The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: DanielMc on February 18, 2010, 10:51:29 AM
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There's a guy selling a fairly tidy 1980 R65 over here in the UK. Here's the link (finishes today) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320486942321&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
He's advertising the bike as having done only 32,000 miles, which for a 1980 airhead is pretty low. Problem is he bought a 32,000 mile R65 speedo a couple of weeks ago http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110486553432 which has clearly been fitted to the bike (always check their feedback).
Now I'm no detective, but I suspect that this bike's probably done more miles than that so this guy's mis-describing the item which is against Ebay policy and unfair to the buyer so I reported this to ebay to save somebody getting conned.
So what have ebay done?
Nothing...
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Nice work Daniel, pity ebay arnt intrested.....what about trading standards is he a dealer???.
Lou
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He's not listed as a dealer, though he clearly buys and sells a few bikes...
I do think by and large ebay's a good idea, and for those of us running old bikes it's sometimes the only way to get rare or out of production bits, but they do seem more interested in getting the money in than making it a safe place to buy.
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In ebay's defence, although it's pretty obvious what the seller has done, there is no proof it's not a coincidence.
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So send the seller a question and ask him if he installed the 32k speedo on the bike he's selling. It will show up on the Q&A, right?
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So send the seller a question and ask him if he installed the 32k speedo on the bike he's selling. It will show up on the Q&A, right?
His response will only show if he wants to publish it. As a seller, he can answer it online or off, or via a direct email to the person asking, or ignore the question altogether.
If I was interested in the bike, I'd be very tempted to ask a few detailed questions about the bike and speedo, being sure he understood you knew he had recently bought another one, and see what response you got. If it didn't make logical sense, you could always report the seller to Ebay as a questionable seller, and they'll check into things. Of course, being able to prove fraud may be impossible, but it might at least get him to rethink his sales pitch, or be a bit more honest if he re-lists the bike.
And if he's a real jerk about it, send him a link to this thread and tell him, "Gotcha!" ;)
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Irrespecive of the mileage and any skull-duggery, that actually quite a nice clean bike with some sensible mods (a pair of PFM discs at the front).
Mileage is not the issue - condition is.
I would ask for a list of old MOT's though. And I would ring up the DVLA as well, if they cannot be produced.
Good spot though!
Steve H
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It sold for only 1000 pounds? I'd say the buyer did well on that one!
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Over here in the UK in the present financial climate I reckon the buyer paid well over the odds for what is probably a high mileage machine. I bought my beautiful and rare '82 LS with 17,500 genuine miles and BMW luggage for just over £700.
Sure, the ebay bike's in OK condition and has new disks but I still believe the seller doctored the mileage to get a better price and to fool the customer - and that's never right.
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Daniel,
You were exceptionally fortunate with your purchase.
I would suggest that your good fortune is still more the exception than the rule, even in this climate.
Airheads can be had for the price that you paid for yours, but ebay is probably not the place to to get them, unless the adverts have been poorly placed or described (like my £700 R100 - BMW Black/Blue). However, even my R100 needed work.
Ebay, often brings out the bidding fever, especially when similar items have been thin on the ground. Like airheads in the last couple of weeks.
A friend of mine has just bought an ex-police R75/6 of indeterminate mileage for £800. It runs and has an MOT, and a single ATE swinging caliper up front :o. On the face of it, not the greatest of purchases - slightly over priced.
But he wanted a traditional bike with wire wheels to throw the spanners at - a 'rolling restoration', as such. It fitted the bill and was local (1/2 a mile away). He was able to pick the seller's brains and view and ride it. It came with some spares and quite a bit of history. And it all works.
It was too easy. A couple of wasted treks up the motorway and he would have been out of pocket on any deal.
Unlike a similarly powered/braked Norton/BSA/Triumph.....Which would have cost him 3 times the price for a scruffy runner or basket case.
Looking at it like that and he has exceptional value for money, even though it will probably never be worth anything more than he paid for it, as it will always be an ex-police bike with indeterminate mileage.
So while I agree with you, that doctoring the mileage on any bike is never right and the culprit should be brought to book. I would also suggest, that even taking that into account, the bike was not outrageously priced, if the general condition was as good as it looked.
Steve H
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Fair comment there Steve - and you're certainly right about ebay fever! I also agree that my 65LS was a complete bargain, although the reason I started looking at 65s in the first place is that I believe them to be undervalued compared to their long-stroke sisters. Mind you £700 sounds pretty good value for the R100 - is that the one you've fitted the wire wheels to?
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Yes it was, but I failed to mention the new fork stantions and seals, swing arm bearings, refurbishing the seat pan, new springs for the Koni rear shocks, general service, tyres, changing the handle bars, and £20 I spent on the Orange paint job.
And those wheels - £200 the pair when postage was added.
And that fairing was added at Christmas - £100.
Not mentioning the insurance payoff and rebuild after my son and I were knocked off it by a driver that did not see us......
Still, its almost there!
Cheers
Steve Hawkins