Recovery of stolen bike - (kind of)

Motorcycling
1

Hi Guys,

it’s been a long time since I last posted, but I’m only riding a scooter at the moment, so i don’t feel like a proper biker… :stuck_out_tongue:

I had my 08 hornet stolen a few years back. MET police found my bike, however the frame was from a different bike. I had third party only insurance, so I am dealing directly with the police. The officers were helpful, however they told me that they will have to destroy the frame and give me the rest of the parts. They said they were quoted 150£ to sell them at two different salvage places, as the engine will have no numbers. I thought that was a very low price.

Anyway, can you recommend a place where I could sell the parts (other than ebay)? Or if you know anyone who is interested, I’m open to offers. According to them the bike was in great condition.

Thank you,
Bill

2

ebay is your best bet really but I doubt you’ll be able to cover the cost of picking up all the parts in selling them on.

3

I would take the money as is if the breaker etc will pick up from the police, look at it as saving you travel or delivery costs too.

don’t sound a lot I know but if engine has no numbers and as you say no frame then theres not really much else.

4

the frame had no number but then you say that the engine doesn’t have numbers either. how did they know whose parts it was then? :crazy:

5

Datatag or Smartwater?

6

could be. how long does that last and can it be removed like the numbers assuming the scrote was clever enough?

7

Dunno about smart water, but as well as microdots & the visible etching, Datatag comes with a number of transponders that you affix inside major components like frame, engine, wheels, tank etc. You coat one in araldite & drop it into a frame for example. Once done, even if the scrote knew there was one there, it would be pretty impossible to remove without cutting the frame up & should work for decades I’d have thought.

8

he said it was a different frame but good point how did they know who’d bike it was, presuming was running plates from the frame it was using too?

could have been smartwater etc.

9

from what I understood they remove the engine number, after they break down the frame. I will call them tomorrow to ask, will keep you updated. :wink:

10

id find out how much a new frame is then ask the police if you can come down with some tools and swap it all over thats what id do anyway

11

id denfently get the parts anyway mind

08s have up side downs if i remember and i rekon you could get £150 just for the front end for someones fighter project

12

Just an update. :slight_smile:

I was talking to the mechanic who is servicing my bikes and apparently I can buy a new frame, get it re-stamped and have my bike back.

Still not sure why the police would want to erase the reg numbers from the engine, as it belongs to me and I am the legal owner. I called the officer who is in charge of the case, but he was out of the office. I left him a message and asked to call me back.

I decided to try to recover the bike as long as the cost is within reason and if needed get a solicitor involved to clear things up. It is just for my personal satisfaction, as it was my first brand new bike - my dream since I was 16. :crying: :stuck_out_tongue:

I will do my best to keep the post updated as it might be of some use to other members, who could possibly be in a similar situation.

Bill

13

Don’t rely on him calling you back. Call every day.

14

you can remove engine id numbers be it file or grinder but where its been either etched or stamped it alters the molecules in the metals & if you pour a chemical over the area it shows up under uv light

15

An update, as Ι spoke today again with the officer in charge.

i- the engine number was grounded by the guys who stole the engine. The forensic department of MET police is still able to identify the engine using an x-ray diffraction technique.

ii- the frame, ecu and lock has to be destroyed as they don’t belong to me. I was expecting that from the first day I was contacted - understandable.

iii- I am going to arrange to pick up the parts in September.

Overall so far, the experience dealing with MET is good, they are helpful and trying to answer my questions - although some of them might be silly.

I will update you again once I have picked up and decide what I am going to do with the parts.

Bill

16

keep the paperwork from the met that way you can prov the engine & make it more saleable

17

id request that they give you the ecu and ignition if there is a key.

i would say my bike was stolen with said pieces so forth i should have those parts returned to me

it will most likely cost a pretty penny to replace a ecu and ignition

18

I can’t think why anyone should want to get back a bike that has been in the hands of some scrote for a week or more.

The engine and gearbox will have been ragged. Sorting out the repairs will be a trauma and trying to sell/trade in a bike with a sh!t history will be a nightmare.

Put your emotions to one side. If it’s not a decent earner for taking on all this baggage, walk away now.

19

because its his bike i had my bike stolen mabey only for a few hours but its still my bike even if they blow the engine up that bike is mine and i would fix it

20

Update time,

I picked up the bike and the garage that services my bikes is trying to help me sort this out. At this point I would like to mention that the officers that dealt with my case were overall understanding and at the end proved to be extremely helpful.

Overall the bike seems in good condition (engine fired up and tested by the mechanic), so I need a new frame stamped with the originall numbers to put it back on road.

The question is: The engine numbers were ground and police read them with forensic techniques. Can I put the bike back on the road as it is (i.e. engine number ground) or do I have to restamp the engine as well?

I tried to call DVLA and they directed to Department for Transport, which then directed me to VOSA, which then directed me back to DVLA. My brain started getting a loop error…!!!

Any opinions welcome,
Bill