Topic: Human Nature (long whining post)

[Raul CB750K1]

It seems human nature to ignore things until you notice that somebody else is interested.


It's being about two years of seeing and abandoned Suzuki GS500 bike (10 years old) near my house. One day I decided that maybe the bike had been stolen and left, or maybe the owner just abandoned it. I asked my brother (who is a metro policeman) to give me the name and address of the owner (it's not illegal, you can get it at the DMV for 6 euros and two-hour wait), so I called him asking ifI can have it for free (I would pay the paperwork) in case he didn't wanted. He told me that actually the bike was abandoned but he planned to put it back on the road in September when his new house is finished and he have his own parking.

But he asked me: "would you be interested in a Kawa KZ400 I have in Madrid?" (We live at about 20 Km from the city). I was freaking out: the KZ400 is one of my favourite bikes. He told me he bought the bike 10 years ago and it broke down (the ignition) after two years. He had it parked where he used to lived. Last time he saw it was one year ago. He didn't even know wether the bike was still there or not.

Last Sunday we were there and the bike was there. He had put a cover on it but the cover was almost broken. Anyway, it did the job for some years because the bike had only slight rust in some spokes and in the chain tensioners. Luckily, it was surrounded by tall buildings so the bike has been in the shade all the time, so no paint fading. He opened the seat  and the documents were still there.

He never did the transfer, so the bike was still belonging to the previous owner in the DMV records. He gave me the papers and I would take care of locating the previous owner  and sort things out. He seemed a little sad about letting the bike go, but as he was not mechanically skilled he understood that it would cost more than it's value to put it back on the road. I mentioned my CB750K1, he told me he would like to see it so I took him to my place and showed the bike. He freaked out as it is in VGC, I wanted to show him that the KZ400 would be very well taken care of.

Next day I located the previous owner and called him. He was very kind and told me that surprisingly, 6 months ago he received a letter form the city asking to pay the taxes, that's when he knew  the buyer never registered the bike. He was thinking about reporting it as stolen or even reporting it as salvage in the DMV, but finally he paid the taxes and reported it as sold to the buyer, so the buyer had to pay the sales taxes and duties in order to get the title to him.

That meant that if I wanted the bike I had to pay all the paperwork from the original owner to this guy, and from this guy to me. It means about 200 euros, but what the hell, the bike was free (even if I know it can turn into a moneypit). I told the guy what I found and noticed something strange in his way of speaking. We were arranging the bike pick up, I had a friend with a truck towing it that night before somebody set the bike on fire.

So the guy called me and told me that well, he has been thinking all day long, he wanted to get rid of the bike because he thought that the owner was still the previous owner, but if he had the registration maybe he could recover some money for the bike as legally it was his, or maybe keeping it so he could tinker with it when he have a place. I asked him "How much  do you want? Do you want me to pay 100 or 200 euros? I can't do that. If I pay you 200 euros I have to pay another 200 for the paperwork and registration, that  means I'm spending 400 euro (about 500 bucks) on the bike before even buying any single spare part. How much money and time is still needed to put the bike on the road? It needs mirrors, battery, new fork seals, oil and filter change, new grips and possibly switches, new turnlight, new brake hoses and caliper rebuilt kit, carburetor gaskets and cleaning, well you can imagine".

The guy started to hesitate, "yeah, maybe I can sell it for spares, at least I can recover some money". Recently I saw an ad for the same bike selling for spares for 300 euros and nobody bought it for more than 2 months. I didn't want to tell him because it would look like if I wanted to discourage him. I asked him "how much would you ask for it". "I don't know" he replied.

 "You know you have to spend 100 euros to register it to you, and need also the previous owner assistance. He told me he would help me, but i don't know if he would be willing to help you when you didn't register the bike for 10 years and he had to pay the taxes. Once you get his assistance, you need to have the bike at least running and roadworthy to undergo inspection, otherwise the DMV will not  issue you the permit even  if you become the owner in the records. That will cost at least another 100 euros in spares alone. So you have to put 200 euros down before trying to sell a registered bike, or nothing at all to sell it for spares. You have to put ads and answer calls and maybe pay a truck to tow the bike to your garage. Man, the bike is yours and you cand do what you want. I'm only telling you that you have to spend money with it one way or another. You have to decide if you will recover that money or not. I'm offering you to take it so you will not have to spend anything. I will actually spend a lot, but I will restore it like I did with my CB750 and will not sell it because I will never recover what I put on it. I only ask you for a favour: if you sell it, sell it to somebody who will restore it, or restore it yourself."

In that point he was a mess, he was tattering because he understood that I wanted it to be restored. I told him "the only thing I can offer you for it is a simbolic price: 20 or 50 euro, or I invite you to a meal or a dinner, but I can't offer more than that". He told me he would think about it and probably will call me again and offer it to me at the end. He was a little embarrassed because he recognized that had it not being for my interest he probably would have let it die, but I didn't give a damn and told him "that's fine dude, if at least I've been useful to make you appreciate it that's allright. I will use the time, gas and phone calls I've spent to learn from experience. Have a good day"


Why people don't appreciate what they have until somebody else do? I was very pissed off, and was thinking that maybe if he called me back offering the bike I'll tell him. "Tell you what, I don't want it anymore. Now that is yours you are the responsible for the DMV. Do what you want with it; hopefully the don't fine you for abandoning a vehicle on public roads" Really, that's what my body is asking me to do.

Raul

[Luke]

I have been in similar situtations. 

One time I bought a junk parts truck without a title for 200 dollars, then I got it running but never was able to get a title because the previous owner had died, willed it to his wife, and then she died before she transferred it.  To get a title would have cost far more than the truck was worth, plus, when I found his son to try to get help, he wanted to get the truck back for sentimental reasons even though his friend, who apparantly at some point was given the vehicle, had sold it to me. 

Then I took a GS450 for 20 dollars and ended up giving it away after I could never get a title due to another crazy abondonment issue. 

I sold a car once and it ended uop totalled and impounded, I got a bill for towing/storage charges and such so I got the car and applied for lost title and sold it again to recover money. 

I bought a travel trailer with a title that hadnt been transferred throughout 5 different sales!  It was never moved, so no one ever needed a liscense plate until me. 

I sold a 30 year old boat and the guy wanted to return it 3 weeks later because he didnt think it was running right anymore! 

I sold a 15 year old ford escort to a girl I went to school with and she complained and got mad when the clutch began to slip a year later! 

My cb650c came with an out of state title.  The guy I bought it from said it was given to him by his son, and that it had been given to his son by his son's roomate in exchange for 1 months rent.  What a disaster, his son lived 3 states away.  The state he liven in required a notorized signature by the seller before it could be transferred.  Good thing I found a shady notory!

In all of this I have learned that people are crazy and that you should never buy, or take anything that dont come with a clear title thats ready to be transferred.  I learned that a long time ago but it hasn't stopped me from putting myself in similar situations over and over again.  I guess it all boils down to this, if you are willing to put up with a ton of stupid BS, and deal with stupid people, then feel free to persue cheap or free junk on the side of the road or for sale for 100 bucks or whatever; but you can only blame yourself when the stupid BS and or stupid person pisses you off becasue you knew before hand that it would likely happen! 

Luke

[Uncle Ernie]

Raul, Because of similar stories, I completely sympathize.  I suggest it's time to take a step back and re-think this whole thing. Looking back, I've found that many relationships I've had with people and motorcycles were too ego driven, too filled with bad karma, so that even when I did come out on top it was empty or I got stuck with a major PAIN IN THE ASS and actually ended up being the ultimate loser anyway.  You might need to learn a lesson, or this little pain might be a bump on the road that steers you to the real goal.     Use the force Luke Raul!

[Raul CB750K1]

That's what I mean Uncle Ernie. I feel that even if the guy finally give me the bike I feel a lot of bad karma on the whole thing. I would not mind to take it from his uncaring hands, but I feel like if even if I restore it I could never forget what an #$%* he was.

It's more ore less what happened with my CB750K1. The owner sold it cheap just because he was unable to put it back in working state, otherwise he would have asked double because he knew more or less how much was it worth. Once I got it I had nothing but excuses to help me with the paperwork, so I realized I needed to work it out myself. Everytime I look at my CB750 K1 I feel like if she looks at me with grateful eyes for having rescued her from that garage where it sat for 15 years. After all the effort I did for getting the paperwork I don't believe I will get rid of it.

If I see another abandoned classic bike I'll try again to have it. Some people complain on why anybody would rather have a bike or car rot instead of giving it for free. I think that as long as they are theirs they can do whatever they want. If I see a Z1 rot in the street I will feel bad and will try to ask the owner to give it to me, but if he says "it's mine and I want it to rot" then I can say nothing at all

Raul

[bikebuff]

Raul,

I see it this way: If he wants to be difficult, so be it.  Motorcycles, like love are defined by what we are willing to put up with.  If this relatively brief time of having to deal with this difficult person rewards you with a bike you know in your heart you'll cherish and take care of for years to come, then it would be worth it.  These purchases have an emotional componant to them and sometimes we have to conquer the challenges that pave the way for sweet rewards.  Go for it!

[Terry in Australia]

F*ck that Raul, sneak around there and burn the both of them bikes, ha ha! Cheers, Terry the pyromaniac!

[pmpski_1]

Raul - How much to ship to Spain?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/mcy/82719987.html

[Raul CB750K1]

Terry, I have to admit that I also thought about that for a split second... In fact I thought that if for any reason any of his bikes gets dropped/burnt/stolen he would probably think it was me.


But as we say here, wen God shuts a door, he opens a window...


I saw an ad of a 1971 CB350 for sale -with no asking price-. 1971 is the year I was born, and as I already have a 1971 CB750, I had to call and ask.

It is located about 150 miles from Madrid. The bike was brought from France by a migrant Spaniard when he returned for good. Those days the spanish government banned the import of japanese bikes, so there are just a few imported through the Canary islands, a spanish territory with its own legislation.



The migrant died and never registered here so the bike have no title. That's a BIG problem here. The guy (the migrant's nephew) knew he could get a "historic vehicle" plate, but it is expensive and he have neither the time nor the will. The bike is located in a small village, where the actual owner have used it without title or insurance, but now he have decided to get rid of him.

The pic doesn't show the state well. I asked and he told me it have slight rust. As it is real far, I wanted to know the real state before going there. He goes there only on vacation and had no pictures. Having no title and having to tow it myself, I told him that I could give him 100-150 euros on the spot. He seemed a little dissapointed, but it is true that getting a title gets really expensive, so he said it was ok. I'm leaving today for vacation, so we agreed to talk again in 15 days.

It's a pain in the back to get the title (it took me almost two years for my CB750), but I have a feeling for those old hondas and hey, it was born the same year than me...


So I need your help now. This is one way I can get the title.

1. Pay Broadway title to get a clear US title. 100 bucks.
2. Get an official translation of the title. 30 euro.
3. Pay import duties. 130 euros.
4. Get the laboratory's authenticity report. 150 euro.
5. Get the official honda spec's sheet. 60 euro.
6. Get the Government's classification as "historic vehicle" 0 euro
7. Register the bike on the DMV. 60 euro.

Apart from that, all that it takes to put the bike in original condition. Yo do the math...


I have another option. The spanish government allows his citizens to bring with them the vehicles bought abroad without having to undergo a type homologation -in case the type is not already homologated-. Type homologation costs about 700 euro.

So I can get the Broadway Title bill of sale. As I was living in Tennessee and still have my valid license, maybe I could get it transferred to me in Tennesse. Now is when I need your answer. Do I have to be physycally located in Tennessee to have the vehicle transferred to me?

Once the bike title is issued to me, I get the official translation -to spanish-, pay the import duties and register the vehicle. I don't have to pay anything more and it is a matter of one month.

What would you do? What can you tell me about the CB350? Is it reliable? What's its top speed? How does it handle?


Regards

Raul

[cb650]

Maybe the bike would be so lonely it followes you home.  If its some ahole that cant or wont get a title he might have gotten it in the middle of the nite.  Also would rather see some of the parts used rather than rot. You might even fine out ways to get title over time. 



                                     Terry

[Terry in Australia]

The CB350 was a nice bike, my big brother had a CB175 and it was great, my next door neighbour had a CB350 and took me for a ride on the back (I was 11 or 12 at the time) and I thought it was real fast until my sisters boyfriend took me for a ride on his Kawasaki H2 750 "widow-maker", that was scary fast!

The CB350 was a nice reliable bike and could crack the magic 100 Mph on a good day, although it was more a commuter/tourer. In those days a 350 was a big bike, sure there were a few 750's around but the 350 wasn't considered a little bike at all. They were heavy though, and like all early Honda's, had pretty ordinary suspension and brakes.

Supposedly they were faster than the CB350F, but I'd prefer the little four any day to the twin, the 350F was a cool little bike, technically not as good as it's 400/4 sibling, but with a lot more character. If the twin "deal" doesn't come off, keep looking Raul, maybe you'll strike gold and find a 350F! Cheers, Terry.

[Bob Wessner]

My first bike was a CB350 twin, '68 or '69, red/white, forget which, had the knee pads on the tank sides. It was a fun, and reliable bike. Quite capable of reasonable speeds on limited access highways, and OK for a fair day trip. Long stints in the seat at highway speeds could lead to a serious case of the "buzzbies though." I wish I still had it to tinker with and putz around town on and I guess some nostalgia since it was my first.

[bikebuff]

Raul,
I don't believe you physically need to be in Tennessee, but since you still have your license you should be fine.  Does the state of Tennessee have a D.O.T website? That could clear things up quickly.

[Paul]

Thats interesting, I came accross something similar when I was restoring my 500K1, it was another 500 about two years younger than mine. A pure and total mess, Red handpainted frame , rusted through, no seat, lights, indicators and the engine had been stripped and put in a cardboard box to be restored ........some day. there was also a few NOS parts in a bag including new shells but now compleatly rusted. I needed a crankshaft. so i asked the guy for a price....wait for it....1000 Euros.
God damn, I needed the parts, wouldn't pay for a new crank and certainly wouldn't pay 1000!.
Thanks a lot and FU.
3 months later I asked if the bike was still there, and was asked for an offer ...200 Euro...Sold.
200 more than it was worth, but turned out ok for me , there was about 400 worth of parts that I needed including the crank, tappet covers, and a new gasket set . etc...small but essential and although it pained me to even have to take the whole bike I worked out ok in the end.
Also with my own 500, the previous owners were so far removed from the sale when I bought it, I just got a peace commissioner (Not sure if you have them) to sign a form to say I had paid for the bike and that it was now legaly recognised as mine.