Mecum Las Vegas

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ClassicBiker

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Bill,
I don't know about Canada but state side the number on the head stock is all that counts for titling and registration. The engine number doesn't appear on any titling or registration documents. All I need for insurance is the number on the head stock.
I've bought a number of bikes over the years with no title and just a bill of sale. Asked the local police to come out confirm the head stock. Taken the bill of sale and police form to the Secretary of State, handed them my money, they confirmed the bike wasn't stolen or not reported as such in the last 7 years and issued me a title for it. When I was ready to put the bike on the road, I called my insurance carrier they asked for the head stock number, I gave it to them as it appeared on the title, paid my money got an insurance card. Took the insurance card to the SoS along with the title, paid more money and got a plate.
If engine swapping were a big deal here, hot rodders would be up to their collective eye balls in the brown stuff.
 

Monkeypants

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From what I've witnessed on the Norton site- every US state is different in regard to registration without existing title. Some are very easy while other states make it nearly impossible to register without old title in hand.
This explains the value of old, unused titles from wrecked and parted out bikes. A number of those have quietly changed hands. New unstamped frame plates are available at Andover Norton.
Sometimes you have to sneak around like a criminal just to have a bit of fun!

Glen
 

ClassicBiker

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I read that the other day either in "MG Enthusiast" or "Thoroughbred and Classic Cars". First thought I had was how long will it be before the use of non-electric vehicles is either restricted or banned outright? The following thought was how will that affect the loads of industries built around the concept of personal travel? They may not be wiped out but I'm sure they will adversely affected.
 

Monkeypants

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In North America 80% of electricity is generated by Fossil fuels.
In many areas, switching from a Gasoline powered vehicle to electric means switching to coal power, which puts a lot more crud in the air.


Glen
 

ClassicBiker

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Years back I bought a 500 Triumph in a wheel barrow off of a friend of my father's who got it in a deal in Alabama. All he had was the registration slip from 'Bama to give me. I showed that to the police when I did my title search and a signed letter how Howard had acquired it. $25 and two weeks later I had a title. When I was in college I was restoring a Triumph TR4A. I needed some inner body panels as mine were rusted beyond repair. I found a wrecked TR4A. Two weeks earlier it had been freshly restored when a cement truck took a corner to fast and flipped on top of it. Lucky it was parked and unoccupied at the time. Anyway we cut it up for the panels we wanted. Then cut it into even smaller pieces to dispose of it. I kept the VIN plate and title and sold it on to an acquaintance of mine who was restoring a TR4A he had bought without title.
 

ClassicBiker

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In North America 80% of electricity is generated by Fossil fuels.
In many areas, switching from a Gasoline powered vehicle to electric means switching to coal power, which puts a lot more crud in the air.


Glen
But if you point that out to the majority of tree huggers they look at you like your crazy or want to label you as an irresponsible planet killer. They are blissfully unaware that fossil fuels provide the majority of electrical power be it coal or natural gas. The carbon "foot print" doesn't disappear with the change to electric vehicles it merely gets relocated to someone else's backyard. I find it hard to believe that wind turbines or hydro will provide enough power to meet the needs of the current population. Add to which opposition to wind farms because birds have rather suicidal tendencies and play chicken with the blades. Bring up nuclear energy and everyone has a meltdown.
Every option has downfalls, there is no perfect answer. We just have to pick our poison as it were.
 

Magnetoman

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The world is MAD
That's true, as evidenced by the fact we are doing too little about air pollution and essentially nothing about global warming. India has 15 of the 20 most-polluted cities in the world, which has a direct connection to the fact 60% of their fuel consumption is for motorcycles and scooters. Solar, wind and hydroelectric are better, of course but, even if fired by fossil fuels, large scale electric plants are more efficient than small internal combustion engines, and can be sited far from the concentrated populations of cities.

I wish there were no serious negative consequences of internal combustion engines, but only at Disneyland do wishes come true. A truly unfortunate side effect of social media it that it has given the same, or more, weight to nonsense as scientific fact, hobbling our ability to respond appropriately to several major issues. Anyway, electric vehicles are a glimmer of sanity, not evidence we're mad.

How the transition from fossil fuels to renewable ways of generating energy will affect our old dinosaurs remains to be determined, but don't lose sight of the bigger picture.

This post is definitely related to the thread since the transition to electric will affect auction prices in the future.

On the subject of getting vehicles titled, three years ago in Arizona I had no difficulty getting a title for the 1928 Ariel I used in the Cannonball, which was sent to me from Ireland via England. I actually did have paperwork from Ireland but a little research convinced me it would be simpler if I pretended not to. I hauled the bike to a titling service licensed by the DMV where the numbers on the engine, frame, and gearbox were inspected and photographed, and entered into whatever database the State uses to check for stolen vehicles. It came back clean and I left with a title, registration papers, and a license plate.
 

Bill Thomas

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They say the electric cars after a crash can just blow up , So the Police etc won't go near them !.
 
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