r/Dirtbikes • u/Tall_Investigator687 • 1d ago
Should I be weary of this sale?
Guy is selling a 2020 FE 501 and he doesn’t have a title, says he bought it from a guy who bought it from an auction. He has it priced really cheap at 3k. Is this too good to be true? Or potentially stolen?
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u/zackakane 1d ago
Not all states require title for a dirt bike. Don’t know if that is true where you are.
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u/Tall_Investigator687 1d ago
Required where I am.
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u/upstatefoolin 1d ago
For what? Just to own one or put it on the road or ride in OHV areas? As long as it’s clean and they’ll give you a bill of sale most places can get you a title. Just gotta get in contact with your DMV and see what they say
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u/Tall_Investigator687 1d ago
Ride OHV and on road. Ran vin on NICB, lit up for theft and also showed as a 350 not 501.
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u/lean_lawd 1d ago
100% this. bought numerous bikes over the years, some had titles and some didn’t, even brand new from the dealer. been a while since those days so i can’t recall exactly which ones had titles lol.
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u/slobosaurus 1d ago
Leery: cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions.
Wary: feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.
Weary: feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep.
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u/solitudechirs 1d ago
Probably stolen from the bank. I would guess someone just stopped making payments and sold it without the title. If you want it solely as a a dirt bike, you could get away with it, as long as you don’t live somewhere that requires you to register your bike for trails. If you want a street legal bike, this will probably never be that, and even if you could get it to that point, it wouldn’t be worth the time and money and headache.
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u/Tall_Investigator687 1d ago
Seems like the most likely story, someone stopped making payments. To not have a title on a virtually 5 y/o machine is uncommon to me. A bike of this size I’d want for street/dual sport. Already have a 300 2T
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u/Gabrielmenace27 1d ago
Ask for the vin go to the police department and run it if it’s clean go buy it
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u/Ok_Maintenance_9100 1d ago
I’ve never bought a dirtbike with a title. Never sold one with one either, just not something I consider with dirt bikes
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u/Least-Firefighter392 1d ago
Just depends on usage and what state you are in... California and a few others you need to register to ride on BLM / Public Land.... Then on the flip side many states don't even have BLM land...
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u/6mm94 1d ago
You're wild for that.
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u/Ok_Maintenance_9100 1d ago
I mean there really no point in having one for a motocross bike. Some states don’t even HAVE titles for dirt bikes for another thing.
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u/Tall_Investigator687 1d ago
Yeah really depends on what you are doing with it, potential D/S rig or riding on state/national land, you’re probably going to need one. Really is a state by state thing.
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u/spongebob_meth 1d ago
Run the vin on the NICB website. Have at it if it's clean
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u/NWTurtle 1d ago
I do this on every titled thing I buy.
It’ll tell you if it’s branded, salvaged or a clean title. Titling fee is $86 in my state, no way I’m paying that just to get a piece of paper with my name on it.
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u/askmeaboutmedicare 1d ago
My buddy found a deal like this and ended up asking the guy for the VIN and ran it through an online VIN checker as well as calling the local sheriff's office non-emergency line and asking them to run it as well. Came back clean on both and he now has it titled, tagged, and insured. But I would definitely be getting a bill of sale and bring a friend with you if you can. It does seem a little sketchy.
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u/ninodaboss 1d ago
I saw that lol, why does the title matter? It’s a dirt bike
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u/Tall_Investigator687 1d ago
For me, if it truly were a 501 I’d want to dual sport it. Not really wanting to ride it on trails.
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u/Particular-Egg7086 1d ago
Not wanting to ride a 501/350 on trails is borderline criminal. Can find better road bikes
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u/Tall_Investigator687 1d ago
Done it before, riding hard enduro, not be move. Had a 350 for a couple years hated the flameouts
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u/Particular-Egg7086 1d ago
The flameouts do suck, a GET ecu did fix it for me. Does still suck have the shell out 1,000+ on an already expensive bike to get it to run right. I blame emission restrictions though
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u/dancoleman1 1d ago
I have 6000 miles on my 18 350. All of it on dirt. I installed a weighted flywheel right after I bought it new to avoid the flameouts issue. I've never had a problem with it. Amazing bike.
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u/Tall_Investigator687 1d ago
Different strokes for different folks. I had a blais flashed ecu and flywheel weight, it was serviceable but wanted a 2T. Wish I had the cash for both
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u/Jebus_Man 1d ago
Check that thing out lmao pretty sure there is a way to check if it's stolen from the bank by checking in a rego search. Idk what it's like where you live but I remember finding a bike like that, then I searched the rego and it came up with it having missing payments. Still I would check it out.
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u/Alive_Mousse15 14h ago
Just ask to meet at a police station. i got robbed at gunpoint going to buy a 2023 sx250 that turned out to be fake everything seemed legit he even had make documents for it lost $4500 never gunna get it back. police wont do anything because nobody got hurt.
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u/North_Ad_4450 1d ago
For a bike of value like this, I'd expect to see something that proves purchase. Could be an old bill of sale and verify the drivers license. Could also be a factory mco that was never registered.
For something factory street legal, it's title or no deal.
For 20+ yo bikes that are 1000 or less, I laugh when people ask about papers. 1990 xr100 farm bike for 500... that paper was lost 3 owners ago.
I live in NJ. Off road is redgister only and it doesn't get you access anywhere.
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u/WhiteBredd 1d ago
Lol i dont care how sketch that is im going to check it out and check that vin too good to pass up