Re-Registering Stolen and Recovered Bike

[phantomtek]

Hi,

As some of you may know I have in my possession a DRZ400 which was stolen and recovered. Unfortunately as they stole it they not only removed the digital speedo (Which are very expensive) they removed the ignition and they also scratched off the VIN numbers and other numbers off the frame, and it doesn't have a logbook or numberplate. The bike is 100% legit bought from a friend with a reciept and home address and before anyone says anything, it was not I or anyone I know that stole it. Or recovered it for that matter

Anyway the long and short of my story is:

Can a bike with no V5, VIN number, serial number or any number or registration plate be re-registered as a road bike, and how much would said transaction cost? I have checked the DVLA website and I'm sorry if the answer is on there but I couldn't find anything. I would really like this bike re-registered if possible because it's a great little bike.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Joe

[.....]

Thief. Go turn yourself in

[phantomtek]

[tatters]

I would look into buying a second hand frame with a V5.
____________________
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[Ichy]

I agree with Tatters, its by far the easiest way.
Was the bike stolen from your mate? If not then where did it come from? The reason I ask is that at some point it was registered. Does the engine number still exist? Its possible to match a VIN to an engine.

[phantomtek]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Presume that you know what the VIN number should be? Hopefully on the receipt. Then get the frame restamped officially, and get receipts of it being restamped.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Ichy]

The point is, and its slightly illegal but almost impossible to prove, is that you don't actually change the frame, unless its damaged, you just transfer the details on to your bike. you then either keep the frame as a spare or destroy any identification features and dump it. You then tell the DVLA that you have fitted a new engine and register the engine to the frame.

[phantomtek]

Good ideas.

Keith, I'm not actually sure the owner that sold us it came into the knowledge of the previous VIN number. As far as I know, it was stolen from the first owner, the guy we bought it from had got it recovered and the VIN numbers were gone.

This all makes Me sound very dodgy, but I know my Dad wouldn't handle stolen goods, he hates bike thiefs. My little brothers bike got stolen not the other week, so I know how it feels to have a bike stolen or damaged, and I wouldn't add to the scum out there that do it

The frame isn't damaged, it's just VIN-less. I have had ago on the bike offroad and would really like to have it on road so it makes transferring the bike to the offroad park easier than having to borrow a van everytime.

Who does VIN restamping? Just the run of the mill dealer or will my local grease monkey have the proper authority and equipment to do it? And how much is the going rate?

Good thinking there Marki.

[Ichy]

There's a couple of digital clocks on ebay at the moment for the DRZ, last one sold for £32.

[phantomtek]

[Ichy]

[phantomtek]

[McGee]

[Kickstart]

Getting it stamped is easy. Getting it stamped with some kind of proof that it is not just stolen and given a new identity is the difficult bit.

If it was recovered then the police must have known what the VIN number was. The previous owner must as well, and should have the log book.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[phantomtek]

[sickpup]

As keith says someone should know the VIN No. If they don't its probably stolen.

Dilute Nitric acid will pull out the VIN No.

[Johnny GSX-R]

Get in touch with DVLA and ask about SVA testing which is for new build vehicles such as kit cars and imports.

Imports generally don't have a recognisable VIN until SVA test is complete. My Alfa was S/R and luckily it still had its VIN though on false plates.
I owned an XR4x4 Turbo Technics Sierra yearrrrs ago.......no chassis number as it was a re-shell, should have gone on a 'Q' plate but i proved its history (written off at 3 months old) and it was stamped up as a 1987 model after that.

[phantomtek]

[sickpup]

[Phoenix]

Still sounds dodgy to me, anyone who wouldn't handle stolen bikes wouldn't even contemplate buying without any numbers on and no original V5 (thieves don't nick V5's too), so the original owner should've passed the V5 on with the bike if they all knew your dad. I'd bet it's a stolen bike that's still stolen.

[The View Askew]

Ooo the DVLA will have some fun with you.
____________________
"Do what you always did, get what you always got"

[no_shad]

Unless you can obtain the original reg number with which to apply for a V5 then it will almost certainly go on a Q plate if you try to re-register it.
Plus you will have to phanny about with VIC tests etc.

If the engine number is still intact then you may be able to get the DVLA to cough up the original registration with this.


I wrote to them requesting a Reg from a frame and engine number, they replied saying they couldn't help me and to contact my local office.
Luckily they had wrote the Reg in pencil at the top of my letter.
I'd like to think they were helping me out but it's more than likely a remnant from processing the letter and should have been rubbed out.

Best of luck, you'll need it.

[veeeffarr]

Try the Nitric Acid idea.

[phantomtek]

Cheers sickpup, that's a real gem of information. Would it still work even though they have been literally ground off the frame? And where can I purchase such an item, and what's the dilution ratio?

no_shad - Cheers for that, I know I'll need the luck

Pheonix - The guy didn't know my Dad, it's a friend of a friend. I know my Dad wouldn't buy a bike that he knew had been stolen for the purpose of selling on. It's just not right - I don't like what you are implying to be honest.

But,

If I find out it is actually stolen what should I do (It's probably not but if it is) Who should I contact so the person who rightfully owns it gets it back?

Cheers fellas.