Damaged VIN plate

I've only been a member of this forum for less than a month but seems I'm forever having to complain about something !!

I had an insurance estimator out yesterday looking at my damaged fairing (looks like its more han just the fairing that needs replaced.....). Anyway, he went to look at my VIn plate and lo and behold, most of it is missing. He says that they only stick them on with glue at the factor so it's not the dealers fault, but suggests that this should be replaced under warranty (bikes only 4 months old now).

One other thing I noticed yesterday was that my number plate appears to have changed since I left my bike at the dealers for an estimate. You know how dealers put their name and number on the plates of all bikes they sell, well, it had the original dealership on the plate when I took it into the second dealership and it is now proudly desplaying their details ! Is that not theft.....

VIN plate missing, new number plate ? For a moment I thought that perhaps my bike wasn't the one I purchased (!) but thankfully the insurance guy confirmed it was by means of other ID on the bike etc....!

I love my SV650 - but I'm not loving the fact that I've had so many problems with it in such a short space of time - and all from new !

I do not see whay the dealer would change the plate, you are not selling it to them are you?

The VIN plate looks suspicious, it looks more like someone has tried removing it rather than comming loose because of the glue.

[the_lone_wolf]

VIN should be stamped on the headstock in addition to the sticker, which is just there for easy reference

The dealer's changed the plate so they can get free "advertising"....

The bike has either been garaged or parked in front of my office window - out of my garage it's actually never been out of my sight ie I've never left it "alone", poor thing ! - so I can't see that anyone has attempted to "get a it". I do jet-wash the bike down before cleaning but the insurance guy said the glue shouldn't be displaced by a jet/power wash I'm just bemused as to how it's become so damaged/disentegrated (the insurance guy said himserlf and that there ae no scratch signs to indicate someone tried to take it off. He asl say they can be an expensive thing to replace !). Am I required to replace it by law ?

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by Steven T

Am I required to replace it by law ?

see my above post and look on the RHS of the headstock, the VIN is STAMPED into the frame, it cannot be removed unless you grind it off, the sticker is ONLY there so you don't have to go diggin through the cockpit wires with a torch to see the stamped number

Cheers, yes, that's where we got the number from yesterday - just didn't know if the plate was a legal requirement. If not, then I won't bother too much about it. I feel I've forked out enough on this bike as it is.......

Update: Dealer says Suzuki won't replace the VIN plate - "it is designed to tear in the event of someone attempting to tamper with it or remove it, as apears to happened in this instance".

How much for a new one, I asked ?

£75.00 they replied.

Fook me, I'll think about it........

[timwilky]

Nothing to think about, it is unnecessary. on my curvy they were pop riveted on. I had two small home in the frame instead. Loads of people said your VIN is missing, no just the stick on plate.


I was involved in a court case some years ago with a plant trader accused of handling stolen plant, as part of the evidence against him. the police had seized his number stamps. Only somebody who is fraudulently changing the numbers would require such things.

We on behalf of the insurers had sold him stolen and recovered plant. As part of the sale he had to restamp ground off numbers. Police/CPS argument re ownership of stamps being proof of criminal intent out the window, they were a tool of his trade.

As stated above the VIN is stamped on the headstock, it is the only number to trust I could get a sticky aluminium label made up to say anything for less than a fiver. When viewing a bike, take a torch and check the number matches the V5, that all numbers are straight and aligned. with no evidence of being altered. As demonstrated above, a restamp is only evidence of a number being applied after manufacture. The bike may well be stolen/recovered or simply being given a new identity to match paperwork.

Yeah, the £75 is staying with me ! Dealer said it's not absolutely necessary and is only there as a visual backup to the headstock. I'd rather spend my money on something that IS necessary or at least something I can get use out of.