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Numberless frame

channelcat

channelcat

New member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Location
here
Moto(s)
Gumby, Pokey, and...Serena
Name
Tony H.
I acquired a truckload of BMW parts. One of them I IDd as a circa 95 GS frame, but its sticker said R80R, so I have to do a little more research on that. What I DO know is that the VIN plate, usually adjacent to the headstock is not there. The departed Airhead who was the PO was absolutely in no way a thief and would not have purchased any item known to be hot, yet here it is. So...if someone wanted to build a street legal bike, frame up, anybody have any idea what DMV policy would be? Do they issue a Special Construction VIN? I'll do more research, but if anyone has been thru this before, I'd appreciate the info. I have no intention of doing the build up myself, way too busy with work as it is.
Thanks
ccat
 
channelcat said:
I acquired a truckload of BMW parts. One of them I IDd as a circa 95 GS frame, but its sticker said R80R, so I have to do a little more research on that. What I DO know is that the VIN plate, usually adjacent to the headstock is not there. The departed Airhead who was the PO was absolutely in no way a thief and would not have purchased any item known to be hot, yet here it is. So...if someone wanted to build a street legal bike, frame up, anybody have any idea what DMV policy would be? Do they issue a Special Construction VIN? I'll do more research, but if anyone has been thru this before, I'd appreciate the info. I have no intention of doing the build up myself, way too busy with work as it is.
Thanks
ccat
Click to expand...

If the frame had a vin at one time, and now it does not, it's a felony. 10751 VC.

If the frame never had a vin, then whomever builds the bike will need to go to CHP for a vin number to be assigned. (the blue sticker as shown above.)
 
Rel said:
If the frame had a vin at one time, and now it does not, it's a felony. 10751 VC.
Click to expand...

I think a Beemer would have been given a VIN, so it looks like whoever sold you the frame broke that law.

Probably best to get rid of it pronto :shocker
 
My :2cents

If that's really an R80 frame, it's from an era when you could pretty much just order up a frame. (At least, you could with Honda and Kawazoomi.) My guess would be the dude bought it legally from a dealer, without a frame number. Then he never got around to his 'special project' and the frame sat.

We had a CX500 frame like that in one of the dealerships I worked at. $800, sitting on the shelf, that nobody wanted.
 
Stormdragon said:
My :2cents

If that's really an R80 frame, it's from an era when you could pretty much just order up a frame. (At least, you could with Honda and Kawazoomi.) My guess would be the dude bought it legally from a dealer, without a frame number. Then he never got around to his 'special project' and the frame sat.

We had a CX500 frame like that in one of the dealerships I worked at. $800, sitting on the shelf, that nobody wanted.
Click to expand...

Trouble is the OP doesn't have a full history on the frame, so did it have a ever have a VIN or did someone remove it (for whatever reason) ?
 
fast4ward said:
Trouble is the OP doesn't have a full history on the frame, so did it have a ever have a VIN or did someone remove it (for whatever reason) ?
Click to expand...

Contact the manufacture of the frame. They should have a copy of the MSO, which the OP can get.
 
go on eBay & look up VIN plates

there's a Swiss/German business that makes up all kinds of $30 blank VIN tags for restorers
 
mototireguy said:
+1
Click to expand...

think we have a winner. thanks fast4ward. Pizzle, aircooled BMW boxers had plates riveted to the frame webbing at the headset with the individual frames' actual production date, as opposed to the factory stated model run. There is some history available if you are interested in the origins of the German industrial nature that would lead a manufacturer to do such a silly, cost ineffective thing called The Arms of Krupp. I thought it was a good book...

New frame MSRP would be around $1500, but nobodies going to fall for that. maybe some rich biker dude/idiot.

whoever mentioned the $800 dust collector....ah yup.

I figure to someone who took a REALLY bad dump on their bumblebee and tweaked the frame, maybe the 'softest' part of the bikes running gear on opposed twins, and is willing to go thru the probably not so complicated VIN replacement plate rigamarole would find $150 an attractive price. till then, I'll grease up the good appearing bearing races, probably $100 alone to purchase and shop press in separately at todays prices, and let it set for a bit. Till then, The Ultimate Airhead Project will just have to rest in peace...

Thanks everybody. Good riding!!

By the way, that CX500, in the right hands, wasnt a bad bike. horsepower sounds nice..torque wins races...low maintenance is worth its weight in gold. JMHO:teeth.
 
Last edited:
channelcat said:
By the way, that CX500, in the right hands, wasnt a bad bike. horsepower sounds nice..torque wins races...low maintenance is worth its weight in gold. JMHO:teeth.
Click to expand...

Back in the 80's, when everyone was trying to get 100HP out of their inline four, air-cooled motors, nobody wanted a 2-cylinder, 60HP, water-cooled lump.
 
Stormdragon said:
Back in the 80's, when everyone was trying to get 100HP out of their inline four, air-cooled motors, nobody wanted a 2-cylinder, 60HP, water-cooled lump.
Click to expand...

Especially when it was also pulling double duty as a meter maid cart in bastardized trike form at the time.
 
I take it the swingarm is not attached? Secondary location for the vin was on the swingarm sticker
 
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