Bullshit. Different states have different rules for "totalled" bikes. Ohio has several classifications (salvage, rebuilt, original, etc.) Florida will change the title to a "certificate of destruction" if the bike (or car) is deemed not rebuildable. There's only one reason that a bike doesn't have a title - the current holder of the bike has no connection to the previous title holder. Period. In this particular case, the current "owner" of the bike bought it from a tow lot. That would lead me to believe that the bike got there due to an accident or similar situation (since it had obviously been down) and owed more on it than the insurance company gave him (or was going to give him) for it, and he walked. Just because the vin doesnt show as up stolen doesnt mean that somewhere there isn't a bank looking for the rest of their money. They're probably not looking too hard though. Pretty typical, but if the bank ever found it, you'd have to give it back or pony up the payoff on it.