Forum

[Mark B]

I've got a 1999/00 500 Bullet and when I removed the number plate to fit a new one I found an original Indian registration number hand painted on the number plate. Was it usual practice to register bikes locally before exporting them, have I got one that was exported from India after it had been used, or what? I can't see any obvious clues on the V5. Hopefully here's a photo:

[Mark B]

Let's try the photo again:

[Mark B]

And a bit of googling shows that the Indian registration is from district O4 of Tamil Nadu, the capital of which is... Chennai!

[Mickey]

Hi Mark, If it's a 1990 UK supplied bike the V5 should have a 17 digit (VIN) identification no. which should also be on the frame downtube (though they are sometimes missing). If the 17 digit number is not present it is a personal import previously registered in India though not necessarily used there. Mick

[Mark B]

Brilliant, thanks Mickey. I'm off to the garage to investigate...

[Mark B]

OK, the V5 says it was Declared Manufactured 1999, and was first registered in the UK on 7 July that year. There's no 17 digit VIN, but it says 9B5*****A (500 Bullet of January 1999). The engine number ends in K so should be from October of the same year. No evidence of a number on the downtube, so it sounds as though it was imported personally, and registered in the UK a few months before the engine was made... Hmmm.

[jefrs]

Thought - double check that engine number because it is possible the motor was made the previous October.

[tuningfine]

Hello Sunshine ! I would like buy a bike from India too,but i just hesitate. Can i register the bike easy here in the UK? Can i get a UK plate and M.O.T. ? Thanks for your answer.