new member with some questions kz900 in iowa

whatever you do dont call the cops

exactly what i was afraid of, thanks for the advise guys... i will be paying the guy i bought it from a visit and demand my money back. umm is there a reason i shouldnt get the cops involved? because i feel thats my best bargaining chip to get my money back. is it just a matter of losing the bike or am i liable for charges or something?

The police will probably want to seize the bike. If the bike is stolen, either an insurance company or the person the bike was stolen from owns the bike. YOu could be out the money if you cannot recover from the dubious seller.

If the person selling the bike knows the issue, he's likely to be charged with receiving stolen goods or stealing the bike - both serious offences.

Can he also be charged with trafficking in stolen goods since he knowingly sold the bike with the knowledge that the serial numbers are bogus. There is now way he could have registered that bike.

I guess, you can keep the bike and part it out to recoup some of your money. But I think legally I think you are obligated to report it (my disclaimer).

From what I can see you have a 1978 KZ650B-2 that has had Z-1 badges applied to the sidecovers. In addition to what Jeff and others pointed out the blue ring around the guages and the 9000 rpm redline is consistent with a 650 the clutch cover is not a 900 either. The serial numbers on both the frame and the engine are a huge red flag. The area on the cases where the engine numbers are stamped appears to have been ground down and restamped. Starting in 1976 this area had a raised area around the engine number which is missing on your bike. Everything I'm looking at screams stolen bike and I would demand my money back. I'm attaching some pics of what a KZ650 engine number should look like as well as the engine number from a 76 KZ900. Pay attention to the raised area around the number that is part of the casting which on the bike you have is missing.

pics didn't load let's try again

yep awesome... someone out there wouldn't have a rough kz 650 with a title they'd like to sell fairly cheap huh? :S

alright i loaded it back up on the trailer and im about to go demand my money back, what a week this has been

I hope it goes well with the return Andy - it's not an easy situation.

I've looked at bikes in the past where I know they have been renumbered - and I have walked away. One owner wouldn't believe his bike was stolen and renumbered, but it was. I wanted the bike as it had 29mm smoothbores on it, but I didn't want any part of a shady deal.

wow that was a scary situation, needless to say it didnt go well...heated words were exchanged, and fists almost flew. and even with my buddy with me we were sorely outnumbered.

Hope you work it out
Be careful
Anyone that tries a burn like this may try anything
Its not worth getting hurt

Did you get your money, I'm guessing He knew it was a fake if He got that upset.