I need some help to find "the" bike

[CTRdemon]

Hi all,

I am try and find my late fathers (Terence Summers / "Tel" to his mates) motorbike. I remembered it the other day in conversation with someone. The memories came flooding back, the trips we took on it, they were some great times, so I am looking for it.

I am currently missing 1 vital bit of information, the reg! I know this is a long shot, however I want to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later while I search for pics to confirm the reg.

UPDATE: I found the reg! It is EF02 ZKJ.

The motorbike:

It is a 2002 Ducati Monster S4 in Red. It was originally purchased in Marks Tey, Essex (and the shop has since gone! ) It had loads of extras on it, carbon fibre, mushrooms, comms system, auto chain oiler, steering dampener, and micro dots bloody everywhere (of course these could have been removed/replaced over time) and a scratch on the right can (from a brush with brickwork). That is all the info I currently have.

The outcome that I am hoping for is to find out where it is, if it is for sale currently, if not, get in touch with the owner to say "give me a ring if you want to sell it".

I hope someone can help

Cheers!

[Fraser]

Don't suppose it will help much but the dealer was Ron Parkinsons (Parkies). They went tits up twice. Once when in Marks Tey - before they reopened in centre of Colchester - and then again a couple of years back. However, the chief spanner guy was a top mechanic called Glen Harrison who has now opened a service set up http://www.moto-v.co.uk/ Long shot but he might be able to help or know ' a man who can'?

[Thuli]

I suppose you would have mentioned if your father was ever a member of UKMOC? Perhaps if you mention his name you might also have a chance of triggering someone's memory. Though you biking folk are probably more likely to remember the bike :-/

[Albie]

Sounds like one of the very earliest s4's out there being a Y plate. Earliest I knew belonged to the Late Bumble of the Kent section that was Red but don't remember much extra bling on it. It did have a brownish seat possibly Seargent not Corbin. Is it too early for a racing series Challenge one .
Standard came with carbon fibre belt covers and front mudguard and exhaust shields. I think rear were options as were steering dampers.
If not theres a decent one on ebay at the moment that caught my eye yesterday but best not go back to that again. I take it that its purely sentimental purchase.

[CTRdemon]

However, the chief spanner guy was a top mechanic called Glen Harrison who has now opened a service set up http://www.moto-v.co.uk/ Long shot but he might be able to help or know ' a man who can'?

Thanks very much for the info I will get in touch with Glen and see!

I suppose you would have mentioned if your father was ever a member of UKMOC?

Yeah sorry, he was a bit technologically challenged when it came to the internet so he wouldn't have been a member.

Though you biking folk are probably more likely to remember the bike :-/

Haha, that is what I am hoping! :mand:

Standard came with carbon fibre belt covers and front mudguard and exhaust shields. I take it that its purely sentimental purchase.
That sounds right to me, it must have been an S4 then. He just spec'd it up at the garage then fitted the comms and chain oiler himself. Thanks Albie, that is right. It would be a 95% sentimental purchase.

Thanks everyone for the help so far. I am making it my mission this week to find a photo with the reg! It will help the odds of me actually finding it no end.

[Petej]

Unfortunately I can't help but will watch this thread with interest! Hope you have some luck and track it down and do keep us posted!

[CTRdemon]

Thanks Petej, I will keep everyone posted. I've contacted Glen so I will see where that leads. All while trying to find a photo, I must have one somewhere!

[utopia]

Thuli's point that it might help if you provided his name is a good one.
Tbh, I can't really understand why you didn't do this in the first place.
No offence intended but the omission of this info (which could be considered to be an obviously helpful factor) might be considered by some to be a little suspicious in this age of faceless internet communication.

[CTRdemon]

Thuli's point that it might help if you provided his name is a good one.
Tbh, I can't really understand why you didn't do this in the first place.
No offence intended but the omission of this info (which could be considered to be an obviously helpful factor) might be considered by some to be a little suspicious in this age of faceless internet communication.

Point taken utopia, I am usually overly cautious and I don't like divulging more information than necessary when online. He wasn't a member, or overly social in the biking community (he just kept to himself) so I didn't feel it necessary.

In the interest of openness (and if it will help in any way to find his bike) I have amended the original message to add it in (Terence Summers / "Tel" to his mates).

[utopia]

Can't fault that for a response.
Good luck with the search.

[CTRdemon]

Can't fault that for a response.
Good luck with the search.

Thanks utopia. I will post the reg as soon as I can find it.

Glen Harrison who has now opened a service set up http://www.moto-v.co.uk/ Long shot but he might be able to help or know ' a man who can'?

Great tip Fraser. I've got in touch with Glen and he may be able to help, if I can get him the Reg. That is my weekend sorted, searching for the reg. An hour a night after work isn't cutting it!

[Albie]

Did he have any old insurance documents left lying around maybe

[Dookbob]

Yeah, I think it would be great for you to find it, and better still if you could get it back into your family, I look forward to hearing the outcome if you get lucky.

[Mr Gazza]

Of course DVLA would be able to match a reg to an owner in seconds, and the Police have access to that info too.
I don't suppose for a moment that they would tell you who owned that bike, but....

If you took the right approach at the right time, an amiable Policeman might... just might, contact the owner on your behalf and forward your contact details. It's probably highly irregular (or even illegal?) but might be worth a try?

I am fairly certain that DVLA would tell you the reg of the bike that your Father owned?
I think they will list vehicles owned by yourself historically, for a fee possibly.

It might be worth having a chat with DVLA to see how far you can go in that direction. Or wander into your local Police Station and not expect too much.

I am sure there must be some sort of search service that could be employed, such as the vehicle check that you can buy when buying a bike.

[Petej]

Did you get any further with tracking the bike down??

[Dirty]

It's probably highly irregular (or even illegal?) but might be worth a try?



Yep, illegal (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8713194/Hundreds-of-police-officers-caught-illegally-accessing-criminal-records-computer.html) and certainly not worth trying as even that could get you in trouble. There is no way of legally accessing either police or DVLA databases for your purposes I'm afraid.

[CTRdemon]

Did you get any further with tracking the bike down??

Nope, no progress yet!

I have searched high and low for any photos of the bike and I can't find ANY! I will keep looking and hopefully come across some. When I do, I will post back here!

The search still is (and will always) be on!

[S4R Dude]

Sorry Dirty you are wrong....

For a fee and 'reasonable cause' DVLA will release details. They did years ago when i applied to them to trace an owner of a car years ago.It is still the same, you need 'reasonable cause' to get the details and if they agree with your reason they will release the details.

Go to their website for the form.

[Jez900ie]

Sorry Dirty you are wrong....

For a fee and 'reasonable cause' DVLA will release details. They did years ago when i applied to them to trace an owner of a car years ago.It is still the same, you need 'reasonable cause' to get the details and if they agree with your reason they will release the details.

Go to their website for the form.

How interesting. This might mean the OP will find the bike...

[CTRdemon]

Sorry Dirty you are wrong....

For a fee and 'reasonable cause' DVLA will release details. They did years ago when i applied to them to trace an owner of a car years ago.It is still the same, you need 'reasonable cause' to get the details and if they agree with your reason they will release the details.

Go to their website for the form.

Thanks, I will give that a go tomorrow. It is certainly worth a try!

[Darkness]

For a fee and 'reasonable cause' DVLA will release details. They did years ago when i applied to them to trace an owner of a car years ago.It is still the same, you need 'reasonable cause' to get the details and if they agree with your reason they will release the details.

That's how the car parking enforcement companies get details of the registered keeper so they can send 'Penalty Notices'.

[PhilLew]

Just another thought, the MOT history check service now lists the test centers where the previous MOT's were carried out.
If you find the reg number and it has been recently MOT'd the garage/shop who did it might know the owner and be willing to pass your details to them.
Good luck.

[S4R Dude]

I would also pop round the local likely MOT test centres to see if any-one recalls the bike and your father you might then get the reg that way.

[PhilLew]

Long shot but a Red, Y reg, S4 just came up on autotrader

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201709189408890?make=DUCATI&advertising-location=at_bikes&postcode=eh46qe&sort=price-asc&radius=60&page=1

[Darren69]

Does look like a nice clean example. But why is the seller claiming it has a full Termignoni system when clearly in the pictures, it has just the slip on cans, I don't know?

[CTRdemon]

Hi everyone,

I am back again with a pretty important update... i have the reg!!

EF02 ZKJ

I jumped straight on the MOT history and it is still on the road (but no test centre listed)! One step closer!

I hope this (quite important) bit of info can help.

As always, thank you! I really appreciate the help.

[rollo22]

Bit of a mad idea......
You could try chatting with your insurance company asking them to ask keeper to contact you if he/her are willing to sell.

[CTRdemon]

Bit of a mad idea......
You could try chatting with your insurance company asking them to ask keeper to contact you if he/her are willing to sell.

I doubt they will go to that length but it is certainly worth a try, I will give it a go.

Don't suppose it will help much but the dealer was Ron Parkinsons (Parkies). They went tits up twice. Once when in Marks Tey - before they reopened in centre of Colchester - and then again a couple of years back. However, the chief spanner guy was a top mechanic called Glen Harrison who has now opened a service set up http://www.moto-v.co.uk/ Long shot but he might be able to help or know ' a man who can'?

Hi Fraser, I’ve got in touch with Glen now I have the reg, fingers crossed!

Thanks again for the tip.

[Jez900ie]

Hi Fraser, I’ve got in touch with Glen now I have the reg, fingers crossed!

Thanks again for the tip.

Fingers crossed for you!

[CTRdemon]

Fingers crossed for you!

Thanks :thumbsup:. I've setup saved searches on eBay, Autotrader and Gumtree just in case too.

Oh, and also in the wanted section here http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?p=553962#post553962.

[Yorkie]

https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/ViewVehicle

Just checked it on this for Tax & MOT.

Yorkie

[CTRdemon]

https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/ViewVehicle

Just checked it on this for Tax & MOT.

Yorkie

Thanks Yorkie, it was a shame it didn't show the location of the test centre.

However... I know a guy and he was able to help.:thumbsup:

It was last tested by Ace Motorcycles in Bude. I will give them a call to see if they can help!

Another step closer!

[Jez900ie]

Nice progress!

[CTRdemon]

I’ve called the garage and they’ve kindly said they will pass on a message to the owner for me. All I can do is wait and hope they get in touch at some point. Fingers crossed!

[utopia]

Excellent news.
I really hope you get a positive response.
I guess that, even if the current owner isn't particularly looking to sell, everyone has their price so you may be able to tempt them.
You're obviously keen to get it so I'm wondering if its worth writing a letter personally and asking the mot garage to pass that on to the current owner, rather than relying on the garage folk to pass on a more general enquiry .....?

Good luck.

[CTRdemon]

You're obviously keen to get it so I'm wondering if its worth writing a letter personally and asking the mot garage to pass that on to the current owner, rather than relying on the garage folk to pass on a more general enquiry .....?
Good luck.

That is a good shout! I will wait for a couple of weeks to see if I hear anything and then go down that route.

I've spoken to them on the phone and also followed up with an email. I am aware they're not obligated to pass on a message so I don't want to seem too pushy for them to then not want to help (if you see what I mean). It's a fine line :worried:

They are probably busy so I want to kerb my excitement and be (a little) patient. It has taken this long so what is another couple of weeks?

[CTRdemon]

Quick update. Still no luck, but I haven't given up hope. I've got watches setup on Gumtree, Auto trader and ebay to see if it goes up for sale! Is there anywhere else I should be watching?

[Dirty]

Pistonheads

[CTRdemon]

Pistonheads

Good shout, thank you! I've just registered and setup a saved search.

[Maggsy]

Good shout, thank you! I've just registered and setup a saved search.

Motorcycle News?
Ad in local rag?
Appeal on local radio?
Local bike meets if you’re down that way? (Nice for hols)!
Local Facebook groups?

Good luck in your quest.

[CTRdemon]

Hi all,

Another update... the current owner has contact me asking if I am still interested in purchasing the bike! I am beyond excited, however I want to check the condition it is in etc to get a good idea of the current price.

Are there any key things to look out for on a 2002 Ducati Monster S4?

Thanks again for any help, almost there.

[Jez900ie]

Hi all,

Another update... the current owner has contact me asking if I am still interested in purchasing the bike! I am beyond excited, however I want to check the condition it is in etc to get a good idea of the current price.

Are there any key things to look out for on a 2002 Ducati Monster S4?

Thanks again for any help, almost there.

I'm happy for you. As long as its not totally wrecked from an accident, theres very little that can't be put right if you've a mind to do it -or the money to pay someone else.

Goodluck!

[CTRdemon]

I'm happy for you. As long as its not totally wrecked from an accident, theres very little that can't be put right if you've a mind to do it -or the money to pay someone else.

Goodluck!

Thank you, that is reassuring.

I am awaiting photos at the moment so I'll see from those :chuckle: