the freakiest thing happened on the way home

First, i must tell you how I came about owning my bike.
A few years ago, my brother & sister-in-law moved onto a farm in the boonies. The shop was left full of "stuff" & the landlord had told them they could scrap & get rid of what ever was left behind to use the shop, everything was supposed to be cleaned out by the last tenants. Whatever was left behind was his(note:he's a lawyer) The stuff had been sitting there unclaimed for a couple of years.
While picking through, I came across a partially assembled bike & boxes of parts. I took the bike & the parts home & then had a winter long project.
After purchasing a service manual & a battery, finding a used starter & many winter hours spent in the shop, the bike was reassembled & running roughly. I took the bike to a shop for a carb cleaning & a safety. I bought the Used Vehicle package to track down the owner, couldn't locate anyone, signed an affidavid that the bike was abandoned & it was mine! A buddy painted it for me too(for free)
I have enjoyed many day trips along Lake Erie for the last 2 years.
Last Saturday on my way home from the in-laws I stopped in the local gas bar to fill up & this guy walks up to me & asks me if that's a Seca. I nodded & then he says,"I think that's my bike!"
I gave him a "huh?" & he went on to describe that the starter had been broken off & he painted the frame.
He asked a few questions & left. He looked kinda sad.
I waited around a bit, just in case.
It was a little freaky running into him like that, I was told he has questionable dealings with the law.
My wife still says I always giggle nervously when telling anyone about my encounter. She says the look on my face when I got home was priceless as I was explaining why it took so long to get home that night on my first night ride.
Anyone else have that kind of encounter?

p.s. yes Rick, checked the brushes, and they are all good.

 

Weird, odds are pretty long aren't they, running into the fellow (who could or might not be the P.O.)? Make sure to put a very large chain on that thing if you want to keep it "yours". You may also want to re-key it, no telling if he still has a copy laying about.

 

That was my first thought, too!
Easy enough to buy an ignition lock with key on eBay and swap it out. You'll rest easier!
BTW, You could also buy an Ignition lock without a Key and have a locksmith make a new key from the code on the bottom of the lock housing.
In Washington state, the P.O. could claim the bike for up to 3 years!! You only get a provisional title for an abandoned vehicle.


Dan

 

I know know what town he lives in and I live an hour away from him. ( i'll just avoid that small town) i use a caliper lock and it's always locked in the garage.
I asked a cop friend of mine and he said once I did the paperwork, it's mine.

 

I'm inclined to believe your police officer friend but that may not be sufficiently engrained in the supposed P.O.'s mind. Keep it yours, locking it up is a good start.

 

I had gotten an 83 xj750rk from a local junk yard, it was towed in as an abandoned vehicle, it sat there for the thirty days, then the junk yard sold it to me for $300 with a clear title from the state, All I had to do was fix some wiring and replace the back tire and it was good to go.

I never ran into the po, but it's titled in my name and that works for me

 

"Possession is 9/10ths of the Law"

It's that other little 1/10th that could throw a BIG wrench into the works.

But, the NICE thing about The Law is how you can use it to your advantage.
If the Former Tennant really pushes the issue and holds "The Hard Title Document" ... that will be Proof enough for "Judge Judy" to make a quick decision ... according to Law.

HOWEVER ... YOU assembled the PARTS he holds TITLE too.

YOU, are therefore, Entitled, to invoke Your Rights under the Law, to an Express Mechanics Lien upon THE TITLE.

You simply send the guy your NOTICE of invoking this Right within 20-Days.
Attach to the Notarized Letter ... YOUR BILL for ASSEMBLING the Parts to the 1982 Yamaha XJ-Yada-yada!

Since you had perfect attendance, and Graduated with Honors from "The Old School Methods of Motorcycle Repair, Tuning and Restoration" you may set your Hourly Fee for such work at the Highest Rate presently being charged for such services.

You may consult the Industry's Standard Manuals for calculating the TIME Needed to perform the work or just state your actual time spent putting the bike together.

The highest rate I know of is: $96.00 per hour.

Send him your BILL.
Your BILL along with the Notarized Letter makes your Lien "Good"
Under the Law:
He ~~> OWES ~~> YOU ~~> the Total Amount.

If his Lawyer thinks that Assigning Clear Title to YOU in exchange for you
accepting same as "Payment in Full"

Why not?
You're in a Spectacularly Good Mood.

Just be sure they know that the "Blue Book" on the bike is LESS than the amount owed to you!

But, LOOK-OUT ... Your Lien is only "GOOD" if the Bike is in YOUR Possession.

(If this were me. I'd bring it to a Relatives House and Lock it up UNTIL you are the presented "THE Title" Provisional Title won't cut it!

 

lets give the PO the benefit of the doubt too, he could be stand up guy and just be glad to see somebody revived the ole girl and is making some use of it. hopefully.... i say ride proud its your bike legally and morally and even more so since you resurrected a basket case.

 

The problem is:

As PARTS ... the collection comes under the Law of PERSONAL Property and the Abandonment Laws apply.

As soon as it was Assembled and returned to Vehicle Status ... the Law Governing MOTOR VEHICLES is applied.

Therefore: The holder of the TITLE to the MOTOR VEHICLE has Valid Claim to its Ownership.

We all hope that the PO is going to be a nice guy. But, it would be Prudent to prepare for the likelihood that he may not.

 

It's a darned shame that things like this have to be contemplated and made preparation for...just in case. Jealousy and opportunity for something that is not deserving is not enough reason for some people. If I had that bike and and the authorities tried to take it from me on the PO's behalf, I would spend my time taking it apart and filling up box, minus the rust and neglect unfortunately, as I found it! It's only fair to do so...ehh. Crap...stripped a head bolt by accident..OOOps!

 

A little more information. As we were talking at the gas station I Informed him I did my best to find him. With the used vehicle package I attempted to contact the last registered owner, listed in another city. I asked him if he lived in that city, he said no, he lived in a different town. He never registered the ownership in his name within the 7 days which is required by law in Ontario. This means he was not the last registered owner.
I questioned everything with my officer friends and at the vehicle licensing office. There is a lady at the office, who knows me through work, and she made sure I knew what I was getting myself into before I bothered with all of this.

 

Well that casts him as a bit of a slacker doesn't it? He didn't do his part, the boat set sail. I wouldn't cry for him. Change your locks and keep riding.

 

Even though the issue is now mute.

If there was an issue...... not only does he owe you for mechanics fees but he owes for storage fees.

That can be more than he's worth!

 

Unfortunately, there are people in this world who will "Play you."

I been burned a few times; but try not to let it happen all too often.

Somewhere, there's a set of naked Carb bodies that I sent to an XJ-Guy "In good faith." Just to bail him out and get him going if his Butterfly Seals were shot.

I've asked for the Carbs back or the dough. I got nothing!

When a job came-in that needed Butteryfly Seals; I could have used those Carbs and got somebody up and running in a day.
Instead, he told me he was going elsewhere for the parts because he just wanted to get it going without waiting for me to get my parts back.

Be careful.
It sure would be nice to know just exactly what to expect; rather than having something you didn't expect happen and regret it.