NGC - Registering a M/C with a diffrent engine # in Cali

[DCWCALI]

Have an opportunity to pickup a 2001 Kawi ZRX the motor was recently replaced with a same year motor (17K miles).  Does anyone know what are the procedures to update the title in California?

I have tried goggle and haven't been able to locate what the procedure is for registering a M/C with a different engine # then on the title.  Yes, it's a risk...but motorcycles are like French fries; never met one I didn't like.

Any feedback would be appreciated. 

[Cam3512]

Don't know about CA, but we register the bike under the frame number in NJ.  Wouldn't be an issue.

[Testarossa]

Back in 1984 I moved from New York to Truckee and had to register my rebuilt 850T. The frame was new and un-numbered, so the procedure was to visit CHP.  They riveted their own number plate to the left downtube and since then that is the official S/N, not the engine number. Before doing that I think they did a search on the engine number to see if it was reported stolen -- I recall that the whole process took about a week. May be faster today.

[DCWCALI]

Thanks for the replies...still have a little time to think this over.   

[Arizona Wayne]

Contact DMV.  I think you're going to find this is a rat's hole as the motor may be listed stolen and if you have it the original motor owner is going to want it back.     If the motor came from a salvage outfit maybe they can show proof it wasn't stolen.


Years ago I moved from Wash. St. to Calif. w/a motorhome made in Calif.  The CHP could not find my MH listed in their records as ever being built there.  They pulled my drivers license and I sat there for hours 'til they somehow cleared up the situation. 

[DCWCALI]

Just an update after extensive research and a check of the DMV Manual and long discussion with the DMV supervisor at our friendly DMV, I have registered and purchased the ZRX.  It was discovered the DMV folks can verify the engine numbers and update the title with the new engine number. 

[oldbike54]

Just an update after extensive research and a check of the DMV Manual and long discussion with the DMV supervisor at our friendly DMV, I have registered and purchased the ZRX.  It was discovered the DMV folks can verify the engine numbers and update the title with the new engine number.

 GASP ! Shirley you jest , everyone knows the California DMV won't do anything to help 

  Dusty

[normzone]

1980 or therabouts - I'd had a federal police officer (military owned the land the national park was on) confiscate my license because it was expired.

I attempted to renew it only to find out an unpaid ticket would prevent that. I was getting ready for a trip from San Francisco to San Diego, and had absolutely no identification.

I bought a money order to pay the ticket, got an envelope addressed with a stamp, and with ticket and money order in hand went to the DMV.

I told the man at the counter my tale, showed him my documents, and asked him if I could give him the letter to mail in exchange for a temporary license. In those days they were filled out from a pad like a doctor's prescription.

He reached for the pad, and began politely explaining to me that it would not be possible for him to do that, because the law didn't work that way. While he was telling me this he completed a temporary for me and slid it across the counter to me.

I put it in my pocket and said "Well, I thought it was worth a try, thanks anyway". I turned to go and he said " You might as well give that to me, I'll mail it for you anyway", and I did.