When I bought my bike, I wasn't very educated in the title requirements in my state. The guy I bought it from had the title, the vin number matched and although it wasn't his name on the title, I thought I was good to go. Of course, this wasn't the true.
There was a name on the title and a second name where someone else had purchased it from the original owner, neither of which was the guy I bought it from.
So, after some google searching, I found the second buyer of the bike in Ft Wayne, IN. I called him, and in fact, he did used to own the bike but had sold it years ago. He agreed to help me straighten out the title mess I had had gotten myself into.
This past January I drove to Ft Wayne and met him. We spent about an hour together talking about the bike and it's history. It turns out that the original owners name on the title is his father-in-law. In Indiana, the law allows a title to signed over one time to another person who, which he had done from his father-in-law. After that, a new title must be created for the purchaser to allow for it to be signed over once again. This however, was never done for my bike. So legally, it was still his bike !!
After talking to the guy, he seemed like an upstanding person, so, I decided to take a chance. Since he had to get a title in his name to allow it to be signed over to me, I left the title with him. He said he would apply for a new title, then mail it to me. All I would have to do then, is to sign as the purchaser and take it to the BMV. I would then have 30 days to apply for a title in my name. In the meantime, I would be legal to ride while waiting on the new title.
So.....I waited and waited and waited. I called the guy a few times to get an update on the status, but he wouldn't return my calls. So....I waited and waited and waited. I was starting to think the guy was going to show up at my house with a police officer claiming the bike had been stolen. I was geting really nervous.
Then finally.....yesterday, the title showed up in my mailbox !!!! My neighbors probably thought I am a lunatic because I did a happy dance in the middle of the street !!!
Today I'm going to the BMV to get plates, stop by my insurance guy to get coverage. Tomorrow will be a 50-100mile shakedown ride. I ridden around our neighborhood quite a bit, but without plates, I didn't venture to far. It will be nice to get to 70mph and hold it there for awhile.
For those of you with title laws in your area, I highly recommend educating yourself in the requirements of titles before loading your new GS in the back of the pickup and driving away. When I buy the next one, the seller and myself are going to the BMV and transfer the title before I hand over any money !!
Took some new pics too. I bought a windshield from twr1776...Thanks Tim it looks great !
There was a name on the title and a second name where someone else had purchased it from the original owner, neither of which was the guy I bought it from.
So, after some google searching, I found the second buyer of the bike in Ft Wayne, IN. I called him, and in fact, he did used to own the bike but had sold it years ago. He agreed to help me straighten out the title mess I had had gotten myself into.
This past January I drove to Ft Wayne and met him. We spent about an hour together talking about the bike and it's history. It turns out that the original owners name on the title is his father-in-law. In Indiana, the law allows a title to signed over one time to another person who, which he had done from his father-in-law. After that, a new title must be created for the purchaser to allow for it to be signed over once again. This however, was never done for my bike. So legally, it was still his bike !!
After talking to the guy, he seemed like an upstanding person, so, I decided to take a chance. Since he had to get a title in his name to allow it to be signed over to me, I left the title with him. He said he would apply for a new title, then mail it to me. All I would have to do then, is to sign as the purchaser and take it to the BMV. I would then have 30 days to apply for a title in my name. In the meantime, I would be legal to ride while waiting on the new title.
So.....I waited and waited and waited. I called the guy a few times to get an update on the status, but he wouldn't return my calls. So....I waited and waited and waited. I was starting to think the guy was going to show up at my house with a police officer claiming the bike had been stolen. I was geting really nervous.
Then finally.....yesterday, the title showed up in my mailbox !!!! My neighbors probably thought I am a lunatic because I did a happy dance in the middle of the street !!!
Today I'm going to the BMV to get plates, stop by my insurance guy to get coverage. Tomorrow will be a 50-100mile shakedown ride. I ridden around our neighborhood quite a bit, but without plates, I didn't venture to far. It will be nice to get to 70mph and hold it there for awhile.
For those of you with title laws in your area, I highly recommend educating yourself in the requirements of titles before loading your new GS in the back of the pickup and driving away. When I buy the next one, the seller and myself are going to the BMV and transfer the title before I hand over any money !!
Took some new pics too. I bought a windshield from twr1776...Thanks Tim it looks great !
Well, it took me six months including talking to the widow of the previous owners widow (she wanted nothing to do with it btw). But I finally found the woman who it was signed over to and she worked with me to get a new title. I finally received my title about a month ago! Feels good to finally get that peice of paper so the state acknowledges that the bikes yours
. Congrats!
