If you're mechanically competent or if you know someone that is, and you wanna get it to learn or if you wanna convert it to a track bike, I see nothing wrong buying a salvaged bike.

Is there a way to actually check if the bike was salvaged because of theft? I hear that a lot and personally, I don't trust them most of the time.

 

i'd pick them up for resale but i'm not sure if i would keep one for long term personal use. main reasoning being insurance purposes and claims. typical salvage value is 40% less than clean.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScareyH22A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Only dilemma with salvaged title is when you're trying to resell it. Because of its salvage title, the prospective buyer will use that against you. And you as a loving seller, will see the 'worth' of the bike being much more than its actual worth.

Is there a way to actually check if the bike was salvaged because of theft? I hear that a lot and personally, I don't trust them most of the time.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree with you in regards to the difficulty in reselling the bike later.....but the way I look at it the owner of this bike is already taking the hit, not me. I getting an `02 w/ 5k mi. for $4500, I just can't see the value going down that much more....am I wrong in assuming this?

As for a way to check if the vehicle is truly salvage due to theft or not I would like to know this as well. What is everyone using to check the history of their bikes? Does carfax work for bikes too?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gumtape_deathmatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I agree with you in regards to the difficulty in reselling the bike later.....but the way I look at it the owner of this bike is already taking the hit, not me. I getting an `02 w/ 5k mi. for $4500, I just can't see the value going down that much more....am I wrong in assuming this?

As for a way to check if the vehicle is truly salvage due to theft or not I would like to know this as well. What is everyone using to check the history of their bikes? Does carfax work for bikes too? </TD></TR></TABLE>

carfax doesnt work on bike, sorry. where do you live? if its in a place where winter is rolling in about now, you could drive that price down more. i'd aim for $4k. i bet he is not loosing any money over this, his insurance company has already paid him since its on a salvage title and he did a buyback for dirty cheap. drive him down more, i bet he paid around 2-3k tops to buy it back.

 

To me a salvaged bike=track day bike.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Son &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">To me a salvaged bike=track day bike.</TD></TR></TABLE>

maybe but i always wonder why people trust salvaged bikes which may have been down to go faster than they ever would on any street... i'd rather have a clean bike that hasn't been downed for the track since you are topping the things out on occasion.

 

I would definitely buy a salvaged bike for everydays use. Just because its salvaged doesnt meant it doesn't work or will not run as well as bikes that are not salvaged.

Of course the most important thing to do when buying ANY used bike is a good visual/mechanical inspection, salvaged or not. That will give you the best opinion on wether or not the bike is worth buying

 

remember there are plenty of bikes that went down hard but for whatever reason weren't salvaged. so whenever you buy a bike make sure its been taking care of. also take it by a shop. they can tell you what kind of condition it is in, and they usually do it for cheap if not free.

 

fwiw, you can get the VIN checked here

 

thats not that great of a deal for it being salvaged. You can find a deal like that on a clean one

 

depends on the price

 

i would buy a salvaged title if the price is way below clean titled prices. even tho you say that the bike is fine and was totalled due to cosmetic reasons, when you buy back that salvaged bike from the insurance company, you should automatically expect it to be worth what you paid the insurance company for it.

It is worth a lot to you, the person who went down on it, not to the unsuspecting buyer that is looking for a bike that hasn't been dumped hard enough to get a "salvage" on the title. I don't get why so many people dump the bike, all the fairings get scratched, they report it to the insurance company, they salvage the bike, rider buys it back, replaces all the fairings, and then immediately tries to sell it as if it was an immaculate bike that has never been down, because it has no scratches on it.

If it is still so good why sell the fuggin thing? if you don't want to ride any more, why ever buy the damned thing back? people confuse me.

 

There is a motorcycle shop here in so cal(huntington beach) that sells nothign but salvage title bikes... they have to meet code and be safe, but I would never buy one... but thats just me, I'm not looking to save every penny I can, and I'm not looking to build a track bike
Schu


Modified by MSchu at 4:37 PM 11/22/2004

 

My buddy got a 99 Gixxer 600 with like 13XXX miles and fresh paint for $2300. It is a damn good deal in my eyes. I looked it over and rode it for him since he didn't have a license. Its perfect. It had a salvage title cuz it was stolen and found like 2 years later.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MSchu &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There is a motorcycle shop here in so cal(huntington beach) that sells nothign but salvage title bikes... they have to meet code and be safe, but I would never buy one... but thats just me, I'm not looking to save every penny I can, and I'm not looking to build a track bike
Schu[/i]</TD></TR></TABLE>

Let me guess .........Fast Lane Cycles...?

 

A rebuilt title can be fine. It also can not be fine. Dot does an ok check, if you get a rebuilt title. Just got to watch out for people tryin to make a quick buck and do bad job workin on the bike.

Alwasy get it checked out top to bottom

My bike is a rebuilt salvage and its fine. It's really good, and has all new parts. Rides awesome.

I have had friends who have trashed their bikes, to the max. Slaped some new farrings on their bikes and sold them with a clean title. I'm sure those bikes were in way worse condition.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gumtape_deathmatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Let me guess .........Fast Lane Cycles...?</TD></TR></TABLE>

i think there is forward motion around there also.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by usdmPC3 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

i think there is forward motion around there also. </TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah but they are in Arcadia not HB.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gumtape_deathmatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

yeah but they are in Arcadia not HB. </TD></TR></TABLE>

anything north of oceanside is gobbledy**** to me. i have yet to really venture north.

 

most people that go out and buy new bikes end up droping them any ways for a first bike i recomend a salvaged bike

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dunriteauto &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">most people that go out and buy new bikes end up droping them any ways for a first bike i recomend a salvaged bike</TD></TR></TABLE>

getting full value for comprehensive on salvage bike? not too fun/easy.