Another lost title thread

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Have followed a recently closed online motorcycle consignment auction. It was at a place called Mach IV Motors in Appleton, Wisconsin, here in the U.S. I believe they have this as an anual event. A 1959 Norton International, in running condition, sold for $17,000. It was the highest selling priced bike of the over 100 bikes that were sold. This bike was listed that it did have a title, but the majority of the other bikes were listed as "No Title" bikes. I know this has been covered in other threads on this forum, and on other forums/message boards that I belong to, but the topic of buying untitled bikes, or cars/trucks or whatever I guess will alway be something for discussion. Since every bike listed did sell, and as I said there were over 100 bikes, there are obviously buyers out there willing to buy untitled bikes. If purchasing an untitled bike strictly as a parts bike, then that is less important, But if a bike is complete and nice enough to consider wanting to get it to be able to ride it on the road, the "no title" tag has always made me pass on what otherwise may have been a tempting purchase. When an individual has such a bike listed for sale, and says "you could obtain a lost title", I suspect in most case he has never personally done so. They make it sound like it's a simple process, but in reality, many indicate that it is not simple and can be an involved and expensive endeavor. If it was as easy as these sellers make it sound, then why did they not obtain it themselves. To complicate things, here in the U.S. anyway, the procedure for obtaining lost or replacement titles vary from state to state and there is no uniformity. Seems a shame that so many old/vintage bikes will never be brought back to be able to ride them on the road because of the no title issue. I will continue to pass on bikes without one. If others here have actually been through this process, would like to hear about their experience and how much time, trouble, and expense they had to deal with, and what state they're in.
 
A Featherbed International well restored will likely bring close to
$ 25 k or more here in the USA - if I had the money I would certainly pay that so depending on condition $ 17 k may be worth the hassle of getting it titled. I bought my Commando with a title but the title was screwed up as a previous owner had transferred it to his brother to hide it from his wife in a divorce. Both brothers deceased and the one who’s name was on the title died intestate.
Fortunately the two sisters who were the only heirs of record could not have been more helpful and they agreed to go to the probate court with me to straighten it out . This was in a neighboring state so it meant fees and a day of running here and there - neither sister drove so I picked them up and drove to the courthouse. One was a double amputee and while wheeling her across the parking lot I hit a speed bump and tipped the wheelchair - I had to do a diving horizontal grab like shortstop Ozzie Smith to keep her from winding up on the pavement. I was mortified but she had a wonderful sense of humor and laughed about it. I don’t know what I would have done had they not been so cooperative.
Edit - I just reread your post and the Inter did have a title . Someone got a bargain.
 
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If this is the bike then most definitely worth the hassle of getting it titled IMHO. but in re reading your post I see it did have a title - a bargain.
Another lost title thread
 
Have followed a recently closed online motorcycle consignment auction. It was at a place called Mach IV Motors in Appleton, Wisconsin, here in the U.S.
I suggest you stay clear of Mach IV Motors. They are selling junk. Had long discussions with them on purchase of frames missing titles. They will not warrant origin of bikes , so they may just as well have been stolen.
Put your effort and hard earnt money on a bike with known ownership history and hopefully a title.

- Knut
 
It would be interesting to follow up on this - 17 k for that Inter ( if indeed it is the one) seems too good to be true . I suppose it is possible with a reduced market as I had never heard of this auction . If that had been on Mecum’s Las Vegas it would have brought a whole lot more money . I wish it was me that won it …
 
I live in Ohio and the system doesn't make it easy on you to obtain a new title. Several years ago I tried to get a title for my little Triumph 250 single. So I called the OSP in Canfield and told the cop what I wanted, and he tells me I have to have a title to start the application to get a title. I asked him why would I be bothering him if I already a title and he tells me those are the rules! So I says Smell ya later and hung up.

Mark
 
My State of New Hampshire didn't issue titles for vehicles over 15 years old up until recently, now the cut of is vehicles made before 1999. You need a bill of sale and a prior registration or VIN verification from an inspection station to register an older vehicle. If you own a vehicle made before 1999 you can request a title, but they are not required. I have requested titles for some of my older vehicles. It took a trip to the registrar and few weeks of waiting to get one.
 
Texas uses a bonded title process for vehicles purchased without a title. It is somewhat costly and involves some time but it does work. I've done it twice.
 
To be clear, the 1959 Norton International that I posted about was offered with a title, and I've never purchased a bike from Mach lV Motors, but I have followed their consignment auctions for several years. You could take it for what it's worth, but you can get some real world input on sold for prices, on various model bikes. The responses here reflect, as I also posted, that the whole title chase process is different from state to state.
 
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Virginia has an abandoned vehicle process that can lead to acquiring a title. Basically since the bike in on your property you get it declared as an abandoned vehicle. I am a little unclear about the process even though I used it about 10yrs ago. There are two periods, the first to get it declared an abandoned motor vehicle, the second to get permission to title in your name. Costs under $100. I may have to use it a couple of times because I have two bikes with title problems. . It is fairly clear , however, that the process can be used for a variety of title flaws. I might even try to use it to retitle my Norton Nomad that has a title but the year on the title is 1947 and not 1958 like it should be. That makes a certain amount of sense since Norton used frames that probably dated from 1947.
 
My State of New Hampshire didn't issue titles for vehicles over 15 years old up until recently, now the cut of is vehicles made before 1999. You need a bill of sale and a prior registration or VIN verification from an inspection station to register an older vehicle. If you own a vehicle made before 1999 you can request a title, but they are not required. I have requested titles for some of my older vehicles. It took a trip to the registrar and few weeks of waiting to get one.
I've been requesting & been issued titles for 20 years using this form:
Another lost title thread
 
I figure $1,000 to obtain a title for anything over $5,000 bike, starting from a Bill Of Sale and going thru the Texas Bonded Title process.

ASSUMING IT'S NOT STOLEN!
 
To be clear, the 1959 Norton International that I posted about was offered with a title, and I've never purchased a bike from Mach lV Motors, but I have followed their consignment auctions for several years. You could take it for what it's worth, but you can get some real world input on sold for prices, on various model bikes. The responses here reflect, as I also posted, that the whole title chase process is different from state to state.
I was considering the 59 Inter, but it went too high for my budget and I tried to contact the seller, for him to explain the bike needing "fine tuning" but never got a response.
 
I own a motorcycle shop here in Sacramento, CA, and I’ve been fortunate to spend nearly 25 years repairing and refurbishing our beloved classic bikes for my customers. Along the way, I’ve gained quite a bit of experience navigating the DMV—something many find daunting.

The good news? Getting a title for a motorcycle, regardless of its state or condition, has never been easier! Since November of 2024, I’ve been able to handle these transactions conveniently from my laptop at the shop.

That said, patience is key. Even in the best-case scenarios, it typically takes about three months to complete the process. Just last week, I received four titles for motorcycles I submitted earlier—one of which took 14 months from start to finish (a 1941 Harley-Davidson WLD).

Here’s my take: never pass on a bike just because it doesn’t have a title.

It simply requires a little extra effort to verify that the seller’s story is legitimate. I’ve had situations where digging into a bike’s history revealed it was stolen. In those cases, I was able to help reunite the bike with its rightful owner. On one incredibly rare occasion, the original owner was so grateful that they gifted me the motorcycle (a basket-case T120C) along with the title!

That said, I’m not encouraging anyone to frivolously buy motorcycles without titles—you should absolutely proceed with caution. If possible, take a few days after inspecting the bike to make the necessary calls and track down the last registered owner. Sometimes, you’ll discover an incredible deal that’s just waiting to be revived.

It’s worth noting that we’re in a time where many widows and widowers are selling their late partners’ collections and the paperwork is tucked away or fully missing. Sadly, there are opportunistic buyers who purchase these bikes just to part them out, often destroying perfectly original examples in the process. In my opinion, these original bikes are far more special and sought after than restored units (but that’s a conversation for another day).

So don’t be afraid to foster a classic motorcycle. Bringing a forgotten bike back to life and pairing it with its next steward has been my career—and one of my greatest joys. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see a classic go from sitting in a shed to roaring back to life on the road.

And hey, if you’re ever unsure or need guidance here in California, feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to buy the bike, title it, and sell it back to you as a good running machine for a fair price!
 
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Nice ! Listing says it's a '57 which there was only 67 Model 30's made that year. I'd have been a buyer. Do you know if the premium is included in that price?
 
I was considering the 59 Inter, but it went too high for my budget and I tried to contact the seller, for him to explain the bike needing "fine tuning" but never got a response.
Well, if you were seriously considering bidding on a bike such as that, I'm sure you've been around long enough to know that one person's idea of "fine tuning" could mean just about anything, and probably means way more than what most potential buyers would consider "fine tuning".
 
Nice ! Listing says it's a '57 which there was only 67 Model 30's made that year. I'd have been a buyer. Do you know if the premium is included in that price?
There was a 10% online buyers premium added to the winning bid price. Kind of a questionable add on since, I believe, there was online only bidding, but more and more auctions are being conducted that way.
 
There was a 10% online buyers premium added to the winning bid price. Kind of a questionable add on since, I believe, there was online only bidding, but more and more auctions are being conducted that way.
Maybe the buyer is here on Access Norton and will share the condition and what “fine tuning “was involved. If you sir or madam are the one , what say you ?
 
I bought a BSA out of Texas in 2015.
The seller said he had the bike's title.
What he didn't tell me was that the title was in someone else's name.
His father had purchased the bike in California, along with a MK3 Commando, in 2011, from another old fellow ( probably both were about my age now!:)
The father had ridden BSAs in the 50s/60s and wanted to own a 63 Super Rocket again before he died. That had been his favourite of several BSAs he had owned and raced.
I guess he also lusted after the estart 850 Commando.
Prior to purchasing these two bikes in 2011, he hadnt ridden a motorcycle in about 40 years.
He only rode the Commando for a very short ride, about 1000 feet down the road then slowed to do a U turn and dropped the bike on himself, causing great injury. That was the end of his riding. He didn't ride the BSA at all.
He passed away in 2014 and I bought the BSA from his son in 2015.
They did not tell me that they had not transferred title from the California owner. I received the bike at the US/Canada border along with the paperwork. They included a bill of sale from them to me and a notarized explanation of what had occurred.
That was good enough for US and Canadian border agents . Both did paperwork on the bike as there is a sort of US release form to go through that is optional best practice when importing a vehicle to Canada.
So far so good. GsT paid and bike officially imported but not yet fully registered in BC.
Our insurance and licensing department is ICBC. They wanted more paperwork, copies of death certificates etc. It went on forever. Actually after a couple of failed attempts I just put off dealing with the whole problem. Many times have asked myself why on earth I bought the old thing when I have other much better motorcycles to ride. I kind of like the old thing though, there is something characterful about it.
Anyway, I almost had to dig up two dead bodies but the deed is finally done as of today. I paid the sales tax on it and it is registered.
So even when the bike comes with the title it can be difficult to register.

Next step is to apply for a collector plate but that should be easy.

I think that has to be the end of my old motorcycle purchasing.
Then again, I wouldn't mind owning a nice DBD34 some day......soon, has to be soon or forget it!

Glen
 
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Good time to be a buyer Glen - prices are falling for our treasures .
Witness a Featherbed Inter in apparent very good shape for $ 17k.
 
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