Buying Motorcycles from Police Auctions

[@jamesonpace726]

Don't fear non-ABS, we stopped just fine without it for the 1st 80 years or so....

[@ggj666]

never owned a bike with ABS, from 50cc to zzr1100cc , even my 2007 van does not have ABS

[@johna6968]

Never rely on electronics

[@kalaharimine]

Exactly, had to learn to ride the edge in rain. We also didn't need traction control, cruise control, quickshifters and rider modes.

[@aidencoder]

The survivors always say that 😂

[@andycapp3867]

@@aidencoder. And the others are with those that relied on electronic gadgetry that failed to save them! When you’ve lifted a lifeless body in a leather baby grow from the hedge bottom or collected guillotined body parts from either side of a “safety” barrier, the tears from an emoji quickly evaporate. All the electronic wizardry on a motorcycle will not save you from your own stupidity. But of course….loud pipes save lives too!

[@Benne_Lavie]

As a rider (34y) from Germany, I'll have to disagree with the assumption that classic BMWs may hark back to those dark days. The reason why you don't see many of the old bikes on the street anymore here is that people don't dare to ride them and rather store them in their collections or garages so they don't get dirty or experience a decrease in value. Me excluded - I'd go anywhere with my newly acquired R80 G/S HPN ;-)

[@tuesdayatdobbs]

Very interesting, thank you for sharing this🙌🏻

[@mrcintheuk4641]

I agree. I thought the comment was a very poor stereotypical British assumption.

[@jabjab1010]

Freddie, I rode carbed bikes for over 20 years, crossed the country on them, raced a bit with them. . .I NEVER had to adjust the carbs. EVER. If you ride them, and don’t let the fuel become varnish, you should almost never have to work on carbs. Buying a used bike that hasn’t been used? OK, I get it. .but I bought all of my bikes used and sitting, and still never had to touch them (besides “carb sync”, which almost any mechanic can still handle). I once had a very serious snow moibile that I hated as it never ran well. A buddy cleaned the carb in about 30 minutes (20 minutes having needles soaking in carb cleaner), put it back together and she ran like she was brand new. Cost? A six pack.

[@woooster17]

Interesting topics of debate 👍🏼 As an ex UK police officer, I can confirm that speed and speeding is absolutely a targeted thing (in some areas and circumstances).. and in many cases, it’s hard not to argue that it’s not a way to generate revenue… The proliferation of cameras in the UK now is extraordinary.. Fixed speed cameras, average speed cameras, mobile van speed cameras, mobile hand held speed cameras, also, congestion zone cameras, ULEZ cameras, and even sound cameras.. And if that lot doesn’t get you, you’re always being watched by CCTV cameras! As for bike prices and classic bikes.. there has definitely been a slow down on classic bike sales and 2nd hand bike sales. You see the same bike listings week in, week out - not selling. I have a collection of 7 1990’s/early 00’s Sportbikes.. & their values have moved a little as other bikes are not selling. Things never stay the same though, markets increase, markets fall.. If you don’t have finance or put your entire life savings into a bike(s), don’t panic.. Just monitor the sales market. I am happy with my choice of bikes so I’m not desperate to sell (other then my Fireblade) Just my 2p worth 😄👍🏼

[@cbrider726]

I have bought so many ex police Pan Europeans . With this particular bike you have to be very carful . You have to remember that these bikes are well maintained but are power washed at the end of a shift and left to dry. Corrosion was a big problem with the Pan. Now i don't know about the BMW bikes . The other issues with Police bikes is that if they attend an RTA they could be left running for quite a long time so heavily rely on fan cooling . The log book when issued for one bike that i purchased was showing over 16 different owners. Now that means that the bike has been moved around between forces. The other issue is def mileages . Some bikes and cars have been purchased very cheaply by private owners and they change the speedo to take away recorded mileages and remove the milage . One car showed 90,000 kilometres when in fact it had covered over 300,000 kilometres and showed 19 previous owners. . So a HPI is essential buyer beware don't take it for granted that all's good just because its ex police or military . The other thing is that some one at the police workshops have to decided which of the bikes are to be sold. They are subject to a system called asset depreciation IE how much is it going to cost to keep this vehicle on the road in good condition . So again buyer beware. To be fare i have only ever had a couple of issues with ex police bikes . So again HPI everything . £20 could save you a major heart ache . Not to mention a loss of cash .

[@steve5772]

The civilian stuff at Synetiq comes from the Met (London) Police, so has generally used as a pizza bike, stolen, ragged, dumped, recovered. Expect broken steering locks, front ends out of line, butchered clocks and/or wiring. There can be a vast difference between being assessed as "Starts" and "Runs nicely". Generally it won't be just a flat battery because the recovery companies disconnect them at pickup. I do buy from there, and I have a way of making a profit on them, but do assume the very worst. I've just rebuilt a 125 from there because it was a make, model, spec and colour that I happened to want. The bottom line of it was, when I'd finished repairing it using genuine parts, it was no cheaper than going out and buying a second hand one from a dealer. I have bought an ex-police BMW as a winter hack, it has been well serviced - but - it needed a few days to get it safe and legal, it's never going to be a pretty bike. They do just dump them on the ground when they need to get off and grab hold of someone. They do idle as many hours as they get ridden. Marked police bikes aren't standard. They have crashbars, single seats, big ugly panniers and top boxes.

[@andrewiansummers]

Thanks Freddie. Great video as always. I owned the Goldwing’s little brother, the Silverwing GL500 for a few years. I removed all the plastic and made it naked. Beautiful bike in Honda maroon. You could ride it all day and never get saddle sore. The chap who bought it off me has restored it and it looks fantastic. Have a great week. Andy

[@Paul-67]

Very good Freddie. Another excellent video. As a warning to anyone who might consider buying from a police or contracted to police auction, be aware that there maybe damage that is not stated in their description. They only give a basic description of bikes and by my own experience it can be costly to repair. The buyers fees are quite high and transportation costs too. My opinion is that bikers should steer clear of salvage auctions. There are better ways to get the right bike.

[@mikeyp1977]

Just thought I would let you know. I brought the yzf1000r and with the winning bid of £380 my final price was £470 to the auction. Another £30 delivery and £100 for replacement lock set. The bike was as described. Mainly cosmetic damage. Starts and rides fine but I will be going through it over Christmas before putting it through another mot. Granted if you do t have the skills or confidence to work on a vehicle from auction. Keep to the dealers

[@jobucklandbuckland8031]

hi , The Bonnevulle a real one ceased when Meriden closed in the 89s Les Harris built Bonnys under licence , Hinckley Bonnevilles started being built sorry made in England and the early ones had a sticker on the frame stating Made in Britain , this then changed to Build in Britain where they were assembled here but not made there was a backlash from Triumph customers when they started building them in Thailand and shipping them in , they also had casting problems especially pirous cylinder heads , so the modern Bonny is a Bonny in name but other than being a twin the Bonnt has lost its simplicity and speed which the original Bonnecilles were renowned for

[@cbrider726]

BTW i was a bike dealer . Thanks . Its easy to see if the bike is ex police because it will have an RS calibrated speedo .

[@SherKhan-b1kes]

I as an expat have lived and ridden in Germany since the mid 80’s. Not riding old air-head BMW’s has zero to do concerning so-called dark-days. They’re usually on a pedestal in someone’s living room or a museum. I and a few others having owned them find these bikes thirstier than a sailor that hasn’t seen land for 6months, which is in our view the reason why they were given huge petrol tanks so that those things could have an acceptable range.

[@chrisaris8756]

Me again. You are so right about the skills to work on older bikes not being around. Last year I decided to return to bikes after a lot of years. In a fit of nostalgia I bought a GS850G Suzuki, 1985 4000 miles from new and absolutely immaculate cost just under £5k. The carbs had all been cleaned apparently and it started on the button. Got it 1.5 miles down the road and it stopped and I just managed to limp it back on two cylinders. Contacted local bike shop and they flatly refused to touch it. Just said it was too much trouble. Finally a guy I know who runs the other shop in town agreed to pick it up. That was in May. By the end of July it was still in his shop untouched and by now it was looking really sad with leaky form seals as well as the other problems. I lost heart and ended up selling it to him for his “collection “ for £2k. Is that the most expensive 1.5 miles anyone has ever done??

[@TringmotionCoUk]

As a general rule, no V5 means that it has a category recorded. Be careful of auction fees. Elective purchases are through the floor, which is why prices are dropping - supply side economics. I do have a second channel with a vlog on salvage bikes if interested

[@davegriffiths6419]

I think the reference to not “real” bonnevilles is probably targeted at any bikes not made at Meriden. Not bothered myself. I have a Meriden made Triumph but have no issues with those made by the Hinckley based Triumph, although they could be a bit cheaper 😂. If it’s got 2 wheels and an engine, that’ll do! 👍🏼

[@andychurches7280]

I think the bonnevilles that the guys at the bike club are referring to are the old generation of Triumphs i.e. the originals built at Meriden or Coventry. The old ohv models, not the John Bloor era ones.

[@gzk6nk]

That's true, as I say above. Modern Triumphs are great bikes but they have zero DNA from the original Triumph company.

[@tonymaloan]

In 1963 the newish unit construction model 650cc Bonneville had 48hp and was in the Guiness book of records as the fastest production motorcycle @ 118 mph.

[@leewatkeys9065]

As mentioned previously a Bonneville is a Bonneville. The mindset of those ‘it’s not a real Bonneville’ types are one of the reasons I don’t join clubs. Good work as ever Freddie 👍🏻

[@CavalierNTX]

The real question might be, to what extent 'authenticity' is truly over rated. Everyone likes their doctors and scientists to be authentic after all rather than someone trying their luck.

[@G58]

@@CavalierNTX What, like those peddling the ‘safe and effective’ chemistry experiments and ‘THE Science’? There are facts and there are myths, lies, fakes, tributes and copies. The last REAL Triumph was made at Meriden in 1983. Hinkley Triumph has no connections whatsoever with the historical Triumph. Hinkley is a new company using the Triumph trading name only. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@jakespeed6515]

Yes, in 100 years time who is gonna care if it was a “Real” one

[@russelllamb9682]

I think what people are referring to is the original Bonnies, the ones with the gear change on the other side!

[@CavalierNTX]

@@jakespeed6515 Most don't care now, and even Russia got fed up with socialism after about 70 years but not before killing ALL their Royals.

[@Robert-o5q5b]

All is not what it seems. The last few seconds of an auction are so crucial, bikes can quadruple in price. Auctions are online. Membership fees £60 pa. The auction doesnt end like ebay where 20 people may pile in during the last 5 seconds. Synetiq auction extends, this pushes up the price. Then there are the auction fees. Expect to add a third on to the auction price to be able roll it out the gate. Then add the transportation costs. Quote from synetiq to deliver bristol to wolverhampton £392. Delivery 2 weeks. Remember bikes are usually in an auction because they are insurance write-off's. Expect them not to run, to require serious money in parts. You have 4 days to collect your purchase. After this £18 per day storage. Although the auction is closed on weekends, weekend day's count as days for storage fees. Buy on a Monday not a Friday or bank holiday, where the site will be shut. Finally you have an accident on a bike you have repaired and made to look like new. You will only be offered less than half its value by your insurance because it has been written off. The police stuff has odd fairings, can Look ugly with panniers and white paint with holes all over them. Tend to have 80 thousand miles. If you are going to keep it forever don't care what it looks like and want a cheap scoot then OK. God knows where you might find police panniers if you break them. People like synetiq make vast sums of money out of you. They screw you in many different ways and you cannot take back what you have bought. If you inspect it and refuse to collect. £18 per day storage. Auction re-entry fee, seller fee, yard fee etc, etc ,etc. They are there to screw you. You ignore them, don't collect, storage accrues. Civil court proceedings ensue. You could be left owing thousands dealing with bailiffs. Generally staff at synetiq yards are very nice helpful people, will locate your stuff and usually give you a hand moving it. One other thing. Pictures are worth a thousand words right? Wrong. Don't expect the bike you buy to look like it's pictures. Generally there is far more damage that the pictures do not show. I have been burned a few times. I have an HNC in engineering and I am far more competent than the average motorcycle mechanic and have 55 years experience as an engineer.

[@wiseguyrob2005]

New rider here Freddie. Put on my new Hood jeans today ready to test ride some Triumphs and who do I see on the label. Some handsome chap lol. Great work keep it up

[@kevindarkstar]

That old goldwing has huge brick style rear lights, those things are massive 😊

[@14biscuits]

You might find certain auction houses might do one day a month or one day a quarter where seized vehicles/ex fleet vehicles are auctioned. I certainly think that was the case up in the west of Scotland once upon a time.

[@tuesdayatdobbs]

Thanks for this👌🏻👌🏻

[@sussexbikerpillion]

I had a lovely looking classic r60/7 airhead BMW the buyer was a German who also paid for a courier to ship from Sussex to Berlin. So there must be some love still!

[@jamieproctor7109]

As someone who has only some basic mechanical knowledge I'm surprised you say you don't want a curburetted bike for maintenance, because I rebuilt the carb on a Honda cb250 that I am fixing up and they are very simple and straightforward to work on. Cleaning and possibly putting in new jets fixed most issues and for most bikes there are service kits to replace parts that degrade(floats, rubber gaskets etc.) Balancing carbs can be tricky but it just takes a bit of practice.

[@allanhughes7859]

Problem with any auction is its the last few minutes/seconds that count so dont be fooled by one day or 18 hours or even 7 hours left !! etc etc etc !!

[@flexywing]

Freddie having watched ebay auctions for long time, with a day left in an auction means nothing to the price, i ve seen a price double in the last 5 minutes

[@andrewpaton8819]

Freddie I use to trade in insurance categorised bikes purchased from Raw 2k & other sites. They can generally be returned to the road much cheaper with second hand parts. The trouble is it is cheaper for insurance companies to write bikes or cars off rather than repair them. As they have to repair with original new parts through affiliated dealers. Which is generally not cost effective for them. There are many great bargains to be had. But bikers generally have a bad image imagining a write off means a wreck. As you’ve found yourself with your Bonneville a categorised bike doesn’t mean it’s not a good safe bike when repaired. They can be a bit more difficult to sell for that reason. But they can be a great source for a bargain for someone on a budget.

[@mrcintheuk4641]

The last of the true/old Bonneville's ended on the 23rd August 1983. Anything after the first day of the Colone show in September 1990 are New Triumph. Simples! 😁

[@biker_dale]

had a look at that auction site some real deals for the person who enjoys doing bikes up to sell, most don;t need doing much to them either. Some great insights tonight, thanks.

[@flexywing]

Ok Freddie, carbs dont always need to be worked on. Very simple thing to do as long as the bike has peacock, sorry a fuel tap, if the bike is going to be stood for a while, turn off the petrol, keep running the bike til carbs empty, then turn over the motor a few times with throttle fully open, then if you want drain the tank, years later fill up fresh petol turn on petrol and the bike will run

[@MaaZeus]

This. Empty the carb bowls or at least run them dry before leaving them for a long period like winter storage. The gunk ethanol fuel leaves behind when evaporated is a recipe for glogged jets. Personally I do not drain the tank. I fill it up to the brim so there is barely any room for oxygen to do its nasty work and rust the tank. The fuel will stay fine enough over winter that it will start in the spring.

[@flexywing]

@@MaaZeus You can also get ethanol free petrol, its cost a fortune, but is "proper" petrol Farmers\gardeners use as it it good for "occasional" tools like strimmer chainsaws etc

[@richardbartlett6932]

​@@MaaZeusjapanese bikes introduced vacuum fuel taps I. The late 70's so running them dry wasn't or isn't possible as they don't have an off position

[@RebelCowboysRVs]

@@richardbartlett6932 I have a 2009 carburetor bike with a vacuum "tap" as yall call it. I just added an in line fuel valve for a mower for about $3. Its still a pain in the butt though. Hands smell like gas all the time. An it only takes being parked a week to start having problems. More than once I was planning to ride again that day so I didn't run it dry, plans changed. It sat for a week with fuel in it an the float stuck. Carbs were great until they messed up our fuel.

[@markwilliamson2795]

The old Gold wings have an internal electrical alternator / Stator to charge the battery and run the motorcycle...It is buried deep in the motor and that means the motor needs to be taken out of the bike and split in half to replace it.....many hours of shop labor or yours...more than the bike is worth to most unless you love working on them...Hi from Calif coast...

[@chrishunter5041]

I own a 1976 GL1000 and knowing how to maintain these classic bikes is a must, there's no diagnostic plug on these bikes.

[@breathestrongcycling3672]

My second bike was a CB 650 from a New Zealand police auction in....1986!...amazing how well behaved drivers were when I was nearby 😁

[@seanbissett-powell5916]

If you buy an ex-Police bike, expect to do work on it. They'll have had a hard life and quite a few cases of cold start followed by being thrashed. Fleet riders never look after a company bike as well as if it was their own, and the team of mechanics may well have an apprentice or two in the mix. Oh, and expect the suspension and clutch to need replacing. Many (many, many !) years ago, a courier company I was involved with thought it would be a good idea to buy a small fleet of identical ex-Police bikes, BMW R80RTP's. They bought 10 at auction and sent a minibus full of couriers up to collect them (yeah, they decided to ride them back..... it was a different era back then, when even Police bikes had tax disks). Of the 10, only one made it back to Guildford. The rest broke down along the way, mostly with silly niggles, and mostly electrical or adjustment-related. Eventually, they recovered them all and most of them gave good service for a couple of years, but as I recall 2 or 3 of the 10 were too bad to be usable and became donor bikes for the rest of the fleet.

[@Tomahawkfalcone]

I would say that the proper Bonneville's are from before it went bust with the old 750 and triple. New company is totally different. They will say the same about the new bsa's ect.

[@pipes9878]

i completely agree with the issue of carb bikes, all 5 of my bikes are carb. ive got to the stage where i'm learning to maintain and fix them myself. people ask why i have no injector bikes, they've always got me home whilst an ecu would have shut down the bike... not something you want happening traveling over the mountains and valleys of wales with no phone signal.

[@max.fleming1045]

Great talk as always Freddie. I've been struck by the German side of the conversation. It's been many years but I did live in southern Germany back in the late 90s. When I moved there in 97 I had a 1985 Yamaha XT 600 tenere I bought in Spain a few years earlier. When I moved to Germany my equivalent of road tax was literally double what I paid in Spain. The next year it was so much higher again that I decided to buy a brand new Honda Transalp because my 12 year old bike was getting taxed off the road. In Germany this is the same with cars & bikes. After so many years they start raising the equivalent road tax that it's no longer viable. At a certain age a years road tax is more than your bike or car is worth. In Germany the government will tell you this is because old vehicles are so inefficient that it's for environmental reasons?. Regardless of the reasons?, classic old school is just not a thing in Germany.

[@instant8195]

Its wrong.i live in Germany. The amount of Road taxes has nothing to do with age. The price depends on the engine Size .

[@max.fleming1045]

@@instant8195 things may have changed in the past 25 years in Germany, but when I lived in Germany in the late 90s it was definitely the case. It was even a common practice at the time, if you put up a 10 year or older bike or car for sale the person who showed up to haggle was likely a second hand dealer from Poland or the Czech Republic. My old mach 2 VW golf went to Poland and my old Yamaha tenere actually went off to Bulgaria. I actually road my tenere to Bulgaria for a little adventure and deliver it to the man who bought it from me. Really nice and his family. They ended up hosting me and showed me about for a long weekend and then drove me to the airport to catch a flight back to Munich.

[@rob2475]

My BMW K1200s has 167 BHP. The ABS on this model is very prone to failure, in some cases in an extremely dangerous way, so many owners, like myself, buy a kit that disables it. It’s really not necessary.

[@davebarrowcliffe1289]

I sold new BMW bikes for 13 years and in that time, I think I sold 3 or 4 new GSs that weren't top-spec. A used non-TE bike was very, VERY difficult to sell.

[@GiftedGaz78]

It doesn’t matter what the price is with 2 days left

[@richardwoodhouse8397]

They jump them to start them, its not the battery even if its dead, probably solen recovery, thievs normal strip out the ecu, wich you have to replace with all new locks thousands of pounds?

[@jandjjobst]

Tons of old GL1100’s available in Canada. Sad to say there are so many around that the non running ones are often scraped for spare parts. Good thing is the used parts market remains very good.

[@RebelCowboysRVs]

As an automobile tech, I hated fuel injection early on. My fuel injected 1970 VW was the bane of my existence. Today I ride a 2009 carburetor bike. I can work on anything carburated. But today's fuels have made them a pain. To know my bike will reliably start next weekend, I have shut the fuel off at the end of my ride an leave the bike idling until it sucks the carburetor dry. Just to keep the corn whiskey in our fuel from gluing the float valve shut in a week. So while I can buy a nice classic Gold Wing for about 2 weeks pay, I wouldn't. Besides the existence of the carbs, they are a pain to get to. When I buy another bike it will be fuel injected and have ABS. I will not buy just to upgrade to fuel injection. But after locking the tire up because of a deer earlier this season and then again in gravel at an intersection sunday, dumping the bike this time, I am willing to buy new to get ABS. An while I am at it, get rid of carburetor problems for good. I have my eye on the Royal Enfield classic 350. I would still rather have a real classic, and they are cheaper, But ABS is worth more, an getting away from carburetors makes it even better.

[@jamesfisher1827]

Freddie, please be aware that the correct description of most Police motorcycles is one careful owner and lots of not so careful riders! Sadly not all forces use OEM parts when working on the bikes, and not all have correctly followed the manufacturers servicing requirements either, so you really should be careful when assessing whether an ex police motorcycle is for you. I can tell you that Metropolitan Police bikes are serviced using OEM parts and are serviced very regularly, the mileage they leave the Met with is likely to be lower than say a force area with large open roads and a large geographical area, but they will have spent a lot of time being ridden in city traffic obviously, and the clutch and gearbox will have had extensive use riding in lots of traffic at times. Years ago(1980’s) forces used to spend more money on decommissioning vehicles than they do now, removing wiring and putting back original radios in cars etc, you may also find no official service history is provided as servicing isn’t done by the manufacturer, but by a service provider that has a contract to look after the entire vehicle fleet.

[@spuddog68]

First time viewer here today. The most confusing thing for me is how the hell have I missed out on seeing such a great channel until now, I'm a bit ashamed of myself really.lol. A well thought out and presented show from a dude who clearly loves motorbikes. Much love and respect from not so sunny Devon.

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

I have a 1991 Kawasaki Voyager and a Gen3 Hayabusa. Chalk and cheese but I wouldn't be without either, oh, and they're both as much fun as one another, just in different ways....

[@Ian-bq7gp]

With ABS its not about power but good tyres and progressive smooth braking. On a 125cc scooter or bike, if you grab the front brake lever in the wet the front tyre is likely to slide. When I learned to ride in the 1970s tyres were not good and radials didnt exist on bikes. Brakes felt wooden and often had drum brakes. We learned a lot off road in mud on control and riders from that time are far more skilled. We also learned on 250cc two strokes often at 17 that were capable of 100mph..

[@gasguzzler5551]

My FJR 1300 has ABS, in all the years I have owned it never had or felt it activate. In fact when I do my brake fluid changes I use a jumper cable to activate the ABS system. Perhaps over the years of ridding I have learned how to use the throttle and brakes correctly for road conditions and not relying on systems to compensate for poor riding skills LOL

[@Pat14922]

The first bike I had with ABS, I tested it, on handover ride. Got it to kick in, by fierce braking on a damp road, no preload on the front end. had the bike 7 years . Never felt it kick in again.Guess thats good.

[@aidencoder]

In awe of you. If YOU don't need it then it MUST be useless right? Please teach us your ways

[@denlsgoulden2307]

I have several classic HondasI have restored including a 400four and a 500four, if I were to do a goldwing the original and best gen 1s are the purest of form without a doubt. And I noticed a long time ago that bikes in the US seen to be a fraction of the cost we pay in the UK. I guess that's why traders import them from the US to the UK by the container load 🙄

[@oldguy217]

I imagine some purist triumph owners would say the last true bonnevilles were pre unit, circa ealy 60,s. However, your observations also make sense as not too many bikers now were rider age in early 60,s. Personal opinions differ a lot.

[@Zodliness]

I've purchased a couple of motorcycles from the John Pye auctions, they have some of the cheapest recovered vehicles I've seen in the UK. If you're into repairing and have the space for it, genuine bargains can be found. Best advice I can offer is, do your homework before bidding on anything. There's a plethora of money-pit lemons at police auctions too. 👍

[@jamesonpace726]

Last "real" Triumph? 1980 in my opinion. CA yes but FL is about the most humid place in Murca. Stay West to avoid rust....

[@chrisbarron5861]

On most roads a 100HP bike can hit the same speeds as a 200HP bike, before you have to start braking for the next bend, so ABS isn't that important. Only if doing maximum speed runs would it be my consideration.

[@johnbarnett7365]

What were the final bids and fees on those you've reviewed. With most online auction the most activity is in the last 10 minutes.

[@85PLD]

I somehow missed this so didn't have a clue, not sure what happened there but I'll now be a regular watcher :)

[@jabjab1010]

Having participated in many auctions, including buying a pick up truck “by accident” as I thought I was low bidding but won anyway, I can tell you the total cost of that bike at the end of the auction will be double or more of the two day amount. Every waits til the end of these auctions to bid. Also, you need to add fees and likely shipping, so a $2000 scooter could be closer to $4000. . .still might be worth it, but be careful here.

[@Rossy167]

The price will definitely go up a bit, but we don’t really pull that hidden cost shit as badly in the UK. Sales tax is legally included in the price here, stuff like that.

[@Cornel1001]

I tried to buy a second-hand motorcycle. My shock was terrible, the prices reached 80% of that of a new one. I'm talking about a good motorcycle and under warranty. For this reason, the market is full of motorcycles for sale that are kept in stock for years without any buyers.

[@stevezahn8056]

You know Freddie, when I was young. The old guys would tell me you get the best Harley’s at the police auctions. Many a Panhead chopper started life as a police bike. Mine did. You can always tell because they had the old police special speedo on them. The old ones had a button on them to lock the speedo needle to show the speeder how fast he was going when the cop caught him.

[@13conair]

work mate bought his son a 4x4 quad from police auction, chassis/engine numbers ground off but otherwise a few plastics had been drilled and zip ties put in to hold it together, he bought it along with a reciept stating it was police auction vehicle that had been stolen/recovered included on the reciept it stated all numbers had been ground off along with over 30 pics of the bike detailing the ground off numbers all the damage ect ect, 2 months after he game the quad to his 14 year old son police took the bike off him as he was using it on waste land and had no number plated and all numbers were ground off, he took the auction reciept and all the photos of the damage which exactly matched the quad as it was in police yard so obviously the same bike and what did the police do ! yep they crushed the quad as they said the reciept was not proof of ownership and the photos they did not even want to look at !

[@JLOSTAFF1]

Thanks Freddie for including my Bonneville query. At the end of the day I feel like I’m riding a Bonneville. Surely that’s all that matters? I’m interested in that spare gasket if you’ve still got it? Cheers Jon

[@tuesdayatdobbs]

I’ve got it waiting for you, Jon. Ping me an email with your address to [e-mail]🙂

[@geoffdodd129]

The original Triumph Bonneville was the R!/sports bike of its day winning speed records ( hence its name ), the current Triumph Bonneville is a heavy slow cruiser bike that lets old men ride an upright bike and claim to be riding a CLASSIC sports bike . Every triumph owner with a 2 month + bike says he is riding a classic british bike, MCN classic bike selling section used to be full of new=15 yr old triumphs claiming to be CLASSIC ( thank goodness it changed ).

[@R-K61]

I sold my Riley 1500 RME to a German they love the UK classic car and probably bikes too.

[@originalshadowfax]

Mileage? ............ remember in the UK, as police vehicles are not required to go through a MOT, the mileage is not recorded on the DVLA database. Unscrupulous dealers can buy them at auctions and then clock them as they are often high mileage vehicles. Easy to do these days whether electronic or analogue clocks

[@thisveterancan7666]

Thanks for mentioning the Triumph experience Freddie!

[@markiesmith4537]

Freddy - you didn't mention the clause on the Vespa auction "Buyers must NOT live within the M25 area".... WTF? 12 million people excluded - Why?

[@kevinrandle1339]

I took my ignition barrel to the key cutters and they made a set of keys for it, was about £27

[@radioboffinG8KNF]

The Synetiq auction showed sell two types of vehicles - Police Fleet AND SEIZED vehicles with unknown history. The Vespa shown was a SEIZED vehicle. Any fleet owned vehicles will be PLUS VAT and specifically state ex fleet. All the no key vehicles are seized/accident damaged.

[@andychurches7280]

OK here's a slightly tenuous analogy! Moving over into the world of aviation, is the Eurofighter Typhoon not really a Typhoon, because its nothing like the Hawker Typhoon from ww2?

[@pkf4124]

Always wanted a BMW bike, I'm half German and, i just want that classic BMW R series style bike, an ex Police bike would be perfect, and fit in well with my classic VW's.

[@stevenjonestriumpht1207]

Freddy we have met but anyhow. I've lived in Germany,Holland England and the USA Virginia. Rode in all counties Germans ride fast. The Dutch ride to Germany and Ride fast. Americans Ride Harley Davidsons in Clubs as faction statement. The British like me in my 60s been riding since I was 17. Love old classic bikes but don't want one. Have a moden classic T120 about to add a Z900RS. My daily Ride is a BMW R1250RT. I WEAR ALL THE GEAR ALL THE TIME. Bike jeans Leather Jack/ Merlin Wax cotton Jack. And TCX Hero boots

[@LeeJonesNPT]

The ex police bikes are a real mixed bag, most bikes are not as Russel claimed warmed up, they are not used on nights so quite often started from very cold at 6am and thrashed all day. Most bikes are used within inner cities so the lower gears, brakes, suspension are hammered. They are serviced regularly and these days OEM parts are almost always used. The reason they are being sold is because they are at the end of their life. If they start breaking down regularly then they go to auction otherwise they go back to BMW/Honda/Kawasaki who have police sales departments who take them off the police when they sell a new fleet. Most forces do now MOT their vehicles only because it keeps up values when disposal time comes. A lot of the Police auction sales are actually stolen recovered where the owner/insurer can’t be identified or vehicles recovered under the proceeds of crime act. Large auction houses like Wilsons act on behalf of lots of agencies disposing of seized vehicles to pay off Confiscation Orders at Court.

[@jakespeed6515]

Have you done a look and opinion of a Voge 300 Rally? £3799 with 2 year warranty

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

The GL1000 GW was available for a pittance as recently as two years ago.....I reckon they're still a bargain as surely their price will only increase....

[@bikemaddan9311]

Ha….. I work for Royal Mail and wouldn’t want to purchase one of there vans, I’ve seen the treatment they receive

[@richardbartlett6932]

Used to go to auctions with ex PO vehicles going through the ring. PO drivers were Animals with zero respect for anything. Complete C's the lot of them.

[@TheStig.]

Totally irrelevant here, but with regards to the Porsche 911 996 generation, it was also the first liquid cooled engine aside from the hideous 'runny egg' headlights which makes it less desirable. Slightly different anecdote, it wasn't technically the first liquid cooled Porsche; that however was actually the 935/78 which was the first Porsche engine to have 4 valves per cylinder and therefore had a water-cooled engine head. The rest of the engine block(bottom half) was air-cooled. The Porsche 959 also had a similar design as well.

[@pcthames4278]

That Vespa would have been stolen and has probably had the immobiliser ripped out hence while it wont start. You said recently you might be moving back to London.Without a garage , that vespa will cost you about £700 to insure plus it will be nicked in the first week guaranteed.

[@allanhughes7859]

Proven that A.B.S. does not help just take a look at Fortnine up load re A.B.S. another surprising fact ???

[@clivehale397]

Nice one this week Freddie thanks....😊

[@flexywing]

If Triumph name it a Bonneville, then it's a Bonneville

[@MrMichaelConstantine]

First video I watched of yours, loved the discussion. I'm finding bikes at silly prices Facebook marketplace. I guess it is due to people being desparate, cost of living and ULEZ.

[@Dave-in-France]

Hi Dobbsy ref "Do Germans get Classic cars and bikes ?". Well all I can say is the my german mates have BMW R65's R80GSPD's, R100RS's; others have MERC model 123's, 124, Pagoda Top SL's etc etc.911's by the buckload. The difference is that Germans sooooo appreciate their classic vehicles that they are prepared to pay big money for a good'un. When was the last real Bonneville made ? I suspect that bike club members might be referring to Bonnevilles made not only in Britain but also the bikes made at Meriden factory. They are lighter and ride better than most of the Bloor Triumphs, but they are more reliable, leak oil less.

[@stevejones1318]

£150 with one day to go means nothing. The bidding inevitably moves up fast in the last hour. That bike will go for a lot more than £150. You need to look at actual selling price.

[@dolomitefan]

My 2016 Triumph Street Twin is actually registered as a Bonneville Street Twin. Does this make it a Bonneville? I think the newer ones actually say Bonneville on the speedo but mine doesn't.

[@tuesdayatdobbs]

Yes I think these are still classed as Bonneville’s!

[@woooster17]

I realise it’s not you listing but.. it’s 6:33 YZF, not YFZ1000R

[@mortgagesandlifeinsurance]

Any discount code for Hood Jeans?

[@tuesdayatdobbs]

Unfortunately not- they never have sales

[@rogerborg]

Auctions are a great way to pay way over the odds for a poor example of a cheap bike. What matters isn't the bids, but the closing price, _plus_ all the fees that get added on. Best of luck when you find out that the bike is an insurance write-off and nobody will touch it again.

[@andyturnbull2271]

Why can't you buy the vespa if you live within the M25?

[@Uncle_Tijikun]

Gotta be honest, I'm kinda intrigued by the idea of getting a police auction bike as a project. But I'll need to find a cruiser as that's my dream style

[@mraidymaddful]

It seems counterintuitive to me to buy a bike from the police auctions. Most of these bikes are on various lists of bikes most stolen, so if you buy one, there's a fairly good chance it will get nicked. Might be aswell saving up a bit more and getting one that isn't on a list. Just an idea.............

[@haxan6663]

Old biker lore says that a Bonneville isn't really a Bonneville unless you have to rebuild the engine at the end of each journey😂

[@johnharris7353]

Yes, and 95% of all Bonnies ever sold are still on the road today! The other ,5% made it home!

[@sgbroadphotography4534]

I can confirm Royal Mail fleet do need an MOT…Not sure on the police fleet.

[@andyaptc2907]

Dear Freddie, I am living in Malaysia and in Asia we are being swamped by offers of new Chinese made motorcycles, the bikes are getting great reviews around the world, (inc UK) bikes such as CF Moto, Zontes, Benelli , Keeway QJ Motor etc and the pricing is amazing when compared to the big 4 Japanese bike manufacturers, the only stumbling block is not well set up sales and servicing centres here yet and unknown long term reliability, but they really seam to be shaking up the bike industry here in Asia. Young guys who normally ride small Kapchai bikes can now buy old classic looking Royal Enfield style bikes at 125,150, 200, 250, 350 and larger CC bikes for a bit more money and look more stylish and individual. I think this is great for bikers having more choice and affordability. Are the Japanese concerned about this........

[@jakespeed6515]

I’m waiting for a company to supply the UK with a CT125 knock off, as Honda will not release it in the UK and it’s extortionate to import from Thailand

[@aidencoder]

Crazy how slave labour do that

[@alanrichardson1672]

What has hp got to do with ABS?

[@volt8684]

Interesting in Germany fines not points for excess speed. If that was here drivers would more readily accept

[@johnsamson-snell9558]

Beware buying ex police bikes/cars. If you can buy direct then that’s better but most Police forces can’t be bothered so have arrangements with a number or retailers who then trade on. But, as has been said, police vehicles haven’t been MOT’d (totally stupid I know) so it’s highly likely that they will have been clocked before being put on the market to the general public. There are a few forces who do sell at auctions but it’s hard to find out any information as it’s very much a closed shop. I have bought an ex-Police LR Discovery from a dealer who bought it at one of the closed auctions and it was a complete nail. I thought I could make a car out of it but, after 3 months, and many thousand of £’s, I cut my losses ( about £5k) and sold it via an on-line auction. If I can find a “direct from the Police” BMW RT I’d want to buy it but only after checking the paperwork that should come with it. I’m still looking.

[@gpmf5874]

Although the emergency services aren't required to have their bikes or cars MOT'd (because their workshops keep them in good roadworthy order) many of the forces do have them MOT'd anyway, so check the descriptions carefully and ask the auction house if necessary. Also take a good look at the photo's. A UK auction description should not be misleading and you can pick up some real bargains. Go into it with your eyes open and check what buyer's premium and VAT may be added and adjust your bidding accordingly, but don't be afraid of an auction.

[@loneridar]

The DobFather

[@tuesdayatdobbs]

I like this😃

[@5tevieb954]

@@tuesdayatdobbsme too 😂

[@Imarida2]

Goldwings of any year are a dime a dozen in the US.

[@carlwerner1777]

Brightwells auction in leominster sells police cars and bikes

[@thebikegeekandmore2448]

Freddie, imagene what will happen to bikeprices if something happens in a part of the world where we produce ecu for bikes? Imagene what will happen to bikeprices if somethng happens in a part of the world where we extract material for the production of electronics to our bikes? I think a low tech bike could be a good investment for the coming years.

[@dane4265]

this is a salvage auction site, its cheap because it's broken and probably only fit for spares

[@umvhu]

People vary wherever they come from, and those who buy to impress usually speak the loudest.