Abandoned airhead in Italy , anyone's ?
 

This is kind of a long shot, but this has been abandoned at a nearby airport here in north-east Italy for over a year now:

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/7739/photo0641a.jpg

Could it belong to someone on here?

A quick look tells me that it's dual plugged, has a homemade pannier rack, vented final drive etc etc, clearly the owner cared for his bike and knew his stuff, that's why it's weird that it was just left there.

The bad news is that the bi-annual car park cleanup is due at the end of next month, that means the bike will be scrapped unless someone shows up before then. The airport authorities never bother to try to contact the owners of vehicles registered abroad.

I'm not really interested in getting hold of another airhead (already got one bleeding my wallet dry as it is), but if I were to hear from the owner I could certainly work out putting it in a safe place at least.

Thanks for any news

Antonio

PS, no idea how it works in the UK if I want to find the details of a vehicle's owner, here it just involves a 2 euro phone call, is there any way I can get these off the DVLA, if the bike isn't actually on my own property?

PPS Forgot to mention, it's got stickers from a bike dealer in Southampton

Antonio,
I have never tried it, but I believe you can get the details of the registerd keeper from the DVLA if you can show good reason for your interest in the matter.
The bike should be SORNed because it has been out of the UK for so long - see the sticky thread in "trip paperwork" for detailed information about the SORN process, including a fairly recent update that has been posted in there.

Good luck with your very decent good samaritan act!

If you could let us have a photo of the reg number somebody might recognise it even if they don't own it, or e-mail the dealer in Southampton they might know.

DVLA need £2.50 or thereabouts as well as 'good reason' to disclose the Registered Keeper identity. They are quite flexible with 'good reason' but not the fee!

If someone in UK can go to a Police station with the Reg Number and explains, they will look up to see if it is reported stolen and it's Road Fund Licence/SORN status - but they will not tell you the Registered Keeper identity.

Hi

If someone pm's me the Reg, and location details, i'll print it off and go into local police station.

cheers

Fern

or I don't mind paying the £2.50 either

Giacomo,
Google brings up a load of contact details for the DVLA.
The search shown below is for email contact but you can find the same for telephone numbers, centrally and regionally.

dvla contact - Google Search

Fern
The police will refuse you on the grounds of the DPA.

The only way is to write a surface mail letter to the DVLA explaining why you need the owners details- photos will help
...and pay the fee.

Not so.

See Post 13 http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...androver-61513
The Police confirmed they had "no issues" with the apparently abandoned vehicle - meaning it was not reported as stolen or otherwise wanted in connection with anything (crime, etc).

And a few posts further in the thread the DVLA told the OP over the phone the vehicle had not been taxed since 'whenever'.

I would suggest Antonio PMs Fern the Registration Number sooner than publish it here and the Police get innundated!

Thanks Fern - keep us informed.

:rolleyes2:That was my personal experience Tony - at my local police station-
I went there to get help from them to get in touch with the buyer of my old 1200 when I wanted to forward a special key to him.
Their response was that, as there was no crime, they could not help me and that under the DPA they could not- They suggested I contact the DVLA in writing with reasons for request and fee.

After posting on a UK forum I think I certainly won't be posting the reg plate anywhere, since unfortunately I realised that I was giving some rather criminally minded airhead enthusiasts grounds to commit a potential crime down here. Unfortunately I don't want to repeat that mistake. I've also removed pictures of the bike.

I've sent a letter to the DVLA, asking for the owners details, I've also checked on the national database and the bike is actually insured until may, as well as taxed until the end of April. That means there is actually a good chance that the owner will turn up before then to get his bike back.

I didn't mention that I work at the Hertz car rental desk at the airport, that's why I see the bike every day, and I know it's been there since last July at the very least, and its also why I know about the airport cleanup schedule.
I've asked the car park attendants to remove the bike and place it out of harms reach, we wheeled it behind the terminal building yesterday evening.
I've also informed the Police, who will direct the owner to his bike once he returns. If he doesn't then I'll see what to do,Probably make a donation to a technical high-school. I have to repeat that I myself have no claims on the bike, but I don't want to inspire anyone else , apart from the rightful owner to have any either.

Thanks everyone for your advice, you really bring back my faith in the international biker community. I have to say that after my experience with the British forum that I won't mention, I really wonder why we Italians have a reputation for being histrionic and ridiculous..:thumbdown:

Ps . Fern you have a PM...

well I never, it is still insured according to the ASKMID!?

Bertrand - exactly!

But you were mixing them up and asking the wrong question of the wrong people.


I said in Post 4 the Police will confirm there are no 'issues' (ie. not stolen or 'wanted') with the vehicle and confirm if Road Tax is current.
I said in Post 4 the DVLA will supply the RK details, subject to 'good reason' and the fee.

Both as confirmed to have happened in the HUBB link I gave in Post 9.

Don't try to mix them, as neither organisation will do the work of the other.

You can actually go onto the gov.uk website look up dvla and input the reg and make to get current tax status. for free

I have used it to try and locate bikes i remember from my youth :)

see here it is a bit hidden)

https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/Ev...execution=e1s4

I just read that forum. I fully understand your feelings. Its one reason I no longer own a BMW and rarely post there.

Trust me, they are not representative of UK bikers. In my opinion I think your intentions are admirable and correct. Well done.