new guy here ...Hello from NJ..

Hi .. new here and have my first kz. i have a 79 kz650.. with no title.. Being a gsxr guy my whole life i know nothing about these...my first question for the experts is what frames can i be looking for with a title to do a swap over..

Welcome, can't you apply for a lost title?
Steve

Unfortunately New Jersey is one of the hardest places in order to get a lost title.. they want you to jump through hoops it's ridiculous it's easier to find a frame with a good title and do a complete swap over

Tom,
I live in NJ also and got a lost title for a KZ1000 ST last year. It does take a while and it cost me about $160 but getting a title in NJ can be done. If you have an old registration from the previous owner it is a lot easier. I can provide some guidance if you want.
JIm

Welcome from East Tennessee!!
Ed

If the current frame on the bike is solid and a keeper, here is another option:

I went the VT route and did not need a notarized bill of sale. In my case, I bought the bike in Florida, so I took with me a Florida bill of sale which I downloaded form the FL DMV. I also downloaded an odometer/VIN verification form form the FL DMV. After picking up the bike I had a local Sheriff meet me at and he verified the VIN and odometer and signed the form I brought with me along with his information. One thing to keep in mind, VT will not issue a title for a bike older than 15 years old. Only are registration. I don't think they titled bikes back then. So as long as the bike is older than 15 years old it should be no problem. Here how it works. I used this form:
DMV-DB119
You don't have to be a resident and don't have to be in the state to apply. VT will accept your bill of sale and the the odometer/ VIN verification by a certified agency in your state (in FL, state or county law enforcement officer is authorized to do the check). You will be charged 6% of the sale price. But you will at minimum, be assessed on a $500.00 sale price even if you paid less for the bike. Then it will cost you an additional $44.00 for the registration and plates which is good for one year. You can use that for a year and transfer before they expire to NJ if you like. In my case I went and paid FL to get a FL title using the VT registration as proof of ownership.

I received a Vermont registration and plate good for one year. A year later I applied for a Florida title (just title, no registration and plates) using this Vermont registration. That cost about $140.00 or so, if I remember correctly. So the whole deal cost about $200 (Vermont + Florida). Your cost will vary depending on the NJ DMV charges.

Not sure how much a frame would cost you, but you would still have to cost involved at the NJ DMV anyway.

Unfortunately I don't have a stitch of paperwork on the bike at all it was an old garage find that was going to get sent to trash by the new owner of the home... just trying to figure out what year frames are the same

Best to keep it original.
Steve

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configuration

JimB wrote: Tom,
I live in NJ also and got a lost title for a KZ1000 ST last year. It does take a while and it cost me about $160 but getting a title in NJ can be done. If you have an old registration from the previous owner it is a lot easier. I can provide some guidance if you want.
JIm

I'd like to hear what hurdles you had to jump to get that done. I've passed on some decent deals because of lack of paperwork.

To the OP:

Off the top of my head,...
You have to send a letter to the DMV's of the surrounding states,....Del, PA, NJ (I think) and have them verify that they do not show the motorcycle as stolen, If any of the states show it as being previously registered to someone in that state then you have to send them a certified letter telling them they have 30 days to claim it (if stolen),....then send a similar letter to the local police and have them state it is not showing up stolen,...then run an adds in 3 local news paper's classified section providing information on the bike stating that if no one claims it then they lose it.
Hummm,...I think that is most of it. Then put all of that paperwork together and send it to the DMV and they provide you a title. It takes some time because of all the letters, etc. But it did not really cost that much.

Welcome Tom.
650s came in B, C, D, E and H models, from 1977 to 1983..
B and C models have the same frame.
D & E are similar to each other, and H is slightly different again.

What model do you have?
If you have a B or C model, the most common, then you can use any 1977 to 1980 B or C frames.
You can also use a D model frame if you have a B or C, just some parts wont fit (rear tail, fender etc).

Engines will swap between any of the the 650 models, with some electrical changes made in later years.

Rob thank you very much.. that's exactly what I was looking for...yes I have a c model