Help - BMW F800GS - looking to track down previous owner

[nicholsonj2252]

Wanted Thread 'Help - BMW F800GS'

Oct 6, 2025

I've just bought this BMW F800GS and I'm trying to track down the original owner and I'm hoping it may have been someone on here or someone on here may know the original owner and pass on my details if they are OK to be contacted

It's a one owner bike bought from John Clarke in Tayside on a 2015 plate , registration is SP65 XXF

The keys have a tag on them with a name of Croft

Fingers crossed .....

• nicholsonj2252
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Items Wanted

 

[steve hughes]

Is that a Factory Low Chassis John or are the tie downs just compressing the rear shock?

 

[nicholsonj2252]

Is that a Factory Low Chassis John or are the tie downs just compressing the rear shock?

Tie downs compressed the suspension and the angle the photo was taken on make it look even lower

 

[nicholsonj2252]

A quick safety check and once over before taking it out for the first time later today - really pleased with it ;-)

 

[steve hughes]

By this evening it will have had all fluids changed, valves checked , chain adjusted and new plugs. Enjoy your new to you bike.

 

[nicholsonj2252]

When I plugged the GS-911 in it said it had been serviced in May 2025 , this was further confirmed when I removed the air filter and it had a date wrote on it of May 2025

Changed the engine oil & filter and it needs a new chain and sprockets which I have ordered

The handlebars were out of square as someone had tried to force the steering lock . Removed the top yoke , handlebars and handle bar mounts , slackened the fork pinch bolts and re-assembled and all back in line now

Battery was dead and was the original 2015 one so I have replaced that

I also replaced the fuel filter and checked the inside of the tank was clean

Hopefully just ride it now

 

[nicholsonj2252]

Still hoping I can track down the original owner , anyone on Facebook as I am not and can they post on a local Dundee bikers group to see if the owner is on there ?

 

[Barnoe]

Why do you want to find the previous owner?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Why do you want to find the previous owner?

Something precious under the seat probably

 

[nicholsonj2252]

Why do you want to find the previous owner?

I’m hoping they have the service records


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[nicholsonj2252]

Something precious under the seat probably

Gold sovereigns under the seat for emergency purposes ;-)

 

[Barnoe]

I’m hoping they have the service records


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Obvious question lol
Have you checked John Clark BMW Motorrad Tayside, it may have gone there.... although going off what you say above it sounds like 2015 filters etc.
so may have never been serviced!

 

[nicholsonj2252]

Obvious question lol
Have you checked John Clark BMW Motorrad Tayside, it may have gone there.... although going off what you say above it sounds like 2015 filters etc.
so may have never been serviced!

Sorry 2015 was a typo , it should have been 2025 - now corrected . John Clarke won't share any details :-(

 

[Barnoe]

Sorry 2015 was a typo , it should have been 2025 - now corrected . John Clarke won't share any details :-(

I went to BMW and had my bike services for year and never took my book to be stamped.
One year I went and took the book, they stamped the previous 4 years after checking the computer.
They could see I had it done there.

Wonder if that's something they would do?

Otherwise its a ride to the address on the V5 to introduce yourself

 

[MrC99]

John Clarke wont share any details :-(

Of the previous owner(s) I'd hope not. However I believe as @Barnoe does (& open to being corrected here) that if serviced at a BMW dealer then a bike's service history is held centrally at BMW and available to the dealer network.

 

[SteveT]

Just a note re Barnoes suggestion - they no longer put previous owners address on the V5.

Surely the dealer could scibble down the details of any service history, like date, mileage etc to give you some sort of history?

 

[Neil W]

Brother in law bought a r1200r from same dealer, they lost the service book which is a pia because according to Motorrad Central they can only access service record details if they carried them out and not work carried out by other franchised dealers

 

[nicholsonj2252]

Brother in law bought a r1200r from same dealer, they lost the service book which is a pia because according to Motorrad Central they can only access service record details if they carried them out and not work carried out by other franchised dealers

Correct BMW Motorrad dealers can only see the service history for bikes serviced by them and not by other dealers


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[Neil W]

Correct BMW Motorrad dealers can only see the service history for bikes serviced by them and not by other dealers


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They were telling me that it was not like that in the past but BMW UK say it is due to same rules as previous owners details not being available , there should , however, be no valid reason why Clarks should not tell you who the original supplying dealer was and then you could work from there . To be honest the VRM itself will tell you in which area it was originally registered and then there is never normally more than one or two dealers that will use that particular DVLA office/ registration prefixes to register their bikes

Vehicle registration plates of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[nicholsonj2252]

They were telling me that it was not like that in the past but BMW UK say it is due to same rules as previous owners details not being available , there should , however, be no valid reason why Clarks should not tell you who the original supplying dealer was and then you could work from there . To be honest the VRM itself will tell you in which area it was originally registered and then there is never normally more than one or two dealers that will use that particular DVLA office/ registration prefixes to register their bikes

Vehicle registration plates of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It was first registered by John Clark in Dundee but they will not give out any info