Iconic Motorbikes auction: 1986 Honda VFR700F Interceptor - project bike

The whole delivery thing was weird, the guy dropped it off and sent me a picture asking where I wanted it. I said where it is is fine I'll come out and put it in the garage. Keep in mind it was after 11:00pm and I was sitting in the house wanting to go to bed. When I walked out he was gone but I saw him down the street and it was a big trailer towed by a big pickup.

To be honest during this whole thing I got the impression from everyone I dealt with that they didn't give a shit. I'm guessing they'd be a little more attentive if it was an RC30 or something.

 

Hmm, I wonder if Iconic is considered a licensed dealer?

 

OK thanks! What does this part mean? "I got the impression from everyone I dealt with that they didn't give a shit."

Are you talking about Iconic?

==========

Most of my transports I have to pay the driver in cash (just for the transport part) when they bring the bike so this means no "drop offs"...we always meet and get it done. I've never had any probs with any of them, to be honest. The ones I've had are super friendly and helpful.

 

Yes I'm talking about Iconic. The transport driver was paid up front by Iconic, it was one if their transports. The guy tried to be friendly, calling me brother and all that shit but he led me on all day as to when he would arrive. The whole experience was less than overwhelming customer service all the way around.

 

OK thanks!

So, the driver was an actual employee of Iconic? Or someone who just subbed out to them - like an independent contractor?

 

Gotta say......I think you have a real bone to pick with someone at Iconic.

Might be worth reaching out to the owner, Adam Tromp.

Just don't tell him I sent ya...lol....

 

I'm positive he was someone they subbed out too. He said he was from Philly, which is about an hour from me, so I'm guessing he's someone they use to haul bikes to the east coast.

 

Thanks, I think I will reach out to him. I'm gonna tell him Bazza told me to contact you! Just kidding Lol

 

OK thanks - that's what I figured.

They do have their own rigs and driver employees but I think they only use those for 'special occasions'.

Nature of the beast.

Still.....the contractor KNOWS he's representing ICONIC so has to do a decent job.

I truly don't know what the response from ICONIC would be. I know you already reached out. Maybe see how things play out.....

I'd still be interested, if I were you, in what they say if you wanted a complete refund.

 

Ha!

Adam posts videos on FB all the time so is very involved in his business. Seems like a really good guy.

Pretty amazing the amount of bikes they deal with on a regular basis. I never knew they were this big before watching all the videos.

He has a couple other guys who are at the top helping him run things.

Abhi is one and he also seems to be a good guy.

I'm thinking about listing one of my bikes with them next year just before Spring but that's a ways off so who knows what will happen.

This is where some of my interest and curiosity comes from.

I did speak on the phone with someone who just sold a bike with them and he said it was a positive experience. And I think @sixdog has said the same, so those are positive data points.

Regarding the transport drivers.....I give them as much latitude as possible and empathy with the job they have to do. Can't be easy by any measure! Communication is the one component though I insist on having in place. If a transport is delayed so be it. But PLEASE keep me in the loop!

I'm sure things will work out OK one way or another. I look forward to future updates - especially about the bike itself and your opinions on condition, other than what was represented on the auction page.

Keep your chin up, James....cheers, my friend!

 

Hey JK … I know Adam and Abhi personally.
If you want me to let them know about the issues you have experienced please let me know. I do know the drivers are not Iconic employees. If anything negative happens I assure you Adam wants to know.

Just as a point of reference, I have sold about 15 bikes through iconic and all transactions went flawlessly. I do have one issue with transportation from the east coast to me here in California. Other than that all has been tits!

Just let me know brother.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Thanks guys I appreciate your concern. I figured this must be a fluke given all the business that Iconic does but it's frustrating. I emailed the guy Matt that I'd like to pursue the the TN title route but haven't heard anything back from him. We'll see what the process is, it doesn't sound like they are getting the title for me just assisting me in getting one. If it seems to difficult I'll tell them I want my money back.The driver issue was irritating but I don't want to get the guy in trouble. I just feel like he led me on as to what time he'd get to my place.
Lets see how this plays out, hopefully Matt attempts to make this right!

 

Your delivery guy was very likely a Hotshot Hauler.
https://hotshothaulers.org/

 

Could be he was definitely contracted out .

 

I wasn't expecting much from this bike especially given this statement "Iconic acquired this bike as a non-running project so we could source some parts for a client’s bike that needed service work". I was focused on the titled frame, if I knew I was just buying an untitled parts bike, which I don't need, I would have looked a little closer at the pictures in the auction. There is not much that isn't fu**ed up on this bike. Funny the mufflers look good, no rash to speak of, so I don't think it was ever wrecked just knocked around and abused.

 

I don't know what happened to the front fender, I guess it could be reshaped with some heat. The fairing looks like someone tried to yank the windscreen off without unbolting it. The plate was removed from the carbs and somehow someone broke one of the carb bodies. Fairings look like the thing fell over a few times. Looks like someone tried to yank the seat cowl off and broke the tab where it slides into the tail piece, they half assed tried to repair it.

I haven't heard anything back from Matt at Iconic about possible obtaining a TN title. Yesterday was a federal holiday so maybe they were closed. We'll see if I hear from them today.

 

So it came with the carbs out?

If so, they are likely broken because somebody removed them improperly by removing the plenum prior to extracting them from the (rock hard) insulators. Carbs are ALWAYS removed as a unit with the plenum in place. None of those brown fuel tubes can be trusted now either. They were fragile when new and now that they are 40 years old brittle they crack even easier.

 

Yeah, the carbs were just sitting on top of the engine. I should have looked closer at the pictures in the auction, now that I've gone back and looked I see the plenum is off the carbs. It looks like someone took the plenum off, why I don't know, and yanked on the carbs breaking one of the bodies. I was surprised to see that none of the fuel tubes were broke but you're right they can't be trusted.

 

I chased a very annoying small carb leak a few years ago (on some carbs that were previously removed incorrectly). I inspected the fuel tubes before I re-assembled them with all new orings. Drove me crazy. FINALLY found a hairline spiral crack in one with magnification the 3rd time I removed the carbs.

 

Thank you so much mate! Really appreciate the purchase -Adam