Dodgy Seller or Just Paranoid?

dangermouse425 · 25 Jun 2014 at 23:37

Rang a bloke up today about a bike, but he wouldn't provide me a registration for the bike (to check against my insurance - I've found my insurance to jump wildly up or down, even on the same year/model bike) or a photograph of the MOT to confirm mileage, advisories and all that jazz.

I understand some people are cautious about nefarious types cloning their vehicles, but was my request unreasonable when considering buying a second hand bike? Should I be concerned about this, or do you think the chap was just being a bit overly cautious?

In my opinion, I'd rather do as much checking on a bike from the comfort of my sofa before going to view it, especially as mid-week viewings are often difficult for sellers/buyers if it's a bit of a trek.

Glaucus · 25 Jun 2014 at 23:47

He's an idiot. Look elsewhere.

VoG · 26 Jun 2014 at 07:09

Glaucus said:
He's an idiot. Look elsewhere.

That ^

I don't get off my bum to go look at a bike till ive done an HPI on it, bit hard to do if the numpty won't give you the reg number.

edd1e · 26 Jun 2014 at 07:12

Move on to the next one.

ConTRo13R · 26 Jun 2014 at 11:23

He won't give you the reg, but what's stopping him having you go around there and just reading it off the back of the bike itself??

Avoid at your own convenience

ttaskmaster · 26 Jun 2014 at 13:11

Was it a local yokel?

What kind of bike(s) are you looking for, anyway?

atpbx · 26 Jun 2014 at 13:18

Unless you were buying an extremely rare and hard to find bike, just dismiss out of hand any and all where you encounter any difficulties or things that don't sit right.

You are not prepared to give me some details I need to easily go through with this purchase?

Bye.

dangermouse425 · 26 Jun 2014 at 17:59

It was a Daytona 675, in London. I'm in Reading, so it's a lot easier to do as much of the paperwork stuff over email/phone from home than it is to go and look at a bike just to find out the basic information.

ttaskmaster · 27 Jun 2014 at 12:01

dangermouse425 said:
I'm in Reading,

Me too, hence asking. Wondered if it was anyone I knew.
Several Daytona owners around these parts seem to be selling theirs... either a Fireblade is THAT good, or the D is that bad!

Have you considered something like a Blackbird?

dangermouse425 · 27 Jun 2014 at 20:21

ttaskmaster said:
Me too, hence asking. Wondered if it was anyone I knew.
Several Daytona owners around these parts seem to be selling theirs... either a Fireblade is THAT good, or the D is that bad!

Have you considered something like a Blackbird?

I've decided on a Street Triple, something more comfortable than the Daytona and less extreme.

Kreeeee · 30 Jun 2014 at 10:51

dangermouse425 said:
I've decided on a Street Triple, something more comfortable than the Daytona and less extreme.

Good choice. I got one on Saturday and after 350KM (100KM with the gf on the back) in the Swiss mountains I have no aches or pains.

She found it the most comfortable bike she's ever been on too.

dangermouse425 · 30 Jun 2014 at 12:10

I've just seen your post, awesome!

My gf is used to the comfort of the Bonneville, so she's not a huge fan of the Street, but I'm hoping to win her round!