An update on the cool basement find

Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 2:33 am

Today I finished up cleaning and reassembling the carbs from the '82 900F cellar dweller. Installation went very smoothly and after connecting up a battery and aux. fuel tank, I hit the start button. Within a short time, it fired right up and after running for a few minutes it was idling fine. It sounds really good and now I can't wait to ride it. After I flush out all the old brake fluid and replace it with new, it should be ready for a quick ride around the block.

Registering the bike will have to wait a bit. The guy I bought it from never registered the bike or got the title in his name. He has to go to the registry and pay the sales tax, title fee, and penalties for waiting 5 years. In MA, titles are required for all vehicles no matter how old. His mistake was letting the previous owner sign over the title with the date and his name on it. If he had just signed it over, he could have handed it to me and saved the hassle. Now he's dragging his feet getting to the registry, so I'm in limbo for the time being. What a pain in the ass!

Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 7:11 am

Yeah, The People's Republic of MA is brutal about this stuff. It is so much easier in some other states.

Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 9:29 am

I held back $200 that he gets when he provides a title. If he doesn't, I'll have a friend in NH register it and then "sell" it back to me.

Titling a 28 year old bike is BS - it's just another way for the state to suck money out of us.

Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 11:27 pm

Have the prior titled owner get a duplicate title then title it directly to you and skip the middle man. If he is around.

Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 12:27 am

That was my plan, but unfortunately, he moved and I can't locate him now. That would be the easiest and least expensive route.

Thanks for the suggestion - it's a good one.

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 5:05 pm

Hey got to bump this for a Mass. title question:

I'd like to go buy an '86 nighthawk 450 in VT, but it just has a registration (VT has it right - no title state!). Now, I've done this before...and all you need in Mass. is a Bill of Sale and a past registration from the PO and the RMV-1 form...and they'll title it for you.

The RMV website says, "title is needed unless it's AGE EXEMPT".....but they DON'T TELL YOU HOW OLD IT HAS TO BE TO BE AGE EXEMPT!!!!!!!!!

I *think* it's 25 yrs old, but it might be 30. Anyone know exactly?

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 6:11 pm

beneberle wrote:

Hey got to bump this for a Mass. title question:

I'd like to go buy an '86 nighthawk 450 in VT, but it just has a registration (VT has it right - no title state!). Now, I've done this before...and all you need in Mass. is a Bill of Sale and a past registration from the PO and the RMV-1 form...and they'll title it for you.
The RMV website says, "title is needed unless it's AGE EXEMPT".....but they DON'T TELL YOU HOW OLD IT HAS TO BE TO BE AGE EXEMPT!!!!!!!!!

I *think* it's 25 yrs old, but it might be 30. Anyone know exactly?

No worries about the age exempt baloney. Just bring the PO's registration and a bill of sale from him, (names must match) and with the RMV-1, you'll be able to title it in MA.

I just realized that I never closed out this thread. I ended up finding the owner previous to the one I bought it from and he let me order a duplicate title. When it arrived, he called me up and I picked up and gave him $40 for doing me the favor. I've been riding my 900F ever since. A happy ending for sure.