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"Not Actual Mileage"

10K views 12 replies 6 participants last post by  stewy832  
#1 ·
I've looked online and founded limited answers on what a "not actual mileage" title means. I've found a bike for around 1300 but it has this title and I'm wondering if this is a super no-no buy.

Facts:
2006 ninja 250
shows less than 700miles (former florida title and current texas title both have the "NAM" designation)
recently cleaned carbs
"new" tires
recently lined gas tank due to rust

The guy says he has no idea how many miles could be on it but it runs well and in his opinion it cant have too many miles on it.

What do you think? Help.
 
#3 ·
From what I did find on the net it seems it isn't a severe red flag. It's certainly more questionable but not to the level of salvage/marked for destruction. A broken odometer is enough to get the mark. However, there wasn't too much I could find so i was hoping some car/bike gurus could shed some light on the issue.

Thanks
 
#4 ·
Most (all?) states require an odometer statement whenever a vehicle is sold. If an odometer has been damaged or missing for any period of time, the seller can't certify the mileage on the vehicle. Rather than certifying that the vehicle has x,000 miles, the seller says that they can't certify and that the odometer does not indicate the actual mileage of the vehicle. Obviously, without any accurate history of prior sales, you can't be sure how many miles are on that bike. You might be able to use the VIN and get the last reported sale with an odometer statement.
 
#8 ·
I believe that is one reason it can have the mark. Which is what I am hoping for.

My best guess is this: the bike was bought new by someone who didnt take extremely good care of it. They rode it a while and then stopped and let it sit. Somewhere in there the odometer broke and it was either not realized or ignored until it was repaired and sold with unknown mileage on the engine. This stale state of being would account for the gas tank needing to be lined and the carbs needing to be rebuilt/cleaned so early and with so few miles. This is all pure speculation though haha
 
#9 ·
Don't pay more than $800 for this bike and only if you're willing to do the work needed to make it right.
 
#10 ·
I will surely try to knock the price down but if it's a good bike with no other maladies aside from the mileage issue I'm not sure how much I can take it down. I'm willing to do the work but what are you imagining will need to be done? As far as the owner has told me, the bike runs well. I'm not taking that as full fact since I haven't seen the bike but its all I know for now.

Thanks for the advice everyone!
 
#11 ·
On my ZX-7, the speedometer cable broke on a Saturday afternoon ride. Dealer was closed by the time I got back to Austin and the dealer was closed Sunday and Monday. Being my only transportation, I had to ride the bike to work and the dealer to get a new cable.

I had to check the box on the title when I sold it that it was not actual mileage. Wasn't off by more then 150-200 miles? My fault as I never did lube the speedo cable. Buyer wasn't very concerned about it, I guess I look trustworthy.
 
#13 ·
Update

I talked to the owner today after emailing him that I would only be inclined to buy at around the $800 mark. He told me he bought and rode it with his daughter in Florida and then brought it to Texas. He acknowledges that there are unknown possible damages but believes the bike was not abused or has serious damage. He even suggested we take it to be inspected just to be sure(i pay of course). He also suggested I look at new bikes perhaps to have piece of mind mechanically, which he then took back because of possible drops that are likely to occur and the resulting drop in value/cost to repair.

Basically its in my hands to schedule an inspection and make a determination on if I want to buy. He didn't agree to $800 however, and avoided putting a final price on it until I was sure I would want it.