How do you guys locate previous owners?

[GS Emu]

Hi,
I looked at a GS today and wondered if the previous owner is a member here, or, if anyone has any knowledge of a 2013 R1200GS with Reg: SH13 BLV ?
The bike itself looks mint, service book looks legit, MOT's look impressive, and has only had one previous owner based in Scotland.
However the bike doesn't have any miscellaneous paperwork or even one invoice - this could be equally good and/or bad.

Along with anyone having any knowledge of this bikes one owner, and or walking away from it themselves, is it OK to ask the current retailer for the contact details on the V5 logbook with a view to asking the ex-owner about the history in person?

Thanks in advance..

NB: I am not familiar with using "forums" so if i've not posted my question in the right way or particular place please give me some advice on that as well

 

[er-minio]

is it OK to ask the current retailer for the contact details on the V5 logbook with a view to asking the ex-owner about the history in person?

I do not think they legally can. In both in England and Scotland.

Also: If I sell or give a bike back to a dealer to be sold, it means I do not want to deal with the process. I wouldn't be happy to be contacted out of the blue about it. But might be me...

 

[ronnie69]

I do not think they legally can. In both in England and Scotland.

Also: If I sell or give a bike back to a dealer to be sold, it means I do not want to deal with the process. I wouldn't be happy to be contacted out of the blue about it. But might be me...

They can if former owner consents, but few dealers would bother asking I suspect.

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[wessie]

You have no right to contact the previous owners. The selling dealer may not even know who the previous owners were and would breach data protection legislation if they did know and passed on the details without consent. The bike has possibly travelled through various dealers or auctions before it got to the current seller.
You are looking at a 13 year old BMW motorcycle, not a million pound Ferrari. If it looks right for the price it looks right. If you have doubts, walk away. There is not a shortage to choose from.

 

[ronnie69]

Another option is u make your details available to former owner via dealer and invite former owner to contact you. Again however, this requires effort from dealer, so prospects low methinks. Some dealers will say this breaches GDPR etc. It doesn't but ...

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[GS Emu]

You have no right to contact the previous owners. The selling dealer may not even know who the previous owners were and would breach data protection legislation if they did know and passed on the details without consent. The bike has possibly travelled through various dealers or auctions before it got to the current seller.
You are looking at a 13 year old BMW motorcycle, not a million pound Ferrari. If it looks right for the price it looks right. If you have doubts, walk away. There is not a shortage to choose from.

..it's Ferrari money to me No need to be so flippantly judgemental of others.

 

[siddo]

Under gdpr regs, they can't provide you details of previous owners.

 

[Kitsilano]

..it's Ferrari money to me No need to be so flippantly judgemental of others.

Fair enough but given the details that you've provided you are now going to have to make a judgement call.

To help, you might consider having a BMW dealership perform an inspection at your cost, or you might consider either negotiating a 30/60 day mechanical warranty with the selling dealership - or taking out a private mechanical insurance.

There does seem to be a balanced reassurance with the information that you have to hand, including general condition of the bike.

None of us like to throw money away (though there are many souls on this forum who have spent far more on any number of bikes, than they intended!).

Good luck with your decision.

Ride safely.

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

I looked at a GS today and wondered if the previous owner is a member here, or, if anyone has any knowledge of a 2013 R1200GS with Reg: SH13 BLV ?
The bike itself looks mint, service book looks legit, MOT's look impressive, and has only had one previous owner based in Scotland.
However the bike doesn't have any miscellaneous paperwork or even one invoice - this could be equally good and/or bad.

Paperwork other than log book, service book and usually the old MOTs get binned by dealers when they sell a vehicle.

You could always ask to see the log book saying you want to check the VIN and engine numbers, the previous owners name should be on there.

 

[Neil W]

It used to be that a raft of paperwork came with bikes which was a good sign , dealers and buyers took it as a selling point that the bike had all the old bills for services, accessories and replacement parts, plus accessories insructions etc.
I always kept every old MOT certificate prior to computerisation which would go with the bike.
With GPDR unless the dealer goes through and redacts all personal information from documentatiion it is far more likely that any paperwork will just be shredded incase of an accidental data protection breach.
On the ktm that I part exchanged last year it had a full file including the original sales documentation , service history ,toolkit, cansmart instruction books ,the lot (all persobal details removed) . The dealer said that as many bikes now have a computerised service record they rarely get anything in the way of documentation with used part ex bikes.
With a BMW the service book is a must as in recent years one BMW franchised dealer cannot view service records online that were carried out in the past by another franchised BMW dealer, brother in law had that with his r1200r that the supplying dealer lost the service book and the second dealer he took it to could not access the work that had been previously carried out.He had to get the supplying dealer to provide a replacement book that was filled in with all work done on the bike.

 

[Yorkshire Twat]

It used to be that a raft of paperwork came with bikes which was a good sign , dealers and buyers took it as a selling point that the bike had all the old bills for services, accessories and replacement parts, plus accessories insructions etc.
I always kept every old MOT certificate prior to computerisation which would go with the bike.
With GPDR unless the dealer goes through and redacts all personal information from documentatiion it is far more likely that any paperwork will just be shredded incase of an accidental data protection breach.
On the ktm that I part exchanged last year it had a full file including the original sales documentation , service history ,toolkit, cansmart instruction books ,the lot (all persobal details removed) . The dealer said that as many bikes now have a computerised service record they rarely get anything in the way of documentation with used part ex bikes.
With a BMW the service book is a must as in recent years one BMW franchised dealer cannot view service records online that were carried out in the past by another franchised BMW dealer, brother in law had that with his r1200r that the supplying dealer lost the service book and the second dealer he took it to could not access the work that had been previously carried out.He had to get the supplying dealer to provide a replacement book that was filled in with all work done on the bike.

Form V888 from DVLA
Specify 'previous keeper ' details as opposed to current

You need to explain your 'reasonable cause' and pay the fee

 

[Neil W]

Form V888 from DVLA
Specify 'previous keeper ' details as opposed to current

You need to explain your 'reasonable cause' and pay the fee

It would only prove reasonable cause if he buys and registers it in his name , otherwise the data request does not fit into any of the 26 requirements for data

 

[squibb34]

With my last purchase, the dealer had intended to remove all reference to the former keeper, but slipped up by forgetting to remove the original Datatag Registered Keeper Certificate (Section A). Only Section B, notification of sale/transfer, should be passed on to the new keeper. A tad careless, but it's probably worth scouring the paperwork if your bike was tagged when first delivered.

Pulling off old MOTs from the DVLA website, something us 'anoraks' usually do habitually, won't really help, but I have found things like business cards left in the service record, as a bookmark as well as mobile phone numbers annotated in the rider's manual.

 

[GS Emu]

Thanks all who've replied.
Il run the reg via the dealership I think it was maintained with in Scotland tomorrow

 

[Guru Gora]

You could always ask the dealers to pass on your No and see if the prev owner would be happy to chat.

No in confidence issues as you have volunteered your info

Good luck