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KTM Superduke - Recovered bike - Null

Hi,

First post here, and I'm straight in with a question, sorry!

I had a motorcycle stolen in April last year, and didnt get paid out as I had left they keys in the ignition (idiot, I know). The bike was recovered last week and I've just been to see it today, miraculously it appears to be in excellent condition bar a few easily recified cosmetic bits and bobs (I'll get a better look later or tomorrow when I get it back).

I'd like to get it back on the road, either to keep or sell (I got myself a replacement), but I'm wondering about categories etc... No insurance assessor has been out, due to it not being covered, so who decides what category (C, D etc...) it falls under (guy at the recovery place reckons it's in too good nick to be a D), and how do I go about registering it again and so forth.

I've taken a look on the DVLA site, but dont see any clear answers on there, but I'll be giving them a call in due course.

Just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience.

Cheers,

Null.

KTM Superduke - Recovered bike - gfewster

If it is in excellent condition then it isn't any 'category', is it? It sounds like a simple case of you (happily) having your bike back. C and D are write-off categories, and if no insurer covered the loss (regardless of whether you insured it or not) then no insurer can write it off.

Why do you need to re-register it? Surely you still have the v5, otherwise it'd be rather difficult to prove that it's yours? If you binned it, then you'll have to explain the circumstances to the DVLA and apply for a replacement.

It's your property - the fact that it was stolen, your insurers didn't pay out because you were negligent and it has been recovered nearly a year later doesn't change that. Thank the Police, take it home, tax it, insure it (and MOT it if necessary) and you'll be off and running.

KTM Superduke - Recovered bike - Null

Thanks for the response. That's pretty much what I expected (or hoped!), just a little unsure of who decides if it's in fine working order or not, or if that decision even has to be made.

I still have the V5, keys (the thieves also left the key in, and where they dumped it, I'm surprised it didnt get nicked again) and all other documentation. So it looks like I'll just be taxing, insuring and I'm away?

One thing I forgot to check when I went over was the chassis & engine numbers, I think that could cuase me some grief if thet are missing, but seeing as the police traced it back to me, I'm assuming they were intact.

Thanks for the help,

Null.

KTM Superduke - Recovered bike - gfewster

Yep, that's pretty much it. No-one has to decide anything, it's nothing to do with the insurers. It's your property, just as it always was.

Tax it, insure it and off you go. MOT it if it needs one.

99% sure the numbers will be intact. Joyriders who steal motorbikes for a laugh aren't likely to go to the trouble of grinding off numbers, and like you said - how else would it have been traced to you?

Give the Police a big thank you! It's really pleasing to read a story like this where a vehicle gets returned to the rightful owner.

KTM Superduke - Recovered bike - martint123

There will be no category at all.

They only get logged when the insurer pays out for a total loss claim. If a situation like yours or self-repairing something only covered by third party insurance then there is no payout, thus no total loss category.

Enjoy, and buy a lottery ticket - very rare to get a bike back!

KTM Superduke - Recovered bike - tdc

Don`t forget to check tyre pressures,tyre&rims for damage,wheel spindle bolts/clamps and that nothing`s been put in the fuel tank.

Professional thieves would have stripped it or had it on a ferry to Europe within hours

KTM Superduke - Recovered bike - Null

Thanks for the responses all, I've checked with VOSA and the DVLA and it's pretty much as discussed here, tax, insure and away I go.

I'll be putting it into the local dealership to have them give it a lil bit of a service and check it over but it's running fine, selecting gears OK (in that clunky KTM sort of way), not really checked steering/geometry yet though, I'll be sorting out the tax and insurance this week.

Which raises another little question; do I declare this as a previous claim seeing as there was no settlement? No claims still intact?

And yes, very lucky and very, very pleased to have it back, the police have not contacted me yet (normal practise perhaps?), but I'll be poping into the local nick at weekend to get details and hand out pats on the back.

Cheers.

KTM Superduke - Recovered bike - LucyBC
No claim and hence no loss of no claims. Make sure it is removed from the stolen list with the police and the vehicle registers (especially HPI and Experian)