Dreaming of a VFR

[speedpoker]

Darn. That really is a crappy thing for that dealer to do. What a jerk. Sounds like you did everything right. Hope you get your money back. What a pain. In the last month I picked up a low millage 2004 ABS and love the thing. After testing the abs on a wet rode pretty good I am very impressed with it. I ran it up to 55mph then just hammed on the brakes and it came to a very nice but fast stop. I would never hit the brakes that hard on a non abs on wet pavement. That kind of non skidding braking power could come in very handy in the future. Good luck finding your bike.

[fotodaddy]

Thanks speedpoker, thats the exact reason why i MUST have the ABS model.

I've been on the phone with the dealer and he just sent me a mail that he has sent the funds back along with the transaction number. Its ridiculous. I promised I'd sue him for breach of contract if I find one cent missing on account of bank charges or the like. The bugger gave me a proforma invoice

[Nungboy]

And FotoDaddy, if you want to be even more sure, do a search here (and in general on the internet) for ABS opinions. You'll find many other people giving reasons for and against ABS. Of course, I feel that the non-ABS camp has some rather odd reasons for not having ABS.

[fotodaddy]

I can only imagine their reasons. But after my crash last year on account of locking the front wheel in an emergency with cars all around me, i need no convincing. I know what ABS does in my car and I can only imagine what it does on a bike!! For me its ABS or nothing!!

[Rollin_Again]

Do you think the dealer may have had second thoughts about making a foreign transaction to Nigeria? No offense to you or anything but we all know that tons of scams originate from Nigeria where people try to get items shipped after sending bogus or fraudulent funding. Maybe he got spooked away because he got worried and just didn't want to take a chance? It just doesn't seem logical for him to suddenly change his mind.

Regards,
Rollin

[fotodaddy]

Rolling I think this is exactly what happened. My friend in PA has been talking with hm and his whole behaviour and demeanor appears to have changed. Probably when he got to the bank, they told him stuff and he figured he'd rather loose the sale than risk being caught up in one scam or the other.

His loss.

We have a proverb in Nigeria; If you close your eyes because you dont want to see bad things, you will also miss seeing the good things.

[Richard Thompson]

Hmmmm.....if the dealer had cleared funds in his account (which his bank can advise him off) then theres no reason for him to 'not sell' the bike.

and clearly if he sending the funds back, this is the case.

more likely someone walked in off the street and offered him full price or a better deal, and he took it.

either way a shitty thing to do to you. karma will get him back...

good luck in your continued search....

RT

[fotodaddy]

Well, however it goes, I didnt get the bike and the money is on its way back to me. All else is how?, what? if? etc.

[fotodaddy]

I've been quiet for a while cos I didnt want anyone else to go through the heartache with me!!!

I finally got the money I had sent to the dealer last week wednesday (3 weeks since I first paid). But ahead of that, I decided to ***k it and jst get a brand new one. So thats what I ended up doing. I got a friend in Texas (Houston to be precise) to get me one. He had it ordered and was to pick it up last week Wednesday. But for Ike, everything was put on hold. The Bike is sitting on the showroom floor but on account of the craters/shippers not being able to receive it, we have put off taking it till this Tuesday. A picture of the bike on the dealers floor is here.

I have never been so interested in a hurricane before. I watched it on CNN and have been talking with my friend. He went through 7 horrifying hours in his closet with his family but at the end his house was not even damaged. I hope that the dealer didnt get flooded or something cos that would mean another wait!!! (I can seem to think of anything except my baby; is there something wrong with me??)

So all things being equal, my bike will be at the shippers this week and then its about 2 weeks wait for the next plane to Nigeria. Its costing me about $8/kg for airfreight and I am told that cos the bike needs to be in a very secure crate, I will probably be paying for volume and not weight. So I am looking at close to 400kg.

Julianivfr suggested getting the HID kit, so I have ordered 8 sets for my cars and for the bike. (some as spares also) Even this has been a challenge. I still dont have them. I will be in Europe at the end of the month so I will be buying frame sliders (we call them mushrooms) and some other things on my list. I already ordered a hugger for the rear wheel and a fender extender for the front wheel.

Well thats the story so far. I.ve been dreaming for quite a while. Soon my dream will turn to reality!!!

Thanks to you all for your support

[Fizz]

Sounds like an endeavor in and of itself to get a bike that is largely available to Mainland US.

Are there no markets for motorcycles in Nigeria that allow for localized dealers?

In any event, she's worth it. Ride safe. I'd imagine you've got some nice places to ride in Africa?

[malcster]

Hey Nigeria,just got a t shirt from Tanzania.Not like a vfr ,but hey,lot of the fish in the ocean,fishes don't have ABS.VFR's rock the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[fotodaddy]

Motorcycles are a major form of transport in most big cities (like Lagos) but these motorcycles are not ever bigger than 125ccs. The bigger motorcylces are really not interesting to dealers. I can tell you that in a country of 140million peope, I dont thing there are more that 100 riders of bikes over 400cc. There is a rider's convention planned for end of this month and there are only 36 riders registered for it and thats about 70% of all riders. Remember that these bikes dont come cheap.

Malcster, if you give me your shirt size, i'll get you a T shirt from the convention!!!;-)

[drewl]

There is nothing wrong with you, fotodaddy. We are all fools for our VFRs.
Usually when the weather is bad or the bike is being fixed we go and pat it to let it know we still care. After I first got my bike I would go and look at it in the garage everyday for months. Good luck on getting her there in one piece.

[squirrelman]

NOW that's a FIRST: a Nigerian got scammed by an American!!

[fotodaddy]

So what does that tell us??

[drewl]

there are evil selfish people everywhere we go

[Nungboy]

Right on Fotodaddy! I hope it comes quickly, safely, and that you ride it in good health. It IS worth it!
Congrats!

[modernity]

Hope your search is going well, and if there's anything I can do here in NC, just holler!

My 2 cents worth on ABS, not worth the money for me on the VFR. But then again, everyone has there own reasons for getting the ABS model, so good luck in your search.

[fotodaddy]

Hi all, as my bike clears customs there have been a lot of delays. Firstly is that there is only one cargo flight from Houston (where my bike is) to Lagos, Nigeria. Second, Ike has done some damge to the customs offices so there is no water and they are running on generators. Not to mention that part of their offices were also damaged.

I havent been sitting just twidling my thumbs. No no no!! I have been getting extras!! I ordered and have gotten HID upgrades (suggested my a member) and cruise control. Also I have my custom registration; FOTODADI is all they'll see as i breeze past!!

I am thinking of getting a hugger for the rear wheel. Does anyone have suggestions?? I have seen some on ebay but I wonder if they are worth it. Opinions please.

[Rollin_Again]

Originally Posted by fotodaddy

I am thinking of getting a hugger for the rear wheel. Does anyone have suggestions?? I have seen some on ebay but I wonder if they are worth it. Opinions please.

Check out the link I posted below. VFRWorld Member RIVCYKO makes some pretty sweet custom huggers. You must be itching to ride your new bike. The wait will be worth it. Remember that you owe us some pics.

Gen. 6 rear hugger/chain guard, anyone?


Regards,
Rollin