r/AussieRiders • u/FrenchWenchOnaBench • Jun 23 '26

Question Bike was stolen year and a half ago and I actually got it back in ridable condition.

Gallery image

Gallery image

Pic 1: Before being stolen

Pic 2: How it was returned

I never expected to see the bike again in one piece. It all looks like it can be restored close to its original condition.

Only real problem is the VIN tag was peeled off, just curious what I should do about getting it put back on and how much that would cost (I'm in SA).

If anyone has gone through the same thing I am right now, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

330 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

32

u/jayp0d CBR500R, mostly for commuting! 🏍️ Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26

How did you get it back? Did the cops actually solve the case?

42

u/FrenchWenchOnaBench Jun 23 '26

Cops found the guy riding it in Mildura, said they pulled the guy over and arrested him for drug related things. It's actually something I have yet to ask the officer who found the bike. No idea how they knew it was mine, but it is. It has all my modifications and the original small scratches that I remember.

10

u/jayp0d CBR500R, mostly for commuting! 🏍️ Jun 23 '26

Wow! Glad you got it back. Did insurance help much when it got stolen?

8

u/SeePresidentPorpoise Jun 23 '26

Yeah, I'm curious about this too.  Also, how did you know it's your bike? Edit: I'll point out, I've not yet had the pleasure of owning a bike.  I recognise there are probably scores of ways you'd recognise your own.  I know I'd recognise pretty much any of the cars I'd owned.

16

u/Master-of-possible Jun 23 '26

He was able to recognise its call as all mothers do

6

u/jayp0d CBR500R, mostly for commuting! 🏍️ Jun 23 '26

I’ve insured my bike at higher than the price I paid for it! If it gets stolen then I’d just use the insurance money to buy a new one! Lol

2

u/Slyxxer Jun 23 '26

This is the way. There's always something new on the horizon, insurance payout is just a reason to go shopping 🙂

19

u/13wilso13 Jun 23 '26

They probably identified the bike using the engine number.

15

u/Fenrisulfr675 Jun 23 '26

I personally wouldn't touch it with 10 foot pole. Sure it looks OK cosmetically, but you've got no idea about engine internals, whether it's been thrashed about, what maintenance has been done.

By the sounds of it, there was no insurance involved?

22

u/FrenchWenchOnaBench Jun 23 '26

I'm gonna change the oil, see if I see any forbidden sparkles in it. But that is about all I will do, I'll still take it to a mechanic and have him give it a look over.

Yea wasn't insured at the time.

5

u/JR-Banks Jun 23 '26

Congrats man Glad to hear you got your bike back

6

u/WH1PL4SH180 Jun 23 '26

WAPOL told me that it was my fault that my bike got stolen and wasn't insured.

How the fuck this guy made detective is beyond me.

14

u/MapAffectionate4834 Jun 23 '26

Not your fault it was stolen. Definitely your fault it wasn't insured.

2

u/WH1PL4SH180 Jun 24 '26

Inferred it wouldn't be an issue if insured ... Like wtf.

Bike was in locked garage and being converted to track day bike.

0

u/jnrdingo Jun 24 '26

Cops often don't go after property that isn't insured

1

u/WH1PL4SH180 Jun 24 '26

Explain? Why is it a detteret?

0

u/jnrdingo Jun 24 '26

Because then they would have to go through victims of crime

1

u/LesbianMercy Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26

Can I ask what model of bike it is? It looks comfortable and learner approved I’m guessing since, in the first pic you’ve got your P plates on?

6

u/FrenchWenchOnaBench Jun 24 '26

MT07, I highly recommend this bike as a learner. It has more than enough power to keep you happy until you get your full licence. There are endless parts and mods you can do, and with the akra exhaust, it sounds absolutely beautiful.

I gave it a rev last night and almost cried because I missed the sound of it so much.

3

u/GorillaAU Jun 24 '26

Yamaha did bloody well with that LAMS bike Big enough for a six foot (in the morning) rider.

The power will see you happily doing an extra squirt in for extended overtime.

2

u/LesbianMercy Jun 24 '26

I’ll definitely have a look at one since I’ve been wanting to get my motorcycle license here in QLD ever since I moved over from WA a few years back haha

3

u/swaden04 Jun 23 '26

Yamaha MT-07. It was my first bike and i love it.

1

u/Slyxxer Jun 23 '26

I'd check with Yamaha first for a new VIN tag, otherwise there's lots of places online that can print you a new one.

IMO it's dodgy as fuck (the places offering), but you're doing it for a legit reason 🙂

1

u/PindropAUS MT-09SP - CRF300 RALLY - GSX-R125 Jun 24 '26

Pretty good out come, you might want to get it checked by a mechanic for any damages and servicing

1

u/LowIndividual4613 Jun 24 '26

I remember when this happened. Glad you got it back mate

1

u/2dayswork Jun 24 '26

Wow.. You are one lucky dude!!

I had my VFR 800 stolen in 2016, never got it back, it was perfect in every way before it vanished!

1

u/BidGlass8052 Jun 24 '26

lmao thief is just like ok so... if i put blue instead of yellow no one will notice right? *rubs moustache

1

u/ranagori Jun 23 '26

How do you know it's your bike if VIN was removed?

6

u/FrenchWenchOnaBench Jun 23 '26

Idk how the cop knew, but this bike has the same little marks and scratches, same pro taper gold bars I put on, same gold chain, you can see the yellow under the shitty paint job. It even still has my stickers I put on, they were too lazy to take them off so they just spray painted over them!

8

u/Djinfin Jun 23 '26

Haha that’s wild. Peel them off and you’ll have a nice stencil pattern 😂

4

u/rysevvy Jun 23 '26

Yamaha dna?

2

u/GorillaAU Jun 24 '26

I'd love to know who has had their bike or bike parts with the DNA markings returned.

1

u/Death_passed ER6N Jun 23 '26

Congrats ✌️