Bike For Sale '07 ST1300 - Please help save this bike!

Price
$ 2,500-ish
Current Mileage
170K
Current Location
Richmond, VA
ABS
Yes - ABS Equipped
Larry Fine

Larry Fine

Joined
Aug 21, 2018
Messages
969
Age
70
Location
Richmond, VA
Bike
'01 & '96 11, '07 13
I have been agonizing over this, but I think it's the best thing to do.

Quick explanation:

I have been in NC since July, only going home to Richmond occasionally for medical and other appointments. At some point since my last trip in in Jan., the cover blew off of my '07 ST1300. The license had expired and I hadn't ridden it since June because the brake system has SMC and rear brake issues.

The county police had it towed as abandoned (even though it's registered to the address it was parked in front of) on Jan. 15th, and I just found out when I went in for medical appointments. As of Tuesday, the balance was $2,125, and going up $50 a day, and I can not afford anywhere near that much.

I decided that I would rather offer it for sale here than to see it go to who-knows-where. So, if anyone is interested, please contact me about buying it, which means coming up with the money and paying it to the tow yard. I will find out exact cost and procedure if and when I hear from someone.

Of course, all the keys would be included, as well as the title. It would be a normal sale. The deadline according to DMV is March 8th. so this would have to be done this coming week. I have a trailer to help pick it up if needed, and can either deliver it or store it until it can be retrieved.

I really wanted to keep this bike, but I can not afford the costs to get it back, which I calculate to be $2,325 today, and $2,425 on Monday. The main things I want are anything I have left in the luggage, and to see it go to a good home. Anything would be better than seeing it auctioned off or junked.

This is the bike I was given in July of '24. It is OEM silver and still in very good condition. I have added front and rear Sargent seats and a matching silver Givi top box to it. The only money I would ask for is to recover the costs of the seats and the top-box, or I can put the OEM seat back on it.

Also available separately are a front RDL seat, a set of a front and rear RDL seats, one or two good windshields, pannier liners, a set of new brake pads, a quartet harness, speaker enclosures, etc. I also have another '07 silver ST1300 with body damage on one side if the buyer is interested.

So, please contact me and help save this bike from purgatory! It is located in Richmond, VA.
 
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Larry, that sucks. Sorry, I don't know anyone in the market at this time, but will keep this in mind.
 
Not exactly quick, but it makes sense. I'm not far away either. Wish I had that much on hand or I'd jump on it.
 
Larry, I'm sorry to hear of your predicament. As I was reading your post I was hoping the bike would be in NC, where I could have possibly helped you. Unfortunately, with the bike in Richmond, I am powerless. So sorry.
 
SMSW said:
Really? 170k miles 2007 1300's are worth less than $2500?
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I bought an 08 last summer with 40k miles for $3,000

A quick search of FB marketplace and I found the following ST's within 250 miles of me:
2003 w/ 88k miles for $3,000
2005 w/ 31k miles for $3,900
2005 w/ 16k miles for $4,000
2004 w/ 38k miles for $3,000
2004 w/ 56k miles for $3,400
2004 w/ 58k miles for $3,000
2007 w/ 73k miles for $3,395

So yeah, I'd say a 2007 with SMC/brake issues and 170k miles isn't worth $2,500.
 
This really sucks, Larry. Particularly the part about law enforcement coming onto your property to seize private property, no matter the state of the registration.

I realize dealing with Virginia issues from NC might be more than you care to handle, but have you considered taking the county to court for the towing, charges and any possible damage they caused? Among the stupid waste of time on YouTube, I've watched numerous cases where LEO did exactly what you described and get slapped by the judge and pay full restitution to the victim.
 
STRider said:
This really sucks, Larry. Particularly the part about law enforcement coming onto your property to seize private property, no matter the state of the registration.

I realize dealing with Virginia issues from NC might be more than you care to handle, but have you considered taking the county to court for the towing, charges and any possible damage they caused? Among the stupid waste of time on YouTube, I've watched numerous cases where LEO did exactly what you described and get slapped by the judge and pay full restitution to the victim.
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I made a similar comment to Sirbike this morning in a conversation. I added, however, that it would probably cost a lawyer a thou or two to win the case. The way I read @Larry Fine's post was the bike was parked in front of his house - i.e. in the street. If it was in his driveway, with valid license plates (even with an expired sticker) and the cops snagged it, then I'd think he has a slam dunk case. An any rate, usually a lawyer's initial consult is free so maybe he should make a phone call or two.

Usually, we never get the full story before weighing in and there could very well be aspects to this that we don't know. For example, my community prohibits parking work trucks on one's property overnight unless garaged, and limits workers from parking said trucks beyond normal work hours*. I was an electrician and parked my work truck - an inconspicuous bright yellow (used Penske) truck in our drive while I was working on the house (we worked rehabbing the house for 10 years before we moved in). We went away for a short vacation and came back to find a friendly neighbor had complained and we had a warning sticker on the windshield. That's the whole of it, but I could easily have left out the part about the law on the books (which I knew about but was willing to push the issue since we had permits and worked on the house at late hours and on weekends).

*Not defined in the ordinance, and normal for me was after a regular work day. Try to argue that in front of a judge, but I figured a local judge, me a taxpayer saving a house that would otherwise be torn down, etc. etc. It never came to that.
 
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Sorry to hear about the pickle the authorities have left you in. I wish you the best in getting this sorted.
FWIW, I have, with my own eyes, seen this very motorcycle in action. She’s a beauty and worth your attention. SMC issues are not critical and with the wealth of knowledge and help from this fraternity, can be dealt with at minimal costs.
Hate to see a 1300 go to waste. DAMHIK!
 
QUOTE FROM ORIGINAL POST:
“I hadn't ridden it since June because the brake system has SMC and rear brake issues.”

To me it’s not only an older bike with high miles, but it’s got brake problems— which is why it was parked for an extended period of time right? You put all that together and yes the adjusted book value of the bike is probably not worth the towing and storage bill.

And I say this as a person who had brake dragging problems on my ST 1300 , and I got mocked on this website for not immediately fixing it —which I couldn’t do myself nor could I afford to have a professional do it.
So I just rode it cautiously, keeping an eye on things , and when the rotor started smoking I’d crouch down with a hotdog on a stick and make some use of the warmth…. 😉

( Just kidding —it never got that hot!)
 
Sorry about your dilemma. 25 years ago in Lake Tahoe, I had 4 vehicles. One was not registered. I was informed that an unregistered vehicle in California parked on the street (even though it was parked in front of my home), was subject to police initiated vehicle towing. I dodged a bullet.

The towing yard would file a lien, then sell the vehicle at whatever price they decide.
 
Go in front of a judge, plead your case and ask him to reduce the fine and impoundment fees to what you can afford. If the bike isn't worth the effort to you then let it go. Most judges and municipalities are fair about these things.
 
Donk said:
Go in front of a judge, plead your case and ask him to reduce the fine and impoundment fees to what you can afford. If the bike isn't worth the effort to you then let it go. Most judges and municipalities are fair about these things.
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Either this, or wait for the auction. They can sell it for a fraction of the price.

I remember that in NJ they used to give you a sticker with the expiration date to put on the plate. I've never bothered to put it on. After few years they do away with it for some reason.
So the cop have to scan the plate in order to check, (which they don't usually bother unless the bike is sitting there for a long time).
 
SMSW said:
I made a similar comment to Sirbike this morning in a conversation. I added, however, that it would probably cost a lawyer a thou or two to win the case. The way I read @Larry Fine's post was the bike was parked in front of his house - i.e. in the street. If it was in his driveway, with valid license plates (even with an expired sticker) and the cops snagged it, then I'd think he has a slam dunk case. An any rate, usually a lawyer's initial consult is free so maybe he should make a phone call or two.

Usually, we never get the full story before weighing in and there could very well be aspects to this that we don't know. For example, my community prohibits parking work trucks on one's property overnight unless garaged, and limits workers from parking said trucks beyond normal work hours*. I was an electrician and parked my work truck - an inconspicuous bright yellow (used Penske) truck in our drive while I was working on the house (we worked rehabbing the house for 10 years before we moved in). We went away for a short vacation and came back to find a friendly neighbor had complained and we had a warning sticker on the windshield. That's the whole of it, but I could easily have left out the part about the law on the books (which I knew about but was willing to push the issue since we had permits and worked on the house at late hours and on weekends).

*Not defined in the ordinance, and normal for me was after a regular work day. Try to argue that in front of a judge, but I figured a local judge, me a taxpayer saving a house that would otherwise be torn down, etc. etc. It never came to that.
Click to expand...
You guys should look into small claims court....
Small claims court in Virginia is a division of the General District Court handling civil disputes of $5,000

or less, excluding interest. It is designed for simple, fast, and often pro se (self-represented) cases involving money judgments or property recovery. Cases are heard by a judge, and lawyers are generally not required.
 
The lot guy has agreed to hold onto it and a compromise, so I have some time.

But, what would my legal claim be? I can't find out what the rules for them are.
 
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