grounded engine numbers legallity?

[Carbon_ZX6R]

a friend of mine recently bought a cheap bike hpi clear everything now has the log book etc but has noticed the engine numbers have been grounded off (properly this is literally nothing) shes worried that she may end up losing the bike anyone know of this although I can realistically only think of one reason someone would grind it off , there is no way it could be identified so am I right in assuming it has to be proved its stolen , not that its not  stolen? if that makes sense

[Tiiimmmaaayyyy]

Doesn't the HPI check ask for the engine/frame numbers?

[Carbon_ZX6R]

Doesn't the HPI check ask for the engine/frame numbers?

if it does she may have got it off the log book

I thought it just used the reg number , and gave you the vin and engine etc to see if they match?

[Tiiimmmaaayyyy]

In the old days I always used to check the paperwork to the bike 

[Carbon_ZX6R]

In the old days I always used to check the paperwork to the bike 

it does make sense but some people I guess get excited in heat of the moment ive told her not to panic as its not the vin which has been removed but any info would be appreciated all ive found online is opinions really...

[Gilby104]

In the old days I always used to check the paperwork to the bike 

Surely unless you have checked the paperwork to the bike then all you have done is demonstrated that somewhere there is a bike with that number plate that is HPI clear.

It sounds like you've either got a numberplate on the bike that doesn't belong (if the real one exists then it'll be a fairly easy thing to prove). If you've got the right bike but someone has rebuilt it using dodgy (whether stolen or just mismatching) parts then I don't know. I can't imagine anyone will be looking for those parts.... or certainly not looking for them in your friends bike?

[Carbon_ZX6R]

In the old days I always used to check the paperwork to the bike 

Surely unless you have checked the paperwork to the bike then all you have done is demonstrated that somewhere there is a bike with that number plate that is HPI clear.

It sounds like you've either got a numberplate on the bike that doesn't belong (if the real one exists then it'll be a fairly easy thing to prove). If you've got the right bike but someone has rebuilt it using dodgy (whether stolen or just mismatching) parts then I don't know. I can't imagine anyone will be looking for those parts.... or certainly not looking for them in your friends bike?

vin matchs up with the number plate what I personally think is someone changed the clocks and engine as millage dosent match up with previous mot's

[Tiiimmmaaayyyy]

In this case though Gilby the buyer would have noticed the lack of any engine number and walked away. Match the docs to the bike (VIN, Chassis, reg) and then do the HPI check if all ok.

[Carbon_ZX6R]

In this case though Gilby the buyer would have noticed the lack of any engine number and walked away. Match the docs to the bike (VIN, Chassis, reg) and then do the HPI check if all ok.

if im honest ive bought a fair few bikes over the years and not always checked for engine numbers (always look for vin though)

is it possible to get it restamped?

[Gilby104]

In this case though Gilby the buyer would have noticed the lack of any engine number and walked away. Match the docs to the bike (VIN, Chassis, reg) and then do the HPI check if all ok.

Sorry, that's what I meant - the HPI only tells you what's on the system - not what's happened to that bike.

[PJ]

In this case though Gilby the buyer would have noticed the lack of any engine number and walked away. Match the docs to the bike (VIN, Chassis, reg) and then do the HPI check if all ok.

is it possible to get it restamped?

Physically possible? Or legally possible?

I'd argue nowhere would stamp an engine number for you without being able to verify the number they were stamping was the right one..... And therein lies the crux of this.

[Carbon_ZX6R]

In this case though Gilby the buyer would have noticed the lack of any engine number and walked away. Match the docs to the bike (VIN, Chassis, reg) and then do the HPI check if all ok.

is it possible to get it restamped?

Physically possible? Or legally possible?

I'd argue nowhere would stamp an engine number for you without being able to verify the number they were stamping was the right one..... And therein lies the crux of this.

if im honest she wants it to look legal nudge nudge, as shes worried about losing the bike as she cant prove the engines not stolen

[PJ]

Restamping an engine block is harder to do than a VIN plate and personally I'd be concerned that any attempt to stamp it could look fake and then she opens herself up to a whole world of shit if someone does come knocking.

If it were me I'd either get shot of it ASAP, or enquire about the engine number and if nothing came up I'd just ride the damn thing. Either way it sounds like the price was too good to be true and now she's worried it might get taken away.

Ultimately if the VIN plate is genuine and matches the V5 she has a frame that's legally hers but everything bolted to it could be of questionable origin. Trying to make it look legit is just gonna bite her on the arse if she's not careful. I guess they'd have to prove it was made up of stolen bits, but more to the point, if it is, who put it together and does she trust it wasn't some mucky Albanian in a shed somewhere who has fuck all knowledge of mechanics.

The thing could be one ride away from falling apart of blowing up.

[Carbon_ZX6R]

Restamping an engine block is harder to do than a VIN plate and personally I'd be concerned that any attempt to stamp it could look fake and then she opens herself up to a whole world of shit if someone does come knocking.

If it were me I'd either get shot of it ASAP, or enquire about the engine number and if nothing came up I'd just ride the damn thing. Either way it sounds like the price was too good to be true and now she's worried it might get taken away.

Ultimately if the VIN plate is genuine and matches the V5 she has a frame that's legally hers but everything bolted to it could be of questionable origin. Trying to make it look legit is just gonna bite her on the arse if she's not careful. I guess they'd have to prove it was made up of stolen bits, but more to the point, if it is, who put it together and does she trust it wasn't some mucky Albanian in a shed somewhere who has fuck all knowledge of mechanics.

The thing could be one ride away from falling apart of blowing up.

its being thoroughly taken to bits at the moment to make sure its all safe etc what I was thinking was possibly engraving a small plate etc and putting that on the number she has is fine but there is no way to tell if that's the engine in there (my guess it isn't)

[PJ]

I wouldn't bother, I don't see how it realistically gains her anything. If noone ever looks then all is fine. But if they do (and you assume if they were looking for an engine number they would know what to look for) then they will know the engraving is fake and probably accuse her of tampering.

If it's the next buyer who looks for it then they may think it's legit, buy it and then could fall foul later on.