Bike registered after year of manufacture

[margun]

I'm looking at a very nice Aprilia Mille at the moment, it's a 2003 manufactured bike, but registered in 2007 ('PF07' plate). The mileage is very low (2500 miles)and it looks to be in really good nick, really well looked after. It's from a dealer.

 

I'm getting a bit suspicious/concerned as the reg number isn't recognised on DVLA vehicle check, mytextcheck, any insurance companies or anything. Is there a reason why this might happen, being registered 4 years after manufacture (not unheard of for a bike to sit for years in a dealer, old stock etc, and the mint condition and low mileage backs into this)? Should I walk? I really like the bike but am worried by this.....

[ack-ack]

Is there a side car for Miss Moss?

[margun]

Is there a side car for Miss Moss?

 

Unfortunately not Rob, although I'm not sure she would like having her eyeballs pushed into the back of her head

[BerettaSV10]

I would walk away from it, as if its not reconised you could very well have trouble insuring it, The only way I would be interested in it, is if the dealer can get it correctly registered and you can confirm it.

 

Vehicles can get hung around in dealers, 4 years seams a long time. I would of thought that dealers would of cleared old stock long before 4 years. Though I knew of one dealer that had a suzuki wankel rotary engine bike that was unregistered as he kept it as a collectors item.

[Dirty Harry]

I had a Honda SP1 registered 2003 and made in 99 or 2000. Had 2 miles on the clock when I got it. Like you say not unheard of and it may be that it was on a private plate so the system had not caught up yet. Do a check on the vin number.

 

Harry

[AdamW]

Get it HPI'd

 

Is it a private sale or dealer? dealer would/should have HPI it already and will have the report!

 

And BTW

 

I had a 99 mille and LOVED it! and do miss it!

[Coolhead]

The most likely cause of this is that it has been re-registered. Possibly because it's an import, Northern Ireland perhaps or the continent.

 

However it is not that rare that quite proper registrations don't show up in the public databases.

 

I've even bought an N.I. import with no logbook but I did the homework with the Coleraine office before any money changed hands.

[Catweazle]

If you do buy it, drop one tooth on the front sprocket and add two to the rear, keep the standard chain length.

 

It will top out at 155ish but the performance up to then is miles better. I also prefer mine with a 180 section rear instead of the 190.

[timps]

Just be careful it’s not an ex race or track bike, it is not uncommon for lads to put the fairing and clocks in storage and replace them with race kit.

 

When the bike is sold on it's put back to standard and registered looking like a new bike.

[-Mongrel-]

If you do buy it, drop one tooth on the front sprocket and add two to the rear, keep the standard chain length.

 

It will top out at 155ish but the performance up to then is miles better. I also prefer mine with a 180 section rear instead of the 190.

 

 

That is a top bit of advice, makes an already lively bike pull like a train. Why oh why did I sell mine?

[Vince Green]

Even if the bike has been re-registered it should have an age related registration. Same for import. If reg no is not on the data base be very concerned Phone call to DVLA at least, maybe local police too. Not on data base coupled with mismatched reg no sounds like trouble

Edited May 26, 2012 by Vince Green

[Coolhead]

Even if the bike has been re-registered it should have an age related registration. Same for import. If reg no is not on the data base be very concerned Phone call to DVLA at least, maybe local police too. Not on data base coupled with mismatched reg no sounds like trouble

 

 

No, on an N.I. import you can be given the options;

 

1) Keeping an N.I. plate on the main register even if it has N.I. non-valid characters (such as I)

2) A "Q" plate

3) The next new reg off the roll.

 

A look at the current logbook will provide the info needed to investigate the history.

[margun]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

 

I've let the dealer (who is selling on behalf of a customer at a reduced profit margin) know that I can't find any trace of the registration. He said that he'd get the log book and perform a HPI check and that admin errors at DVLA occasionally occur. The dealer is well respected around here, he told me he wouldn't want anything to do with the bike if there was anything suspect, as he's offering a warranty.So he's going to find out.

 

I'm off to look at a low mileage (1 owner) 1998 CBR900RR tonight - I know the bike and it's very well looked after and in a suitable lairy 90s paint job, so I might just go for that one! Especially since it's a clear £1200 cheaper than the Aprilia too.

 

I'll pop back and let you know what comes of this Mille.

 

margun