Author Topic: Slow-mo abandoned NYC bike death watch (Read 20789 times)

vames · « **on:** February 20, 2010, 02:39:50 PM »

In the East Village of New York City, behind a fence in a parking lot for a public(ish) housing building, I've been watching a little green uncovered 350F rotting over the course of the past two years every day when I'm walking to work. The super of the building said several times he doesn't know who owns it. It's never been covered and has been exposed to the elements. Someone at some point clearly took care of this bike because it's still in nice condition.

Today I saw a sanitation department sticker on it saying it's condemned and they're going to remove it. The poor thing is probably going to be crushed. But what can I do? If I go and walk it out of there it's still felony auto theft. I wouldn't have the time or space to part it or clean it up either. Sooooooo sad. I'll try and take a picture tomorrow.

laser145 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2010, 02:57:49 PM »

I feel like this kind of thing happens all over NYC.

A few months ago someone parked an old Kawasaki across the street from my apartment. It sat up the curb exposed to the elements for a few months. After awhile the handlebars, headlight, and seat were gone. Finally some scumbag came along with a hacksaw and cut right through the frame and removed the kickstand, leaving the bike laying on it's side...Sanitation removed it within a week after that.

I've got the storage space in NYC to keep the bike... but I don't know anything about claiming it. Perhaps it goes to auction after sanitation picks it up?

Alan F. · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2010, 04:49:46 PM »

You could place a note on it to the sanitation guys offering them a reward to misplace the bike into your posession, that way paperwork is satisfied and the bike can be parted...

Johnie · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2010, 04:53:13 PM »

Could you just ask a cop if you could take it out of there? Or have him run the VIN?

fmctm1sw · « **Reply #4 on:** February 20, 2010, 04:58:46 PM »

Don't know how New York would handle it. Maybe it will end up with a wrecker's lien on it or something? NY is a big place though, I wouln't let it out of your sight if you wanted it. I'd be standing there when they came to get it...

tomkimberly · « **Reply #5 on:** February 20, 2010, 10:18:33 PM »

Not that it would be legal, but how come you don't have it back at your place already?

Tom

oldbiker · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2010, 12:39:00 AM »

I would offer to buy it as scrap. They can only say no.

gerhed · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2010, 07:24:32 AM »

Had a similar situation a while back.
--put a note near the mail boxes of nearby building.
Some guy called me
--I came over --gave him $25 and took the the complete but not running CA95.
Don't know if it was his bike but I don't care.
He gave me a receipt .

Kevin400F · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2010, 08:12:24 AM »

If the city condemnation notice has a date on it, along the lines of "this vehicle is hearby declared condemned and will be removed by XXXX date", then simply show up at 12:01am on that date and remove it yourself. This should be perfectly legal unless the notice goes on to say something like "this vehicle becomes property of the city of....". The purpose of the sticker is to legally give the rightful owner an opportunity to collect his property. On the date of confiscation it is more than likely legally declared "trash" or "refuse", and I seriously doubt the city will prosecute you for picking up trash.

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2010, 09:54:25 AM »

I had a similar situation back in '72 while stationed at Fort Hamilton below the Verazanno. Saw a GM vehicle parked along the street. Every day there was a little less of it. I realized this was a New York City Individual Self Service Junkyard. Just so happened the starter on my '67 GTO was going bad. If I remember correctly there was enough removed that it was relatively quick to get at those 2 bolts holding the starter in place. Kinda like crows picking at dead meat. The first ones there win

vames · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2010, 11:56:17 AM »

Think I'm gonna make it mine. First thing to do is a title check and see if it's stolen and I can return it to the rightful owner. If not, then starts the process of trying to get a title.

Old Scrambler · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2010, 11:59:08 AM »

I think we need a new folder for 'TRUE CONFESSIONS' from our past lives. We all have a story or two!

754 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2010, 12:01:19 PM »

Talk to the super, get a letter stating how long it has been there, and that he gave it to you for removal..

geez Dennis..aka..Old scrambler..

I coulda swore that night I got into the vodka Rodell had, that I did NOT BRING UP .. that paratrooper Viliers mini-bike we got outa that yard.. back in 71...

... maybe I did blab...

..

funny, that is about 300 ft or less,from my present shop...

MJL · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2010, 01:38:32 PM »

Quote from: vames on February 20, 2010, 02:39:50 PM

In the East Village of New York City, behind a fence in a parking lot for a public(ish) housing building, I've been watching a little green uncovered 350F rotting over the course of the past two years every day when I'm walking to work. The super of the building said several times he doesn't know who owns it. It's never been covered and has been exposed to the elements. Someone at some point clearly took care of this bike because it's still in nice condition.

Today I saw a sanitation department sticker on it saying it's condemned and they're going to remove it. The poor thing is probably going to be crushed. But what can I do? If I go and walk it out of there it's still felony auto theft. I wouldn't have the time or space to part it or clean it up either. Sooooooo sad. I'll try and take a picture tomorrow.

there are ways to lay claim to it. Talk to the super and see if he can store it for you for a short period of time, that way sanitation won't take it. Go to the license branch and find out what you have to do, in most cases it involves waiting a certain period of time which has probably been satisfied and trying to make contact with the owner. if everything is satisfied and the owner can't be found, they grant you a title. Now, you may have to file it as a mechanic's lien in order to get the new title in your name.

MJL · « **Reply #14 on:** February 21, 2010, 01:40:55 PM »

Quote from: 754 on February 21, 2010, 12:01:19 PM

Talk to the super, get a letter stating how long it has been there, and that he gave it to you for removal..

geez Dennis..aka..Old scrambler..

I coulda swore that night I got into the vodka Rodell had, that I did NOT BRING UP .. that paratrooper Viliers mini-bike we got outa that yard.. back in 71... ... maybe I did blab... ..

funny, that is about 300 ft or less,from my present shop...

Do this, then file mechanic's lien and etc.

vames · « **Reply #15 on:** February 21, 2010, 02:05:37 PM »

I've spoken to the super before. He's an idiot -- doesn't care about the bike but cares even less about helping a friendly stranger. That bike is going to be scrapped if I don't save it. There's another bike right next to it. Some early 90's-ish cruiser type of herneated thorax looking monstrosity. I doubt anybody would want that POS.

Alan F. · « **Reply #16 on:** February 21, 2010, 02:17:16 PM »

If you get them both you could part out the cruiser to finance the 350......

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 21, 2010, 02:18:55 PM »

Have been through it before. You gotta get used to the thought that the bike fate is sealed.

Regardless of your good intentions, the fact is that the bike is not yours, that you don't know the owner and that he has the right to do anything he wants with his bike, included and not restricted to let it rot until the city takes away the remains.

I had a similar experience to this, and believe me, when you ask the owner about the bike, he will suddenly recover interest.

If the bike is rotting and you "save" it, you are just saving yourself some hundred bucks that would cost you a bike in similar shape, with title. I'm the kind of people that, even after having "saved" the bike, would never feel it really belonged to me because I knew how I got it.

Face it, we can't save all the bikes in the world, some of them must be junked. After all, that's what gives more value to the ones remaining. I would not feel guilty to take some parts before it is scraped, but even then, for the price that those parts sell I could just buy them, at least I would keep my peace of mind.

Of all the advice read here, I would take showing at 00:01 of the deadline. The city has given the owner the chance to recover the bike, and you have saved the city the expense of removing and scraping the remains. That's the only "fair" way I see to make that bike "yours", at least physically.

754 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2010, 02:27:47 PM »

Make sure to bring the kit...

Mallet to hit the dragging break caliper

Pliers & hacksaw, to remove chain to push it

Bike pump, to get air in tires

Crescent wrench to back off rear brake

Beer to celebrate when you get it home..

I disagree with Raul, Get it if you can.. then try to contact owner.. city probably already has as part of the process, then you can get ownership.. meanwhile, dont put any cash into it

edbikerii · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2010, 03:26:08 PM »

If it has been tagged by NYC sanitation, they have recorded the VIN and have sent the last registered owner a ticket with a hefty fine for abandoning the vehicle. I once had an issue in the Bronx with this type of thing where I had arranged for a tow truck to pick up a junk car for me, but the idiot didn't bother to show up, so NYC Sanitation took over from there. This was in maybe 1990 or so, and the fine at that time was over $500. I'm sure it is well over $1000 twenty years later.

So, assuming that you are able to find the "owner" (he is no longer the official owner since the city has tagged it), even if you strike a deal, you won't be able to title it until that fine is paid somehow or other.

The only way you can gain ownership of this bike without you having that fine paid is to show up at the city auction at one of the impound yards with cash and a tow truck to take it away with.

ekpent · « **Reply #20 on:** February 21, 2010, 07:16:37 PM »

Hopefully you can get us a picture soon,I,m curious what this thing looks like and keep us posted as to the outcome of this dramatic saga.

faux fiddy · « **Reply #21 on:** February 21, 2010, 07:40:37 PM »

Once I asked the manager of a mall whathe did with cars that were abandoned. Th on I had my eye on was a Subaru wagon. It had been tagged several times but even the cty wasn't interested in taking it without the mall owner paying them.

I made an honst effort to find the former owner, calling severl states.

After asking he said taike it. You want it ,take it. Take them all. Thy re in the way of my snowplow.

I asked if he would help file a storage lien, but the answer was no.

I went out and took the timing cover off and threw a new belt on it and drove it off.

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #22 on:** February 21, 2010, 07:46:52 PM »

This is more exciting than watching a dog being rescued from an ice flow on the river.

vames · « **Reply #23 on:** February 21, 2010, 08:00:00 PM »

I'm going out there early in the morning before it's light. The tires look like they still have air -- let's hope it rolls.

fmctm1sw · « **Reply #24 on:** February 21, 2010, 08:02:10 PM »

Quote from: vames on February 21, 2010, 08:00:00 PM

I'm going out there early in the morning before it's light. The tires look like they still have air -- let's hope it rolls.

This is going to be great... Got a webcam by any chance? I just have to see this rescue...

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Author Topic: Slow-mo abandoned NYC bike death watch (Read 20789 times)