Posts
674
Joined
1/1/2008
Location
Hampden, MA
US
Fantasy
2530th
Try to make this story as short as possible….In august 2021 I bought a preowned, yet low hour modded 21 KX250 with paperwork from a reputable and long time local racer. 3rd ride in, the Rekluse clutch comes apart and takes out oil pump, entire clutch, “blue’s” the cam journals and everything else is suspect IMO. The oil was badly contaminated with shavings from the inner clutch cover and pieces of the clutch fibers/rekluse basket sleeves. The top end, despite minor flaws to the cam journals looked OK but still this new bike is now a bit compromised in my opinion. Fortunately, the clutch was slipping so bad I pulled off before it locked up completely.
I informed my local dealer due to the recall on this model. Prior to bringing it in, i split the cases and inspect/clean everything. I then assemble bottom end because it looks mostly fine and bring the engine and all related parts to local dealer. Kawi doesn’t warranty any damages due to the Rekluse, but they will supply the recall replacement parts + a few odds and ends. I ended up taking the unbuilt engine and parts back and doing the labor myself, not a big deal to me bc i question dealer’s work and I knew I could get it done more timely as they already had it for 4 months by this time.
Two days later, I get a call from a detective explaining that the bike was flagged as being stolen when i brought it in to my local dealer. According to the dealer that’s on my paperwork (not local) who was contacted by the detective, the certificate is not authentic based off one picture I sent from my phone. However, it is very convincing looking and even the ghosted eagle appears visible when looking through a light. I’m comparing it to my 2020 KX250 certificate. The bike also didn’t register on NICB.org as being stolen when I checked and still doesn’t today.
I know what’s next. I’m going to have to hand over the bike to the original owner and unless they catch the guy who stole it and I’m awarded compensatory damages, i’ll be out the $7,500 i paid for the bike. I did a fair amount of due diligence before the sale, and with paperwork who would have thought it was stolen ?
The other thing is the bike is in a 100+ different pieces and the motor is all apart still. I’m not going to put another 20 hours of my life into this stolen bike getting it prepped for the original owner. It’s been a nightmare since I bought it. I also have new tires mounted and plenty of aftermarket parts on the bike that are rightfully mine but i don’t have the OEM replacements anymore. ECU & exhaust are the major ones. Am I supposed to hand over these components too? I feel bad for the guy who had it stolen in the first place, but in the end I’m the one being screwed. The bike looks like it has 15 hours on it max, only 5 of which I can attest to but if I had my bike stolen and it came back in this condition I’d be thrilled.
I have contacted a family attorney, and he basically told me to cooperate with the detective and that I will have to return the bike in stock form or as close as can be. I also question if the paperwork I have may be genuine ? and that the dealer listed on my paperwork doesn’t want to be involved. Is it plausible they wrongfully made a duplicate C.O. for someone ? In that case I feel they would have some liability. I also can’t help but to question the original owner and their morality. I don’t know the guy or met him, but insurance fraud isn’t all that uncommon. His son could have sold it without permission and told his parents it was stolen, something fraudulent along those lines. Addiction is not all that uncommon around here, as well.
I guess the reason I’m posting is to be aware that forged documentation may exist when buying preowned bikes. But also maybe someone here has some advice for a fellow moto head.
I informed my local dealer due to the recall on this model. Prior to bringing it in, i split the cases and inspect/clean everything. I then assemble bottom end because it looks mostly fine and bring the engine and all related parts to local dealer. Kawi doesn’t warranty any damages due to the Rekluse, but they will supply the recall replacement parts + a few odds and ends. I ended up taking the unbuilt engine and parts back and doing the labor myself, not a big deal to me bc i question dealer’s work and I knew I could get it done more timely as they already had it for 4 months by this time.
Two days later, I get a call from a detective explaining that the bike was flagged as being stolen when i brought it in to my local dealer. According to the dealer that’s on my paperwork (not local) who was contacted by the detective, the certificate is not authentic based off one picture I sent from my phone. However, it is very convincing looking and even the ghosted eagle appears visible when looking through a light. I’m comparing it to my 2020 KX250 certificate. The bike also didn’t register on NICB.org as being stolen when I checked and still doesn’t today.
I know what’s next. I’m going to have to hand over the bike to the original owner and unless they catch the guy who stole it and I’m awarded compensatory damages, i’ll be out the $7,500 i paid for the bike. I did a fair amount of due diligence before the sale, and with paperwork who would have thought it was stolen ?
The other thing is the bike is in a 100+ different pieces and the motor is all apart still. I’m not going to put another 20 hours of my life into this stolen bike getting it prepped for the original owner. It’s been a nightmare since I bought it. I also have new tires mounted and plenty of aftermarket parts on the bike that are rightfully mine but i don’t have the OEM replacements anymore. ECU & exhaust are the major ones. Am I supposed to hand over these components too? I feel bad for the guy who had it stolen in the first place, but in the end I’m the one being screwed. The bike looks like it has 15 hours on it max, only 5 of which I can attest to but if I had my bike stolen and it came back in this condition I’d be thrilled.
I have contacted a family attorney, and he basically told me to cooperate with the detective and that I will have to return the bike in stock form or as close as can be. I also question if the paperwork I have may be genuine ? and that the dealer listed on my paperwork doesn’t want to be involved. Is it plausible they wrongfully made a duplicate C.O. for someone ? In that case I feel they would have some liability. I also can’t help but to question the original owner and their morality. I don’t know the guy or met him, but insurance fraud isn’t all that uncommon. His son could have sold it without permission and told his parents it was stolen, something fraudulent along those lines. Addiction is not all that uncommon around here, as well.
I guess the reason I’m posting is to be aware that forged documentation may exist when buying preowned bikes. But also maybe someone here has some advice for a fellow moto head.
I'd take all my parts off and put the thing in a box.
You shouldn't be responsible for the bike now.
I absolutely would not take the dealers word for anything
Stolen 10k motorcycle and it’s not showing stolen ?
Lots of “ odd “ circumstances imo….
No offense to the family attorney but I think I would do some digging myself and speak to another attorney
Even if a bike will never be rode on public lands or roads, I’ve always gotten a title for them. They are always the first document used when determining ownership and the extra cost to title a bike is minuscule in the long run.
The Shop
If you have not insured it, stop reading this and do it now.
I have been stewing on this all weekend, stuff like this bothers me bad. Sorry for the situation man good luck.
Pit Row
The detective is legit. I called the police department where the detective’s office is and was phone transferred to the same guy.
The detective is tracking the chain of ownership. The reputable racer I bought the bike from gave me screenshots of the person he bought it from. Hopefully that person has a lead but I’m not sure yet.
I do plan on making it difficult for the original owner. Obv i’m not going to file any VIN numbers off but court ordered documents sounds like a good call. Thanks for everyone’s support so far.
I have never had an issue untill now with USPS and EBAY, this week is the first issue i have had and it sure is making me look bad. Please Be careful using EBAY and USPS trying to ship to other countries cause apparently its not working at the moment, oh and not to mention i lost $149 on the label that came back to me.
I was lucky...
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