Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

Re: loan for purchase of a motorcycle

You can only go ater the motorcycle directly if it is named as security for the loan. Merely stating that the money is going to be used to buy it does not make it designated security. You will have to go and get a small claims court judgment against him, tell the sheriff where he can be found with the motorcycle, determine whether it is worth about the amount of your judgment, and ask the sheriff to seize it. But ffirst check wtih the DMV if they will allow you to re-register it in your name as othre wise you are not going to be able to get a licence to operate it.