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When I found my stolen YZ online, it looked very rough. This is how I got it back.
The listing
Not only was it painted horribly, but even in the pictures I could see damage and missing parts. The carb had been swapped for an aftermarket one, and there was noticeable damage to the tank. The seller said it wasn't running and needed work, and I could tell it was in bad shape.
The message that got an answer
When I reached out, I didn't try to talk them down or ask too many questions. I asked a couple of questions, actually — and the seller didn't respond at all.
After a few hours I sent another message. No questions, just that I wanted to come take a look at it, I had cash, and I'd likely buy it. That message got a response right away.
No questions — just that I had cash and would likely buy it. That got a response right away.
We set up a time, and I filmed the start of the video where I get it back. The bike was over an hour's drive away.
The police station first
I went to the police station first, to see what I could do and how they could help. They had a lot of questions — mostly why I hadn't reported it stolen, and that they could have helped if I'd gotten them involved back then. I didn't see it that way: stolen dirt bikes rarely come back through a report. I was talking to them because I'd found the bike myself and done the legwork.
They sent an officer to talk with me, and he was actually really cool. He was helpful, and he ran all the numbers. He told me I had two options:
- Get the police involved: they'd take the bike, and I'd have a whole process to go through.
- Go meet the seller, tell them the story, show my proof, and maybe they'd give me the bike back. If things got sketchy, call him and he'd come and intervene.
Why I went to meet the seller
I thought the second option was a good one, for a few reasons.
One: he ran the address and the seller's name, and they came back with no reports, no issues — at least at that point, nothing on their record.
Two: I've done this kind of buying a lot. I have a good sense of how the conversations go, and I wanted hard proof of the serial numbers. I didn't have a perfectly clear image of the number yet. I knew it, but the officer said yeah, it looks like it, but he couldn't read every number for sure.
Three: I didn't think the seller stole it, and I didn't want them going through all of that if they didn't.
Just an interested buyer
When I got there, the bike wasn't out in the open. It was under a cover, tucked away. I feel like the seller knew it was stolen, especially after the story I heard. But I didn't jump out with accusations — I checked out the bike like an interested buyer.
The bike was in rough shape, and the seller gave me pretty honest answers about how it was ridden, how it was crashed, and how it needed work.
Finally, I asked where he got it. He told me a story that lined up with my suspicion about the thief — and then he told me it came from Vegas.
"I know all about this motorcycle"
That's when I told him I knew all about the motorcycle. I showed him my proof that it was mine, and told him I was there to take it home.
He didn't put up any fight or argument at all. I loaded up the motorcycle and gave him a few dollars as a finder's fee. He was thankful, but also pretty upset he couldn't sell it — he needed the money, he said.
Trashed, and mine
If the motorcycle weren't mine, I wouldn't have bought it, and I doubt anyone else would have, unless it was at a steep discount. It was clearly stolen and obviously ridden hard.
I really have my work cut out for me. But I've never been happier to have bought a trashed motorcycle in my life.
I've never been happier to have bought a trashed motorcycle in my life.