What would you do?

**barty5** · 24th February 2011, 08:38

No names but mate bought bike (from dealer/agent for the bike) was told it was an 2008 which is all good brings it round to show me first thing i notice is the front forks are in fact due to design changes that i am well aware of are of at the latest an 2005 and have some really really bad wear marks in them at the clamps. the guy is new to the whole dirt bike thing and didn't know what to look out for or that anything was odd about the bike. I told him to go back and ask for it to be corrected as they had misrepresented what they had sold and should have known it wasn't what it was or wasn't.

**SpikedPunch** · 24th February 2011, 08:43

This happened to me with my old RM (thought it was and '05, was really an '03) but it was a private sale, third hand and the guy reckoned he'd also been misled...Not worth doing much about it at that point as I'd owned the bike over a year by then. But a dealer should know better! I would be taking it back if I were him.

**scott411** · 24th February 2011, 08:44

1st go back to the dealer and ask for it to be rectified, exlpaining what you think is wrong,

if he ignores you, or does nothing, then you can either name and shame on here, or go through the motor vehicle distputes tribunal,

i think the dealer at least deserves a shot to fix any problem,

also there are plenty of parts catelogues online to check up on items, but be carefull as some models come to NZ longer than the the USA, (KX125's are a example of this, stopped in the US in 05, but came here until 08, but still with the old style fork)

**RJM** · 24th February 2011, 08:48

Sounds like an honest mistake if the guys is new to bikes.

Is there actually somewhere on a bike that states the year / model other then visual differences that a trained eye would pick up?

**Jay GTI** · 24th February 2011, 09:02

Originally Posted by RJM

Sounds like an honest mistake if the guys is new to bikes.

Is there actually somewhere on a bike that states the year / model other then visual differences that a trained eye would pick up?

Should be a serial number for the bike stamped on the frame somewhere, which will include info allowing you to identify the model year.

**crazyhorse** · 24th February 2011, 09:04

Under the consumers garantees act, he should take it back to the dealer. They have to stand by the products they sell, and cannot sell something that isn't what they say it is. Good luck.

Let us know what he chooses to do

**avgas** · 24th February 2011, 09:24

Simple thing is to check the user manual for the bike. I have seen bikes claimed to be later models, then you see the first service etc and the date of the manual is older.

**steve_t** · 24th February 2011, 09:31

What's the deal if it is a 2008 bike but the forks had shit themselves and were replaced on the cheap with some older parts from the wreckers? I'd assume you'd be out of luck

**barty5** · 24th February 2011, 09:53

Originally Posted by steve_t

What's the deal if it is a 2008 bike but the forks had shit themselves and were replaced on the cheap with some older parts from the wreckers? I'd assume you'd be out of luck

Everything else on the bike is an an 08 there are a few bangs and scrapes new after market barrel so my guess is its had a bit of a hard time. Again my guess is the front end has had a hard hit and been bent and replaced with a 05 front end.( we all know you only have to look at the rims to see the date stamp when on say 04 and the other 07 gets you thinking) As for being honest mistake maybe but the front end is so different at the bottom of the forks it sticks out like dogs balls. Any dealer who worked them should be able to tell the difference as they are still the same this year.
He has gone back and been told not sure what you want me to do i dont really have any money not really a proper answer to me.

**L Rider** · 24th February 2011, 10:02

Originally Posted by barty5

Everything else on the bike is an an 08 there are a few bangs and scrapes new after market barrel so my guess is its had a bit of a hard time. Again my guess is the front end has had a hard hit and been bent and replaced with a 05 front end.( we all know you only have to look at the rims to see the date stamp when on say 04 and the other 07 gets you thinking) As for being honest mistake maybe but the front end is so different at the bottom of the forks it sticks out like dogs balls. Any dealer who worked them should be able to tell the difference as they are still the same this year.
He has gone back and been told not sure what you want me to do i dont really have any money not really a proper answer to me.

It is still a 2008 bike though - but has had a crash & parts been replaced that are older.
If the buyer didn't question it then the seller hasn't been dishonest I don't think.

As for your RM Sacha thats possibly that it came into the country new a couple of years after being manufactured. Our LT50 is like that. We brought brand new but it was either 1 or 2 years old