Old Trail Bike Registration

[yz250roost]

Hello everyone,
I wanted to approach the forum and see if anyone has some input and can help me figure out what to do in this situation;

My Dad bought my brother and I a dirtbike (Honda Trail 70) back when I was 9 years old. It's been sitting in the shop for the last 15 years or so and we have no paperwork, I don't think we ever even had the title in our name because my Dad bought it from a guy at work way back when and never transferred the title. Basically the bike has no paperwork at all.

I recently put some work into the bike and got it running again, I'd like to get it registered in my name but I have no clue how to go about doing so without a title. What is the next course of action? Submit an application for duplicate title? But what if it was never in my Dad's name? Will the DMV still have the name of the previous owner in their database?

Thanks for any insight you may be able to give.

[cjincognito]

You can go to the DMV... and hope it was never listed as stolen.

[Tom]

Application for duplicate title and it will need a VIN appointment at the local chp office.

[14596]

Pray that it is not an old stolen! I have inspected numerous Honda Trail 70/90's over the past several years and have impounded some rather nice ones after the applicant put many hours and $$$ into the restoration process.

And don't lie on the DMV forms (perjury). I had one case where the applicant lied as to the whereabouts of the bike and previous owner, signing under penalty of perjury that the bike belonged to his grandfather when in fact the bike was stolen during a time frame that did not match what he stated as true to DMV.

Any questions, contact your local CHP VIN Officer.

[yz250roost]

thanks for the replies guys. I've put a little money into it to get it running, but not much. So can I contact the local CHP Vin officer (newhall station) and would he be able to tell me if it was stolen? I'd hate to put a bunch of money into this thing and have it show up as reported stolen 20 some years ago.

[14596]

after cross checking different databases, your local VIN officer should be able to let you know.

[yz250roost]

OK so I went to the DMV today to start the process. I now have 2 bikes, the latest with a bill of sale only (hard to find pinks with these bikes). So I had to fill out an Application for Title along with a Statement of Facts. Then I was given an Incomplete Application with instructions to have the bikes inspected and obtain a CHP97C Certificate.

My question is this. One of the bikes is fully functional and the other is a work in progress. What is all required for the CHP97C? Will the bike need to be operational or can I just bring in the rolling chassis that I'm currently working on? Would love to get these things titled and in my name before I finish them.

Thanks for everyones help.

[HIPCHIP]

DMV's paperwork should tell you everything you need. If you need a VIN verification, then the frame will suffice, so make an appointment for a VIN verification and take in the frame, then you can sit in the garage and go crazy making it all pretty and new again.....only so you can go out and beat it all up again:doh: But that's the fun of it all, ain't it!

[yz250roost]

Exactly, although these guys aren't going to get too beat up. It's hard to get 70cc's into too much trouble when the bike weights almost 150lbs.

Here's the one that's been in the family for a while. Looked a WHOLE lot worse than this just months ago
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p161/yz250roost/CTbike.jpg

Here's both of the bikes
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p161/yz250roost/ct70s1.jpg

The paperwork doesn't say much, just "Vin record not on file, Insurance information unknown" and "Referred to California Highway Patrol for inspection. If this is a revived total loss vehicle, a California Highway Patrol inspection certificate (CHP97C) is required before the application can be completed." "Surrender Plates"