1977 550 K3 Tale of woe.

[chrisr58]

If you would care to log on to www.carpe-tdm.net as a guest you will be able to read my epic saga
concerning my 550 and it’s “restoration” Hopefully it will save anyone else making my mistake. It is in the Hyde Park Inn section

[K2-K6]

I read through it via the link,  that certainly leaves a nasty taste!

Just the safety aspect and mot of it in that condition bring up serious questions as to what was going on there. Sounds like he was obviously struggling on a personal level,  but that has nothing to do you and how a bike in that condition was delivered.  If he'd been honest and said he was unable to fulfill the contract, you could have then gone from there.

At least you've a route to getting it competently assessed and worked on now.

[pistonbroke 66]

What a story! I admire your patience chris.

[Bryanj]

Wont let me log in as guest and dont want to open account just to look at pictures.
From read the man is an A hole of the first water, anybody can make a mistake but not that many and to lie about brakes is a criminal act to me, too late to got to vosa about test faults but worth a letter to put them on guard as it were

[Johnny4428]

That’s a shit situation to end up in, but glad you are getting sorted now. Lie and deny. A terrible trait.
Is incompetence curable.😡

[chrisr58]

Hello again, it’s been a while, so the bike is now almost back to what it should have been when returned to me by Aspire. Only problem is my man can’t get the carbs right and no matter what he does no 2 will not play fair. Can anyone tell me what are the best carbs to look for for this bike, we understand the PDs are inherently unreliable.

[Sesman]

Unconscious incompetence is not curable.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I can't find the article have you a link to the page in question?

[matthewmosse]

Ted, articles on page 7 of that section of the forum.
Damn, sounds like the restorer was a bit of a cowboy to put it mildly. I'm afraid motorbike mechanics that are good can be hard to find, its basically why I do most bike repairs DIY these days, local big dealership were equally inept and unhelpful, I decided I could do incompetence at home far cheaper. Thing is I actually found I often did a better job than some pros, though I wouldn't advertise myself as a mechanic. It's not that I am very good, rather that some of the pro work I have had done was bloody awful and dangerous. A tyre with no rim tape on a cb550/4- spoked wheels, and a inner tube valve secured with gasket goo and 2 half nuts on dads bmw r80 mono stand out as prime examples of our main dealership 'service's.
There are some incredibly good mechanics out there too, it's just finding them. Sadly the one I found locally had to close after 3 breakins in as many years put his insurance through the roof, happened to two local independent dealers in town. Main dealership seems immune from these depredations. The thieves were pretty determined too, cut through brick walls and lifted roofs off to nick a few crosses. That is a tale for another time.
Hope the mk3 gets sorted, I loved mine, sorted those mk3 carbs deliver great fuel economy, they are a bit of a pain once neglected though.

[Sesman]

This bloke?

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18879227.motorbike-enthusiast-fleeced-sick-elderly-relative-150-000-oxford-con/

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Thanks for the link I think it could have been a lot worse i.e. the bike was lost never to return - as can happen in such cases.

Gut wrenching reading.

[AshimotoK0]

This bloke?

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18879227.motorbike-enthusiast-fleeced-sick-elderly-relative-150-000-oxford-con/

Wow if it is then he is seriously in the sh*t. A jailbird in fact

That 'restorer' gave a restoration lecture at Stafford Show a few years back. Told me he powder coats frames and then paints them on top of PC. Sounded a bit weird to me at the time

[Sesman]

Definitely the same bloke who appeared with Henry Cole on the motorbike Show. Sounds like a right character.

[chrisr58]

He only showed remorse cos he got caught, oh well that’s my small claims case up the Swanee!
I’m sure plenty haven’t got their bikes back so could be worse. “Motorcycle enthusiast” So not a classic bike restoration expert then? I blame Henry Cole!

[SumpMagnet]

he showed remorse because his solicitor told him he would get a lighter sentance if he did.

I wonder if the august Mr Cole would like to do a follow up piece on his 'recommended restorer'. But I suppose, he could at least make use of his jail time by applying for a mechanics course while he's inside!

Feel sorry for the folks whose unfinished work he has left behind. Why isn;t the bike finished? er...I was doing 4 years for theft and deception......