Missing VIN
 

Went to look at a CBR600F that a work colleagues husband owned last night. It was a 1988 bike but in good nick but no MOT or tax. However the price was only £300.

This guy had the bike 4 years and he knew the previous 2 owners the earlier of which is now a copper and was a bike instructor previously.

My mechanic mate had a good look round and started it etc and all seemed fine. Then he happened to notice that the VIN number was only partly there and looked as though it had been ground away. There was a plate with it on next to it and it had been stamped on various other places.

My mate reckons MOT stations will not MOT a bike with this missing now? Anyone know.

What should I do? The bike also needs about £150 of stuff done to it and if there is no VIN I could end up with something which is not resellable?! Perhaps I should take it off him for £150 so my total cost is only £300 assuming I can get it MOT'd of course.

Walk away from it.

Oh yeah forgot to mention the current owner has had to request a duplicate V5 as he does not appear to have ever received it....

AVOID!!!

Walk away quickly then..........................very smelly, lots of agro!

I know its always tempting at a price like that but don't bother. Even If you break it and sell the parts there is a chance you could find yourself in hot water.


A

HI Ozz!
Is it a stolen/ recovered at some point in its previous life? If so, it's possible that the VIN may have been partly ground away by the thief before the police got to it and has had to have been restamped on it. Some years ago I bought a stolen/ recovered KMX125 via a police auction that needed the number stamping on again. It was a new bike so didn't need an MOT but I sold it to a dealer with no problem. Maybe you can talk to your local friendly MOT man and see if he'd be happy to do it on production of the V5 at the time of the MOT. If you are struck on having the bike I would strongly suggest you wait until the V5 appears......
Alternatively, I'm sure there are plenty of other CBRs about if you can do without the a**e factor if you decide to move it on at a later stage. :D
Regards,
Gary.

Gary

That is something we don't know at the moment! I am hoping the previous owner will let us know.

My mechanic mate is going to check with the MOT station so that bit may be ok....

There are plenty more fish in the sea though.

Wait for the V5 to arrive and then HPI it - this will show whether or not it's a stolen/recovered bike.

As long as all the details are absolutely spot on with the paperwork, you are happy with the story from the previous owners and you get a receipt then you should be ok with it, but if there is the slightest doubt in your mind about anything to do with the deal, look for another. Good luck with it.
Regards,
Gary.