Motorcycle Engine & Frames Being Re-stamped
Due to an increase of motorcycles with engine and frame numbers re-stamped being “purchased unwittingly by members of the public,” the police offered advice about purchasing second hand motorcycles.
A police spokesperson said, “The public are advised that the Bermuda Police Service has noticed an increase of motorcycles being seized that have had engine and frame numbers re-stamped. These re-stamped motorcycles are being purchased unwittingly by members of the public.
“There is no reason for any person to remove a factory serial number printed on the frame and engine from a motorcycle and replace it with a re-stamped number, other than to change the identity of the motorcycle usually as a result of it being stolen.
“Members of the public purchasing a second-hand motorcycle are offered the following advice to protect themselves:
- Verify the identity of the person selling the motorcycle – inspect identification and retain a record of the seller’s identification [name, address and d.o.b.]
- Inspect the frame and engine numbers against the TCD issued vehicle registration document. The numbers and letters imprinted on the motorcycle frame and engine should be the same as that recorded by TCD and on the registration document.
- Inspect the frame and engine number to ensure they are the factory stamp – the numbers and letters will appear in perfect alignment, will be evenly spaced and the impression left in the stamping will be the same depth throughout.”
Not allowed to fish, peddling made more difficult, government assistance declining, taxes increasing, government and political attacks on creativity – you produce a society of thieves.
Stick around!
“When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw” — Nelson Mandela
“If” that’s a true quote of the late Mr. Nelson Mandela then this is one of the first times I find myself disagreeing with his statements; unless of course it’s only a portion of a point he was making…The prisons are full of people that chose to live a life they believed in.
Depends how you look at it, revolutions & whole nations have been born on that same mind set including the U.S of A.
Note” “…unless of course it’s only a portion of a point he was making.”
An some destroyed
Some frames and engines do get restamped locally for legitimate reasons. If you are replacing the frame or engine with a new one, new numbers need to be done. Some owners who have legitimately purchased secondhand bikes and don’t want to fuss with transferring engine numbers probably go with restamping also.
Yeahh, thanks for the insight..and the other 99.5% of bikes with restamped frames ARE STOLEN..
Jim who actually knows that? Sure there are illegal activities, but lets not assume all restamped engines are stolen.
I’ve seen many engines and odd frame stamped all legitimate. In fact bet if you go to any of the main cycle shops they have stamping tool in their chests. They won’t stamp as well as the factory and I’ve seen this with a new frame replacement.
Myself I have several new engines and many casings with no numbers as they often come from the factory. I just got a brand new engine the other day, again no numbers.
I remember when I used to restore old bikes, TCD used to give me hassle for having different engine & frame numbers so it was easier to just have the numbers stamped (legally) to match.
@San George…so, when times are tough, the best option is to steal or turn to crime? I don’t think so, buddy. That’s a bad option, and certainly not any kind of justification.
It is a good thing the police still have a vehicle crime department to deal with those types of crimes and bike thieves.
Why not have the individuals, (seller and buyer)go to T.C.D. and have T.C.D. inspect the numbers and compare the numbers to the records and then separate the chaff from the seed? This way people wouldn’t be sold stolen bikes and others just may get theirs back…