Looking for a parts bike with clean title. (and questions)

[tml1138]

Hello,

So I have the potential to buy a 2001 GZ250 pretty cheap. The problem is the seller doesn't have the title. He has paperwork to prove it's his, and I've checked online with the VIN and it checks out too. The problem is that the cycle dealer that the seller bought the bike from went out of businees, and it transferred through a couple lienholders until now the lien is with some small payday loan chain that won't help him. I've called the title bureau and it's fairly big hassle which also involves the courts to get a title. He wants to just get rid of it, and since I'm not the owner I can't do squat with it in this situation...except find another bike with a clean title and transfer all the parts to the main frame (or maybe get the tag instead and switch out, but I'm not sure that's legal. Makes sense to me to be legal the other way, even if it's harder to do).

So questions:
Does anyone have a bike frame for sale, or parts bike/wrecked bike? Or do they know if just transferring a VIN tag is legal? Then just the tag is needed. Either option with a clean title of course.
If a parts transfer to a frame is the best way to go, what years are interchangeable with 2001? (Maybe they all are?)

Let me add that I would need any other items where the VIN # is present. I think the engine casing might also have it? It's a hassle, but if I can do this on my budget and do it legally, then I'm happy to put in the effort.

Thanks!