[Steve Carlton]

You should be able to work with this. Bottom line, you should be safe with a Bill of Sale, possession of the bike, and proof you paid for it.

See if you can get in a conference call with the seller and the lender or have him give his permission to the lender to discuss paying off the account with you.
- see if they have the title in hand. Sometimes it has to be ordered and that takes time.
- see if they can be instructed to send the title directly to you. Some lenders will do that, but you'll need an acceptable Power of Attorney from the seller to put in your name once you receive the title. Ask your DMV what form they accept and if anything needs to be notarized.
- most lenders will only send the title to the their borrower, who needs to sign it and give it to you after he receives it. I don't see this being a problem, as the seller has to commit a crime to claim the bike is still his.

I agree and strongly encourage you to pay off the lender and not give the funds to the seller, except his equity. Some lenders will hold the title for 10 days or more if paid with a cashier's check, but not with cash or a wire transfer.