Changes to a financed bike.

[171484]

Hi people. I'm new to this site/forum so I apologise in advance if this question is in the wrong place or has been asked before.

The story goes.. I recently brought a Suzuki DRZ400sm through finance ( I'll allow time for the whole "puppy SM" jokes and so on it was brought as a commuter and I'm happy with it). I work in a car body shop as a panel beater and painter so obviously want to make it look different. When I read through the paperwork it stated nothing about not being able to modify it so I signed away. Since taking delivery of it I've had mixed reviews from people on changing the colour of it, it's blue and white but I want it all black (why didn't I just buy a black one you may ask, well I got a good deal on this one and with being in the trade it would cost me nothing to paint it). After the mixed reviews I emailed the finance company directly, explained I was in the motor trade and would only be using automotive 2k paint & not some cheap aerosols from the £1 shop and if this would effect/ go against the agreement and if so would I be able to buy a second set of plastics in black and keep the ones that are on the bike stored in my garage in bubble wrap... Cotton wool.. A padded cell guarded by 2 Rottweilers (Just for the record I only mentioned the bubble wrap! Haha).... Of course they said not until I make the final payment. Now I understand I have signed the agreement and I shouldn't do it as they have said no.. Blah blah blah. A bloke I work with brought a transporter van through finance and was actually asked by the company before he signed anything that he was 100% not going to make any changes what so ever to the van, he said he wouldn't... It was custom painted within a month, full camper conversion inside etc etc. They have never contacted him regarding any of it.
So I was wondering if anyone here has modified a financed bike? If I change the colour on the log book will this be flagged up on their computer. If I do it I'm going to buy the separate plastics and keep the ones on it stored away in case of any come backs. It's very unlikely I will miss any payments but I'm worried that if it comes up on their computer that I have changed the colour on the log book that they'll decide to turn up and repo it. A family member seems to think that the fact they deal with so many people that they would never know and that it's likely they won't know of any changes to the log book anyway.. But I'm not sure, I have a horrible feeling they would ? But on the other hand I don't really want to be riding around on a bike that anyone could go and buy, I want to leave my own mark on it and make it my own (even though technically it isn't until paid off).
Any views or experiences on the matter would be appreciated

[zico]

Why do you even give a shit? It's your bike, just paint it if you want and ride on. The finance company can do one, just keep your payments up and if they query it tell them to suck a fat one.
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Suzuki SV650S

[Beehive Bedlam]

Agree with the above. As long as you keep up with the monthly instalments the finance company won't give a shiny shite.

Post pics when you're done I want my Fazer resprayed.

[Ste]

The repo people would be looking for a blue and white bike.

"I don't really want to be riding around on a bike that anyone could go and buy"

Anyone can buy a DRZ400sm and some tins of matt black. Worry less about painting it and instead ride the thing.

[171484]

Technically it's not my bike until every last penny is paid off it. &I know anyone can buy a DRZ and tins of Matt black (although I wouldn't be doing it with tins) but when you paint cars for a living there's a lot you can do to make it look different that the average joe couldn't. But yeah think I'll go for the 3 out of 3 saying do it, I'll get a second set of plastics and paint them then at least they can have it back to normal if they want to be complete tw@s about it.
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'97- Kawasaki ZX7R
'08- Suzuki DRZ400SM

[DRZ4Hunned]

Yeah don't spray the originals and a fuel tank, it'd be far cheaper to buy new aftermarket ones and spray them. Also if/when you come to sell it, it'll be worth far more standard than with some spray job that screams out accident damage.
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DRZ400-SM
FZS600

[P.]

I bought triple on finance because easy with 0%

I swapped cans instantly

[171484]

[BravoCharlie]

You're spot on in saying that it's not your bike until you've paid every penny - including the completion fee.

It will be in your T&C's somewhere, it won't directly say 'do not paint this bike' - but it will say it has to be maintained and kept stock (along those lines) - and if you don't then charges may be applicable if it's not maintained to a fair standard. it'll likely be around the same paragraph that says 'do not resell this bike, don't remove from the UK' etc.

it's different with other mods such as an exhaust or wheels etc. as you can change it back and no one would notice. Were it me? i'd probably just do it, or even Vinyl wrap it, that way the log book isn't affected (however i appreciate as a painter you're probably keen on doing the work yourself).
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Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[171484]

[BravoCharlie]

I have to read those T&C's to customers multiple times day in day out (work in a call centre for a car company) - it can get tedious!

although yeah if it's just plastics and the tank doesn't change, then i wouldn't bother with sending the logbook off!
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Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

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[iooi]

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[craigs23]

I've owned dozens of bikes on HP, restored and modified most of them, treated them as my own, and didn't have any hassle doing so.

[BravoCharlie]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53ec5e31e4b0fd0d4cf4d36f/t/5614bba0e4b0f587e23c3e5a/1444199331016/
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Wonko The Sane]

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[Commuter_Tim]