Another Bike Theft Fraud ?

[Merkid]

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Talked to a buddy in Los Angeles who described a new way to steal bikes down there.

It's related to a mobile motorcycle repair service. A guy advertises to the well-healed crowd that we will drop over and fix their expensive Euro bikes in their driveway then make a case it needs to go back to his shop so leaves a phony address and takes their bikes.

 

[Railside Performance]

I hope lots of people read this post and are very careful about inviting strangers to their property. I constantly see "well-heeled" people invite strangers to their place to sell parts and show off their toys, not knowing what the poeples real reason is for arriving. I sell lots of parts and never meet at my place, since once they see all the toys, they also think "what else do they collect" Please be careful and only use reputable shops and/or people to work on your prized posessions.
Also, be careful with mobile car cleaning and waxing if you have nice stuff.

 

[nobbie48]

I hope lots of people read this post and are very careful about inviting strangers to their property. I constantly see "well-heeled" people invite strangers to their place to sell parts and show off their toys, not knowing what the poeples real reason is for arriving. I sell lots of parts and never meet at my place, since once they see all the toys, they also think "what else do they collect" Please be careful and only use reputable shops and/or people to work on your prized posessions.
Also, be careful with mobile car cleaning and waxing if you have nice stuff.

And keep your garage door shut unless a vehicle is going in or out.

An innocent passerby may notice and comment to a less honest individual "I was walking past a house on YYDG street. It had a unicorn on the front lawn and I noticed a MMCJ in the garage.

 

[Merkid]

I installed one particular camera aimed just outward from my garage at a height of 6 ft after a van with three guys came to look at a bike I was selling last summer. Worse they all spoke to each other in some Euro language so I could not understand.

 

[Relax]

Talked to a buddy in Los Angeles who described a new way to steal bikes down there.

It's related to a mobile motorcycle repair service. A guy advertises to the well-healed crowd that we will drop over and fix their expensive Euro bikes in their driveway then make a case it needs to go back to his shop so leaves a phony address and takes their bikes.

I gave a Ducati to a Guy I met for the first time at Mosport who said he could fix a stuttering problem but needed to take it back to his shop in Montreal. I even helped him roll it into his trailer.

 

[nobbie48]

As well as keeping your garage door shut the same goes for your mouth. A lady that lives near us had a rare clock, so much so that some TV show wanted to do a number on it. A few days after the show aired she had a break in and the only thing taken was the clock. Never to be seen again.

 

[bitzz]

The Star did a nice write up on a new designer home north of the city.
A couple of days later the house was cleaned out... took all the built in appliances, fixtures, furniture, even pried tiles off the floor.

 

[nobbie48]

Free appraisal, free test, free estimate.

I wonder how a person feels when they take the old vase they inherited from aunt Mable to Antiques Roadshow and find out it's worth $100,000, as they drive home through the slums to their ghetto home.

Ages ago before cell phones I was at a marina and overheard a guy at a phone booth loudly telling his wife about getting paid $50,000 cash for his boat.

Who pays cash in that amount if they aren't money laundering?

 

[adri]

I would shy away from any mobile motorcycle mechanic to be honest.

Good motorcycle techs are so in demand, and have been for years, that any great tech, or even anyone remotely good, doesn't need to leave their house to wrench. They have enough business driven from word of mouth alone.

If someone wants to come to my house to wrench on my bike in my driveway in Toronto, I'm honestly not worried about thefts, my bikes are well locked away, physically blocked in, and not worth much, my concern is buddy is gonna **** something up... because who is this person and why don't they have any customers? Why would they want to pack their tools in and out of their truck and work outdoors when they could work in their climate controlled garage with all of their stuff easily available like every other shadetree mechanic with a halfway decent skillset? Big red flag to me.

 

[GreyGhost]

I would shy away from any mobile motorcycle mechanic to be honest.

Good motorcycle techs are so in demand, and have been for years, that any great tech, or even anyone remotely good, doesn't need to leave their house to wrench. They have enough business driven from word of mouth alone.

If someone wants to come to my house to wrench on my bike in my driveway in Toronto, I'm honestly not worried about thefts, my bikes are well locked away, physically blocked in, and not worth much, my concern is buddy is gonna **** something up... because who is this person and why don't they have any customers? Why would they want to pack their tools in and out of their truck and work outdoors when they could work in their climate controlled garage with all of their stuff easily available like every other shadetree mechanic with a halfway decent skillset? Big red flag to me.

I understand that. For some tasks, mobile is a nice option. For instance, if your bike wasn't running with a reasonable expectation of why (say a dead battery). Towing would cost more than the job. Sure, it's not that hard to do yourself, but some people aren't capable of doing anything. I wouldn't get a random person but if I needed help and someone like frekeyguy said he'd rather do it at my place than relocate it, I would have no issues with that plan. Frekeyguy would get the same amount of money to do the job but avoid the time and hassle of the tows and liability of having the bike in his possession. Fwiw, I think he relocates most jobs to his shop but the point is, I leave that decision up to him.

 

[Chris-CJ]

I received this message via email from a forum member, does anyone know the mechanic that is referenced?
Msg: a former mechanic at Budds has his own mobile repair service that will come to your home, his repair shop is called Motorcycle Republic located in Cambridge Ont. He is a young fellow with 5 star reviews on his work...

 

[adri]

I understand that. For some tasks, mobile is a nice option. For instance, if your bike wasn't running with a reasonable expectation of why (say a dead battery). Towing would cost more than the job. Sure, it's not that hard to do yourself, but some people aren't capable of doing anything. I wouldn't get a random person but if I needed help and someone like frekeyguy said he'd rather do it at my place than relocate it, I would have no issues with that plan. Frekeyguy would get the same amount of money to do the job but avoid the time and hassle of the tows and liability of having the bike in his possession. Fwiw, I think he relocates most jobs to his shop but the point is, I leave that decision up to him.

Sounds like an alright dude! In my example I was thinking more of the "mobile mechanic" who hooked up an ex's S40 to his running minivan and thought nothing of it *facepalm*

 

[Relax]

I understand that. For some tasks, mobile is a nice option. For instance, if your bike wasn't running with a reasonable expectation of why (say a dead battery). Towing would cost more than the job. Sure, it's not that hard to do yourself, but some people aren't capable of doing anything. I wouldn't get a random person but if I needed help and someone like frekeyguy said he'd rather do it at my place than relocate it, I would have no issues with that plan. Frekeyguy would get the same amount of money to do the job but avoid the time and hassle of the tows and liability of having the bike in his possession. Fwiw, I think he relocates most jobs to his shop but the point is, I leave that decision up to him.

Speaking of Frekeyguy, is he actually a licensed mechanic? I thought by law you had to be licensed to work on someone's vehicle for money?

 

[GreyGhost]

Speaking of Frekeyguy, is he actually a licensed mechanic? I thought by law you had to be licensed to work on someone's vehicle for money?

Not sure. I didnt think he was but he advertises so maybe? I've never heard of someone unhappy with his work or price.

It's pretty hard to make a part time hustle work if you have to keep up licensing, insurance, etc. As long as someone is open and honest with me, I may choose to ignore the lack of required paperwork.

 

[Chris-CJ]

I received this message via email from a forum member, does anyone know the mechanic that is referenced?
Msg: a former mechanic at Budds has his own mobile repair service that will come to your home, his repair shop is called Motorcycle Republic located in Cambridge Ont. He is a young fellow with 5 star reviews on his work...

Any feedback?

 

[adri]

Not sure. I didnt think he was but he advertises so maybe? I've never heard of someone unhappy with his work or price.

It's pretty hard to make a part time hustle work if you have to keep up licensing, insurance, etc. As long as someone is open and honest with me, I may choose to ignore the lack of required paperwork.

I think that's where community is helpful. Some "Brando the Rando" touching my bike makes me nervous... but if certain people in the community give him an endorsement, I might just start calling him Brando the Brilliant, y'know?

 

[nobbie48]

I understand that. For some tasks, mobile is a nice option. For instance, if your bike wasn't running with a reasonable expectation of why (say a dead battery). Towing would cost more than the job. Sure, it's not that hard to do yourself, but some people aren't capable of doing anything. I wouldn't get a random person but if I needed help and someone like frekeyguy said he'd rather do it at my place than relocate it, I would have no issues with that plan. Frekeyguy would get the same amount of money to do the job but avoid the time and hassle of the tows and liability of having the bike in his possession. Fwiw, I think he relocates most jobs to his shop but the point is, I leave that decision up to him.

Working in one's own shop is as efficient as you make it. Field work, unless you have a cube van will have you away from some of your tools and less efficient.

Working in your shop the client pays the transportation cost by delivering the bike. The techie doesn't spend half his day driving around. The techie fixes other bikes as he waits for a part to come in.

If I was legit I'd surcharge for remote service.

 

[LBV]

Not sure if any know Giovanni but he came and did the Desmo on my Ducati Scrambler in my garage last spring ... he was even okay with me helping a bit.

I'll vouch for him.

Edit - he even changed my rear tire that I supplied and balanced it using the same cool device they use at racetracks.

 

[adri]

Not sure if any know Giovanni but he came and did the Desmo on my Ducati Scrambler in my garage last spring ... he was even okay with me helping a bit.

I'll vouch for him.

Edit - he even changed my rear tire that I supplied and balanced it using the same cool device they use at racetracks.

Static balancer and truer?

 

[Relax]

Static balancer and truer?

Probably meant a NoMar.

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