Police found my bike.
Discussion
Almost exactly a year after it was stolen.
Bit of a process at the pound yesterday but I got it into a van and got it home.
I wrote about it before as it was found in November last year but then the police only informed me of where it was, and surprise! it was no longer there when I arrived.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
So it's my Vespa GT300 with it's ignition switch hanging out, bodywork covered in scars, dents and with bits hanging off, minus it's top box, mirrors and other odds and sods, no reg plate, the new in 2018 tyres pretty worn and with an extra 3000 km on the clock.
The chain that was supposed to stop it from getting stolen is under the seat minus the padlock, the glove box is broken as is the seat latch.
Luckily I had kept the red master key with the chip in it so by inserting it in the hole where the ignition barrel was and turning on the ignition switch (now poking out the other side of the glove box), it starts.
Took a while to work that out, as it was turning on and all the lights and speedo etc were working but zilch when the starter was pressed.
Begs the question of how did the scrotes start it if I can only do it with the immobiliser chip?
So hopefully little expense to get it through the MOT then decide whether to sell on or use.
I wonder if it's worth selling as is, because to get it to the MOT, I'll have to insure it which is a nightmare in London these days.
Or I sell my barely used T-Max and just run the Vespa as a rat scooter.
Anyway and big thanks to the BiB for not only finding it but working out that I was the original owner and calling me.
Bit of a process at the pound yesterday but I got it into a van and got it home.
I wrote about it before as it was found in November last year but then the police only informed me of where it was, and surprise! it was no longer there when I arrived.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
So it's my Vespa GT300 with it's ignition switch hanging out, bodywork covered in scars, dents and with bits hanging off, minus it's top box, mirrors and other odds and sods, no reg plate, the new in 2018 tyres pretty worn and with an extra 3000 km on the clock.
The chain that was supposed to stop it from getting stolen is under the seat minus the padlock, the glove box is broken as is the seat latch.
Luckily I had kept the red master key with the chip in it so by inserting it in the hole where the ignition barrel was and turning on the ignition switch (now poking out the other side of the glove box), it starts.
Took a while to work that out, as it was turning on and all the lights and speedo etc were working but zilch when the starter was pressed.
Begs the question of how did the scrotes start it if I can only do it with the immobiliser chip?
So hopefully little expense to get it through the MOT then decide whether to sell on or use.
I wonder if it's worth selling as is, because to get it to the MOT, I'll have to insure it which is a nightmare in London these days.
Or I sell my barely used T-Max and just run the Vespa as a rat scooter.
Anyway and big thanks to the BiB for not only finding it but working out that I was the original owner and calling me.
Edited by croyde on Tuesday 5th February 17:49
s
tty story - I had a bike nicked years and years ago and the plod finally found a frame and wheels, which I had to collect. Fantastic.
It's an experience that sticks with you for some reason. Randomly recurring dreams of cars/bikes of years gone by being stolen as if the present. Not much fun. Best of luck with it OP.
Maybe battery out from now on if leaving it on the street?
tty story - I had a bike nicked years and years ago and the plod finally found a frame and wheels, which I had to collect. Fantastic. It's an experience that sticks with you for some reason. Randomly recurring dreams of cars/bikes of years gone by being stolen as if the present. Not much fun. Best of luck with it OP.
Maybe battery out from now on if leaving it on the street?
croyde said:
Never claimed. What with a £900 excess and what it would have done to my other bike and car policy.
Out of curiosity how did you go about that? Did you tell your insurer you had SORN'd it and cancelled the policy at the time it was nicked? Or did you just leave the policy running until it was time to renew? I hope I never need to make use of the information but I ride into London daily and have wondered if it would even be worth claiming if some scrotes nicked my bike. I had only just renewed with another insurer as my then current policy said they would not insure in London anymore.
The bike was actually stolen in Dorking, Surrey whilst I was moving back to London.
As I only had the new policy literally days, I cancelled. They still shafted me on the refund though.
So no mention of it being stolen as I wasn't claiming.
The bike was actually stolen in Dorking, Surrey whilst I was moving back to London.
As I only had the new policy literally days, I cancelled. They still shafted me on the refund though.
So no mention of it being stolen as I wasn't claiming.
That worries me. I have been on to the DVLA who have got it on record that for the past year it was not mine.
So far I have either bought or have on order new set of oem keys and barrel, ignition switch and other odds and sods missing from wrecking where the key goes.
So that's nearly £70 spent on that alone.
New LH mirror ordered, well a cheap copy that was cheaper than anything secondhand, a new reg plate, headlamp bulb, brake reservoir cover and various screws and clips.
Hopefully then a much needed service and then MOT, tax and insure.
It's in a sorry state overall, but in pictures it looks OK.
Undecided whether to then keep it or sell.
If I can shift the T Max I may well keep the Vespa.
So far I have either bought or have on order new set of oem keys and barrel, ignition switch and other odds and sods missing from wrecking where the key goes.
So that's nearly £70 spent on that alone.
New LH mirror ordered, well a cheap copy that was cheaper than anything secondhand, a new reg plate, headlamp bulb, brake reservoir cover and various screws and clips.
Hopefully then a much needed service and then MOT, tax and insure.
It's in a sorry state overall, but in pictures it looks OK.
Undecided whether to then keep it or sell.
If I can shift the T Max I may well keep the Vespa.
So the guy who nicked my bike pleaded guilty and has been given a community order and has to pay me £15 in compensation 
I won't hold my breath.
Vespa is very bruised and battered but back on the road as of a week ago. Only cost me many hundreds of pounds and hours of my time to get it there.
I won't hold my breath.
Vespa is very bruised and battered but back on the road as of a week ago. Only cost me many hundreds of pounds and hours of my time to get it there.
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