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So I recently purchased a 2008 Suzuki DR650E from a private seller. Got a great deal on it, but didn't notice until I went to title it a week later that it had a lien listed on the title. I contacted the seller who said it was paid off. I tried getting him to get a lien release, but he already had his money and didn't want to take the effort.

Now obviously, I've learned from my lesson (don't buy vehicles with liens listed on the front without a lien release form already attached). But I still want to title this thing in my name, I've been perusing used DR650 frames on eBay and was thinking of going that route (ie. buying a used frame with a clean / clear title, and just rebuilding the bike on the new frame and titling that frame in my name). While I really want to be riding this thing not wrenching right now, I don't mind the project in order to get all legal.

Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?
Will I encounter issues with the VIN being different on the engine than the frame?
Anyone know someone with a wrecked, blownup DR650 they want to sell?

He's a liar, he didn't have it paid off. You might be able to find a rough one for $1100-$1400. In the meantime, I don't think you'd have any problems "tagging it" and going on some dual sport rides.

Have you tried calling the lien holder to find out what payoff is? Tell them your a perspective buyer and dont let them know its in your possession. If it was only a $2000 and i couldnt find a frame less than $1500 then I would prob bite bullet and pay it off.



I would then wait in an alley with a very splintered baseball bat and take out his knees!

Don't believe the seller can legally transfer ownership without a lien release...............

http://budgeting.thenest.com/buy-vehicl ... 22040.html

phil denk wrote:Don't believe the seller can legally transfer ownership without a lien release...............

http://budgeting.thenest.com/buy-vehicl ... 22040.html

Of course they can't legally, but it doesn't stop deadbeats from doing it. It happens all the time. Unfortunately, the fact that it was illegal doesn't make it easy to get justice. I have a lien on a semi truck. The driver sold the truck to a shady dealer on the TX/MX border. I'm sure the truck was sold in Mexico months ago. I can fight it, but shit....the truck was worth about $25K. My worthless lawyer is lazier than I am. I gave up. I can only throw so much good money after bad. I even knew where the truck was at one point, but the logistics and danger of taking it were daunting.

I think Motoracer13's advice is solid here. Find out what the payoff is and compare that value with the cost of the buying a frame and swapping everything out. Also compare that cost with legal cost to take the guy to court. I assume you've already threatened the guy with legal action if he does not comply with a lien release?

People are freakin' lazy. Myself included. It is quite possible that he really did pay it off but either never got the official lien release or lost it or simply doesn't want to go digging for it in the stacks of paper and beer cans in his mobile home. IF he did pay it off, then the lender that you call (the lienholder listed on the title) will simply give you the release and you are GOOD TO GO.

GOOD LUCK, man! We shouldn't disparage folks online for no good reason, but if this guy that sold you the bike has a handle on AdvRider or elsewhere, I'll help you spread the word about this fiasco. With the Internet and social networks, we have the power to at least send a shit-storm his way and hopefully save someone else from being scammed by the guy.

I just went through this scenario with my '05 DL650. Maybe I just got lucky, but I called the bank directly, and had a lien release in my mailbox 2 days later. I probably could have stopped in and had the same result. Regardless, if the lienholder confirms the account is paid in full, they really have no reason not to give you the release.

Scott_B wrote:I just went through this scenario with my '05 DL650. Maybe I just got lucky, but I called the bank directly, and had a lien release in my mailbox 2 days later. I probably could have stopped in and had the same result. Regardless, if the lienholder confirms the account is paid in full, they really have no reason not to give you the release.

The lien wasnt through HSBC (the default for Suzuki loans) by chance was it? I've tried calling them, and can never get an actual live human on the phone.

Savage wrote:He's a liar, he didn't have it paid off. You might be able to find a rough one for $1100-$1400. In the meantime, I don't think you'd have any problems "tagging it" and going on some dual sport rides.

I'm seeing a couple DR650 frames pop up for $600-800 on eBay. I should probably just pull the trigger already.

phil denk wrote:Don't believe the seller can legally transfer ownership without a lien release...............

http://budgeting.thenest.com/buy-vehicl ... 22040.html

Your probably right, it probablyisn't legal to sell. Which is why I have concerns with the engine VIN not matching the frame. But the frames on eBay do come with clean / clear titles, so MO highway patrol shouldn't need to inspect it first.

Black Hawk, spoke to the owner of a number of banks in KS hoping to help you out. Sorry I have no good news. In a summary here is what I was told.

This is all assuming the previous owner did not pay off the bike.

The seller committed fraud in selling you a bike without getting a lean release. The bank owns the bike and if you change the frame you are also committing a fraud.

You maybe better off contacting the lean holder and try to work something with them and then go after the seller. You can get the police involved or in civil court.

Although the risk may not be great in getting caught do you want to be involved in a fraud yourself?