There is no way to legally sell stolen property, and the bike is his. I have recovered more than one stolen vehicle and other stolen property that to possessor claimed to have obtained with out any knowledge that it was once stolen. In one case a WWII era 1911 that was stolen 17 years prior from the original owner. In all cases the verified stolen property was impounded and the originating reporting agency notified to complete the case so the property could be returned to the rightful owner. Just my personal experience though. Here is an example of a stolen car returned to the rightful owner after 40 years because the original owner had the title and police report was filed and the car entered into NCIC:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/12/man-finds-car-stolen-over-40-years-ago-on-ebay.html
Like I said, good Luck Scott, hope you get it back.
Honestly I don't want it back. It's now 15 years old, according to the Salvage yard now has over 30k miles and has been totaled in collision.
I only hope that whoever wrecked it was somehow involved in the theft of it and is now paralyzed from the neck down from the accident.
I was more interested is seeing if I could find out where a title bond was issued and filing a claim against the bond.
If I had to guess, the VIN (which was given over the phone to my dad and then over the phone from my dad to the PD) was written down wrong or nevery actually put into the system.