About your title issue, check out Vermont because I understand there is a loophole about the registration in Vermont and you can easily get a registration there legally. Then use that registration applied from there to get yourself a new title and such in your state that you are in now. And from what I understand, you do not need to be a resident there. It can be done through the mail.
I don't know anymore than that but I was trying to find some info about a bike that I had put on here that was for sale on Facebook Marketplace. I was trying to sort out some way to get past the issue of no title for one of these bikes.

The Vermont loophole was closed.

PABT I like using chemicals too, mostly white vinegar! I will probably 'blue' most of the bolt heads as i dont think painting them is going to do much. No the engine stays are toast they have no structural integrity. In the His and Hers carbs the big jet is a 92 and the other is a 42. Did the valves, as expected they were all tight. Oh and lots and lots and lots of wire wheeling!

As for the registration issue. A vintage 250cc bike without a valid title cannot be registered in JAPAN, some people have been sneaky and registered as a 125cc and then gone back saying bored up to 250! One guy, but also a bike shop owner was able to register a DT250 as a NEW bike, but I think his local Vehicule center were very considerate of his case. As for me I shall keep hunting frames and titles

When I got the bike compression was 150ish, set the valves and its now 175 - what a GREAT day!

Hello, Good Riders!

This wonderful machine is probably 99% all there but it's in a nasty state on the outside, so many rusty bolts, but appears pretty decent on the inside. All I seem to do is clean!

got that same oil filter on my 2005 Honda. Works well and is easy to change. With that compression, looks like you are off to a better start than a rebuild.

I would blast those parts, paint and reinstall.