Chinese motorcycle or scooter warning to buyers.

If you are thinking about buying a chinese motorcycle or scooter on Ebay , be careful.

I'm not saying they are bad bikes, i have bought 9 to date, and still have 5 at present in my ownership. The problem is with some of the importers and middle men on here, I repeat SOME not all.

I have had 3 out of 9 deals that have gone sour, down to the things that happen after you pay your money, two of which are ongoing now and are the most difficult to sort out.

If you buy one I recommend you buy it registered, or that the process of registration is done for you . There are many who sell on here who advertise do-it-yourself registration, they supply the paper work that should consist of the following,

1/ certificate of conformity......needed to show that imported bike is suitable for road use within the country you wish to register and the specification is compatible. Without this you will have to take the machine to a VOSA ministry testing station to get an MSVA ministers certificate before you can register it for the road, cost about 80.

2/ Certificate of newness...... without this you will not be able to register as a new machine.

3/ V55/4 document to apply for registration and first tax disk...... Some good importers will supply and fill in most of the details for you and only leave you the task of your name and address to fill in, others will not supply, in which case you have to send off to the DVLA to get one , then fill in all the details yourself., The cost of registration is currently just over 50 plus the first road fund license fee. You will also have to have the bike insured on the vin number, and as registration will not yet be known, some insurance companies will not allow this, and the ones that do may charge you 20 or so extra on the premium for the service.

Don't forget you have to buy the number plates, and to do this you will be sent a authorization paper about 3 days after you take all your paper work to you local DVLA office to apply for registration. you may not use motorcycle untill then. You must get in touch with your insurance broker to give them registration number now you know it, as they will cancel your insurance if you don't within 7-28 days from policy start date if you don't and refuse a refund..

4/ Customs paper c