HONDA MT50 Project Bike - No V5

[picture_man36]

Hello,

So I've bought a 'field' bike on EBAY which came with no V5 or reg plate. It never even crossed my mind that this bike may not be a UK bike, but having had it HPI'ed today the chassis number has not been registered.... I've checked a couple of other spare frames and they came back with reg numbers.

So what are my options? I wrongfully assumed that as I'd not got a V5 or reg number that I'd have to build the bike, apply to either the Honda Owners Club or VJMC and get a letter to date the bike, then apply to DVLA for an age related plate but another problem has been brought to my attention... Assuming that its either a grey import (which I doubt) or a bike that was never registered will I be responsible for VAT or Import Duty.. if I can't prove that anything has been paid... aaaghhh !! Really peeed off as the chassis has been powder coated and I was ready to build the effing thing at the weekend. Now I do have a silver lining.... I've a spare frame which I do have the reg number for, but I'd rather not burn another £ 100 on powder coating if there is a chance of using my frame that we can't trace a plate for..... BUT at all costs I want to avoid the dreaded 'Q' plate as its going to be my plaything and I'd rather not spend close to a grand to get a 'Q'..... aaaghhh !
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'The Picture Man'

[groovylee]

just out of interest, why so bothered about the Q plate??

MY kit car is a Q plate, and that's cost me close to £3k so far, and I use it to throw around up muddy hills

i could never understand the stigma of a Q plate
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Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

[picture_man36]

I can understand where you're coming from with the kit car if you've not used a donor and can't show where the majority of the bits come from.

I'm not looking to sell it but I'm aiming for close to concourse standard. It's had so many stainless fixings thrown at it as well as £300 paint and plenty of money on decals.. It'll stand me at least £ 1000. A 'Q' plate would wreck the value. Its had so much effort and money spent that I'd rather reframe it than put a 'Q' on it...
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'The Picture Man'

[groovylee]

fair enough, just curious
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Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

[Rogerborg]

[picture_man36]

So 2 weeks of 'can I?' 'Can't I?' has ended in 'No you can't!' So to recap, my Honda MT50 field bike will not go back on the road as is I have a perfectly good frame BUT I can't use it... Note to self, when you get a frame with a VIN plate, don't take it off to have the frame powder coated .... I'm my haste, I wanted to get the bike built and registered so stripped it down, sent the frame to powder coat and because the VIN plate was distorted I drilled out the rivets, powder coated it, then re-riveted the plate back on. The moment I took the plate off the frame lost all of its authenticity The blasting process wore some of the metal away which meant that the number was not visible under the powder coat.

All back together & ready to go, I contacted the HOC (Honda Owners Club) and the VJMC (Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Owners Club) and neither would date the frame as the VIN had been removed and reaffixed AND as not all of the numbers were not visible on photographs they would not give me the all important dating letter to confirm the age of the frame.

So with lots of boxes of restored bits, wheels and engine and with a heavy heart a spare frame has been used.... A contact gave me a number of a guy who HPI's from frame numbers & voila, I had 2 frames & 2 Reg Numbers (my original frame was HPI'ed but it would appear not have been listed)

So the moral of the story is.... Don't strip your bike down until you've been able to get a dating letter for it and you have the V5...

More to follow...
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'The Picture Man'

[Rogerborg]

Damn, that's harsh.

If you were doing it again, would you be as honest about it next time?
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[picture_man36]

Well if I ever wanted to sell it if it wasn't registered correctly then it'd be worthless.

I have however been advised today that I 'could' have the frame stamped with the correct number if it was done professionally.. so I might still be able to get the age related plate... its a pain... you have to have it MOT'ed against the frame number, insured against the frame number & then send £ 55 + £ road tax to DVLA who will assess it and then give you an age related number... My 2nd approach has been a lot easier as I know this has a plate so its £ 21 + a completed V55 to the DVLA gets me my V5...

I'm going to put the bits left from my current project into a stacker and get on with one of my DT's that are in the queue to be restored. I've 4 DT's 2 LC's & 2 aircooled (175's) as well as 2 TZR125's .. I have a FZR600 as my daily ride, but I'm hankering after a big trails bike.... may be an XT600 or something, that me and my son can knock around on...
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'The Picture Man'

[Rogerborg]

[picture_man36]

Think my contact was saying that if the frame was stamped by a local engineers / bike shop and the frame number was verified.... (If you look at my number its easy to see where the number is and what bits are missing..) They'd accept the number.

Rather than tamper with the factory stamp...I'd put it close to it..

The VIN plate is close by but having taken it off to powder coat the frame... its now got no credibility for DVLA or the owners clubs..

new frame with log book & powder coat has set me back £ 100
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'The Picture Man'