[el_jefe_83]

Vin plate / re-vin'ed? Any one seen this before?

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Has anyone seen a vin plate like this on dirt bike before? This is a OH dirt bike that was converted to street legal.

I trust the inmate selling it, so it's not a question of getting ripped off, he's been around for a while and seems like a stand up guy and has been more than cooperative. All the paper work matches this vin including the year and the bike manufacturer. (not sure why the bike model wasn't listed anywhere?) It's on the title and registration.

It looks as if it was re-vin'ed and a plate was adheased. Typically they are stamped into the neck of the frame. I went to a DMV "consultant" (mvd express) locally had them try to plate it to see if it would kick to OH plate based on the title info and reg and it would have passed for street use no problem. However the Vin did not pull up any info so they entered all the info based on what was on the title and registration. If I had it with me I could have plated it on the spot pending Vin inspection.

I called a Honda and they ran the Vin and Honda didn't have this VIN registered to anyone in thier system, but when I called California DMV, it was in the system as street legal bike. I also had the VIN ran by the Police Department and it came up with the same info as the Registration and the Title. I did all these checks to see if it would come up with any info that would say "off highway use only" or something to that would prevent New Mexico from Plating it. I don't want to buy a bike for dual sporting if I won't be able to plate it back here in New Mexico.

So again I'm not questioning the integrity of the guy selling it, I'm just not used to seeing VIN numbers like this.

Thoughts?

Would a vin inspector find this suspicious? If I went to sell the bike would someone be asking the same questions?

[JimDirt]

Has anyone bothered to look under it ??

To see if the original vin is still there ??

I am taking it the guy you are buying it from was not the original owner , so i am also taking it that he has no clue as to why it has this tag

It is standard practice to have the vin STAMPED into the frame on that location , not a removable easily forged tag , what did the DMV say about this tag ?? , was there any note of the original vin stamp being damaged/worn to the point of needing this ?? , weather you trust the guy or not , i would definitely look further into this , as either someone is trying to hide a stolen or none paid off bike , or its possible that it is some kind of insurance salvage which would red flag me on the safety and legitimacy of this bike , to me there are too many red flags here , something is in deep question here

I would not buy this bike no matter the cost unless it was dirt cheap (like $1000 or less) , and even then for parts only and i would cut up the frame and throw it away and buy a frame from Ebay that has a legitimate vin stamp and matching title with it , which you can get for a few hundred bucks , then you have a worthwhile purchase

Otherwise , i would run the other way and not look back !, your just asking for issues down the road

The vin numbers are stamped into the frame for a very good reason , this looks like one of those reasons , i would stay clear and avoid some future jail time later on down the road because you will get stopped by a cop somewhere , and he will look at this tag and confiscate the bike and you , till , or even if this can ever be resolved , i see nothing gained by this purchase but problems ,extra costs , and constant never ending legal hassles

[el_jefe_83]

Thanks Jim,

The guy is not the original owner and I think you are right on all accounts.

Without supporting documentation I won't go ahead with it.

Jeff

Really wanted it to work out.

[JimDirt]

Yea sometimes a good deal is not always the best deal , no offense to the guy your dealing with , it just seems like a can of worms , with no hook to put them on

[MrRong]

In Michigan that would be a felony and not legal. That looks like a generic piece of aluminum with a VIN stamped on it. In know for a fact in Michigan and a few other states when bikes are re-VIN'd for street use the new VIN comes on an anti tamper sticker with the state seal on it along with the new VIN. That to looks 100% stolen. Even if that VIN matches the original it is not legal to cover up the original VIN plate or modify it in any way.

[JimDirt]

Yea same goes here in Idaho , they wont let you register a bike for a off road sticker without a title in your name and all sales tax paid , and documentation of every year registration , if it was not registered for a year they fine you for not registering it , and you can not buy or sell any vehicle without a legal title or MSO from the manufacturer , and even with the MSO you must be the original purchaser and file it within the first year of purchase , or there is a complete investigation as to the whereabouts to the origin of the vehicle and any leans against it

Any vehicle sold or bought here in Idaho , must have a title and a matching vin # that was done from the factory , even if the stamp was worn off , everything must be verified before any sale or purchase is allowed , otherwise , the vehicle is only allowed to be bought/sold as parts ONLY