Police at Brands

have a read of this thread, check what yer buying

http://www.motoforum.net/index.php?showtopic=56164&st=0

[keith_d]

Yep - use one of the registration check sites, then compare the frame number they provide with what's stamped on the bike you're buying.

[yorkie_chris]

What a complete pain in the tits if they seize your bike and cost you a day plus a load of fuel and time only to find out it's not stolen after all.

If the engine number appears to be defaced and there's no frame number apparent how the devil are they ever going to find the original owner IF it is nicked?

[andrewsmith]

There was a few guys caught out in the BESMEE the other year running bikes they thought were clean.

Same 2 guys had did 5 bikes that were racing

Can see their motive but it seems like a bit of a pain i must admit, especially if youre none the wiser that its a 'dirty' bike and its suddenly taken off your hands.
But are the 'stolen' bits given back to their rightful original owners?
And what becomes of the 'tampered' bits? Sit in some evidence warehouse never to see the light of day again?
Will defo check out my numbers to make sure theyre legit now.

[timwilky]

I know my comment is not bikes but is related to this.

Years ago my father was involved in an action against a police force on the grounds that the police had raided a plant (expensive earth moving equipment) trader and seized a number of vehicles, and over a million in cash, held him on remand pending his trial and put his multi million pound business out of operation for over 18 months.

The reason for this was he had sold vehicles unknown to him that were stolen some with defaced vin numbers. The police even seized his stamps as evidence of his illegal activities as part of a ringing operation. Additionally the trader was illiterate. He did not run bank accounts and cash was his only way of trade. He did not trust his customers or banks. (Pikey background)

My fathers involvement was he acting for insurance companies and had sold to this dealer a number of stolen and recovered items of plant. As part of the conditions of sale, the dealer was required to re instate any removed identification stamps.

Therefore his defaced stamps on plant he had sold were not evidence of him trying to disguise the identity of a vehicle/plant. But to re establish its identity.

BY the way, the plant trader won. The money was returned. Although I do believe the inland revenue then took an interest in the guy.

The issue is a normal person cannot get a VIN number check without registration as I found out when trying to find the identity of an off road bike and thats wrong. As stated in the motoforum site the database should be made public. I know it won't stop ringing or defaced numbers but its a start in the right direction.

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by hardhat_harry

The issue is a normal person cannot get a VIN number check without registration as I found out when trying to find the identity of an off road bike and thats wrong. As stated in the motoforum site the database should be made public. I know it won't stop ringing or defaced numbers but its a start in the right direction.

+1

or allow the public to do HPI's from chassis/ vin nos

I have had my bike checked, went to a local Suzuki Dealer, not many around nowadays, paid £41 and he checked my bikes engine number and frame number, all ok

if you have any doubt, then go and do this, they can but they want to be paid for it

Race bikes must have a untampered visible engine and frame number

brand new blanks are the only exception, most clubs just dont check them properly tho

I am really sorry but i dont feel sorry for anyone who has unknowlingly bort a stolen bike, its one of the first rules of buying a bike - make sure the numbers match the V5 (if it has one) and do a HPI check if there is any doubts

The ownus should be on the club as well to inforce the ACU rules, and making sure that they dont let anyone enter if there bike doesnt meet the regs!