So you are saying:
Original owner has title. Buyer fills out the info on the title as the buyer. Never goes to the DMV. Next "owner" just has a piece of paper saying it was sold to him and the title mentioned above?
If that's the case, call DMV. But I would think they would require the original owner (They guy listed on the title as the owner) will have to file for a fresh copy of the title with DMV. Once he gets that he can sign it over to you and it's yours.
Good luck with that. That same situation is how I ended up buying a 2001 Katana 750 with 4K miles on it to part out and used the engine in my 91...for CHEAP. In fact I made money parting it out including the engine I kept.
Original owner (Military) buys bike new. Has clear title. Sells bike to another solider. This soldier actually fills out the WRONG field on the title, gets deployed and figures he'll deal with it when he gets back. He gets back and realizes the title is out of state, and he has no clue where the original seller is. So he sells the bike to another soldier (mentioning it's "really easy" to get a title) and so on. It passes hands several times, with a big folder full of the title, bills of sale etc etc. The kid who ends up with it can't get it titled, so it sits. Said soldier buys another bike, and the wife decides this one needs to leave.
Say hello cheap parts bike.