I have a 1978 Honda Hawk. It was given to me as a runner with no title. Back then, my buddies and I rode all up and down the east coast and purchased numerous bikes. Some with titles, others without. Over the years, we accrued quite a bit of titles. So I took a 1978 Hawk and passed it off as a 1975 CB360. Cosmetically the same to the lay person. I ended up moving to a different state. First thing they do is a VIN inspection. Since my frame and title dont match anymore, I cannot register it. Fortunately for me, I was able to acquire a frame WITH title.
Can you swap VINs from frame to frame? No. Thats 50 statewide law. Can you buy a frame with a title and swap everything, absolutely. It will be registered as a new to you bike and the crashed one will be totaled out. Now, someone mentioned about going through the process of obtaining a title for the frame you have. Yes, you can do that as well. Depending on what VIN titling place you go through and your state regs.....this can cost you a couple hundred bucks to a $1000. This is waaaaay more than that bike is worth no matter the sentimentality behind the bike. The new Honda frame will come with all the paperwork needed to become legal.