They keep trying it on

[SumpMagnet]

Sometimes, it's a question of having a deep knowledge of a specific model.... and I know I lack the skill to do that...but there are others exploiting the 'SOHC Classic Bandwagon' which get me annoyed. Here is one example.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB750-CB-750-F2-1977-BARN-FIND-Project-ride-or-restore/323175501837?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D57478%26meid%3Daaf2ec4b7c7747e3af88208274ca9827%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D183594260724%26itm%3D323175501837&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

This was up for sale at that money last year when I bought my F2. For less than half that money.

Or this sort of thing:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB750-F2/183594260724?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160727114228%26meid%3D4579ea2f7b2143d2954068c5d37b651d%26pid%3D100290%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D183594260724%26itm%3D183594260724&_trksid=p2060778.c100290.m3507

Where the thing is blatantly a tarted up and overpriced. Mind you...I encountered stock from this very same place, and it was hiding many 'issues' including swingarm bearings so shot the swingarm hit the pillion footrest hangars and had a brand new MOT from....them. ~They send all their stock out to ber valeted...and silicon spray everything to make it look shiny. They also offered a full 12 month warranty on the engine and gearbox...which excluded all moving parts. Cams, crank, pistons, bores, camchain, clutch, gears, selectors....valves, guides, springs, bearings. Apparantly it WOULD cover the crankcases for faults excluding accident damage. But not a cracked barrel casting or damaged liners.

[royhall]

The 750F2 mentioned by SumpMagnet is from Rick Proops at RAP Superbikes in London. That guy is a total con man STAY AWAY FROM HIM.

My mate bought a GS750 from him that was on eBay offering a full MOT. He took a £500 deposit and delivered it. Had I been there when it was delivered it would have been sent straight back but he accepted it and paid the £4000 balance. I would have valued the bike at around the 2 to 2.5k mark at the very most.

The bike was close to scrap and no way an MOT worthy bike. We had it MOT'd again locally the next morning and it failed on 14 items with some being major, the thing didn't even run correctly. He complained to VOSA about the dodgy MOT and as you can expect absolutely nothing was done about it. He had paid 4.5k for it thinking it's got a full MOT and from a dealer he can't go wrong.

After months of back and forth with the guy I convinced him to go to the small claims court. As soon as the court papers landed in London he was on the phone offering to pick it up and bring a cash refund plus whatever costs he had incurred. This was accepted and all was good again and put down to a bad experience. One week later the same bike showed up on his website for sale offering a full MOT again. We could clearly see from the photo's that the repair work had not been done. CON MAN ALERT.

[Davelu88]

Ive become quite disillusioned with the whole classic bike thing , lots of people trying to make lots of money from someone elses passion , im seroiusly considering selling my 400 & 550  very likely at a loss and buying a modern Jap bike . Rant Over

[royhall]

That's what happened to my mate with the GS750. He looked at my classics and fancied a go. After the Rick Proops fiasco he bought a brand new Triumph Street Triple. Tells everyone now that the classic scene is full of con men, and he is correct.

[Davelu88]

Agree Roy , bikes are a passsion of mine but i think it may have to be in a modern one.

[Nurse Julie]

Ive become quite disillusioned with the whole classic bike thing , lots of people trying to make lots of money from someone elses passion , im seroiusly considering selling my 400 & 550  very likely at a loss and buying a modern Jap bike . Rant Over

That would be a great shame Dave.

[Rob62]

There are con men in all areas of life, including the banks, the politicians, the police, the media....(all the institutions that you thought you could rely on when you were a kid growing up) not just on ebay, thats life. don't let them spoil your pleasure, use your intelligence and experience to steer clear of them where possible. Ignore them, don't let them put you off.

[K2-K6]

Yep as above,  we've a family policy of ignoring the crap,  cut out the noise that's in everything nowadays, making sure you plan to do what you want to do and getting stuck into things that interest you.  There doesn't have to be reason to it,  just enjoying it is fine, plain and simple.

One of the things I do with trying to guide my kids is ask the question at the end of a day "what's your favourite thing you've done today?" just makes you think toward the positive.

I really like seeing old bikes and cars out any about too,  always interesting to find out from owners about them.

[SumpMagnet]

Publicity is the best defence against the likes of (c)RAP Superbikes and their ilk.

If people check places like this, ask for advice, and follow common sense....these things can be avoided. But...lets be honest...any vehicle, not just a classic one, can be a hound.

I bought an MT03 a few years back. In excellent order with only 3000miles on the clock. It was hideous. The bike was Japanese, but assembled in Italy. All the electrics were 'Magnetti Marelli' and the wiring was made of spaghetti. The connector blocks were carefully sited where they could collect the muck and corrode, the tail bulb blew for a past-time from vibration...but you couldn't remove the glass...the bulb had to go in from the back...after you dismantle half of hte brackets at teh back. It also held it steady using teh number plate bolts....yeah...the plastic ones...
In the 3 years I had it, I had to rewire all the rear of the bike, moving connectors to where they were safe from crud, replace the tail light assembly and remake all the brackets. It also hid the battery under the tank....oh...and it blew the reg/rec and cooked two batteries. The exhaust ran under the seat....but was mild steel...so rotted.

It was in as-new condition when I got it, and the dealer had serviced it properly before I picked it up. All really good. Just a rubbish bike poorly made.

This is why I have bought a project to build from the ground up. Then I know exactly what state it's in, what is new, what quality of parts have been fitted, and no concerns over what brain dead ape attacked it with mole-grips and a lump hammer. Coz it was me!

But threads like this highlight the shysters, the chancers, and the money men trying to exploit the classic bike scene with poorly advertised and misleading descriptions.

[Mr_Sheene]

Don't stop doing what you enjoy because of parasites. They're part of life. Be suspicious and careful, do your research and most of all never believe that this is the chance of a lifetime. If there's one now, there'll be more in the future.  I do all of this and still get caught out because whatever you do it involves other people and some of them are greedy and amoral. I got well and truly had over on my CB750 but Julie and Trigger saved the engine and parts and advice from a very tolerant Jamesh_Sussex have enabled me to head in the correct direction. That's the other side of the coin.