San Diego Superbike

Review: I purchased a motorcycle engine from [redacted] at San Diego Superbike. The engine is a 2012 Aprilia RSV4 APRC that Mr. [redacted] claimed had "approximately 100 miles" on it. The cost of the engine was $4015. After receiving the engine I inspected it very closely. I have found numerous indications that this engine has many more than 100 miles on it. The engine appears very clean but on close inspection it is clear that engine had been steam cleaned or high temperature pressure washed. Hidden areas were not cleaned. I sent Mr. [redacted] photographs of my findings but he has commented that the motorcycle, when he bought it was very clean and had the original tires with little wear. This is how [redacted] determined that the engine has only 100 miles on it. My methods of determining actual mileage are sound. This engine likely has 5000-6000 miles on it therefore its condition is unknown. The reason the mileage is unknown is due to a broken digital odometer.Desired Settlement: San Diego Superbike should either negotiate a fair value for this engine and make a partial refund or refund the entire purchase price of $4015.00 and accept its return.

Business

Response:

10/27/2013

RE: Revdex.com complaint by [redacted] of Muse Instruments received 10/26/2013

[redacted] of Muse Instruments, Las Cruces, NM purchased several items we had listed on ebay and asked us to combine the sale and shipment into the main item, a 2012 Aprilia RSV4-R APRC used motorcycle engine listing. The original list price of all the items was $6,128. [redacted] negotiated a final price of $4,015. The sale was completed on 9/27/2013 and [redacted] received the shipment on 10/212013 at Muse Instruments in Las Cruces, NM.

The main ebay item listing (see attached) was described as a 2012 Aprilia RSV4-R APRC used engine with approximately 100 miles. We used title information, insurance information, and a complete thorough inspection of the vehicle as a whole to approximate the mileage. It was noted in the item description that the dash was included but the digital side did not display. Also, no other documentation of vehicle mileage was offered in the listing. [redacted] contacted us before purchasing the items to verify that we were a real business and also asked about the condition of the dash. We explained that no digital data would display. He seemed fine with it at the time and made the purchase the next day.

[redacted] contacted us thru ebay on 10/2/2013 after receiving the items with concerns about some small gritty grease spots on the outer engine case and a wear mark on the active surface of the kickstand switch. He believed he could calculate 6000 miles with this observation. We explained to [redacted] that this is normal for a used engine even with approximately 100 miles. [redacted] was insistent on proving us wrong and notified us that he had dis-assembled parts of the engine and would be sending parts out for analysis to prove his hypothesis. We provided [redacted] with the vehicle VIN so that he could verify all public records for himself. We also asked him several times to send pictures of his areas of concern but never received a response until 10/19/2013 with his Paypal claim. We offered to send [redacted] high resolution pictures of all the other parts from the motorcycle showing their pristine condition but he has not expressed any interest in seeing them.

All of our ebay listings state our 14 day money back return policy if a buyer is not completely satisfied. The item must be returned in the same condition as it was received. [redacted] did not ask for a refund during this time. He spent this time doing a forensic Investigation that proved inconclusive.

Unfortunately, by exceeding the 14 day return period, dis-assembling the engine and sending sensitive electronic parts out to a third party for analysis, the engine can no longer be returned. [redacted] is now using negative feedback thru ebay, filing claims with Paypal, posting negative information about our company on the internet, and filing complaints with the Revdex.com in retaliation.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

San Diego Superbike has offered nothing to support their claim off approximately 100 miles on the Aprilia Motorcycle engine I purchased from them. The engine has well over 100 miles. My claim is supported by facts. San Diego Superbike judged the mileage of this engine based on an overall appearance ignoring all of the fine details that give a clear indication of its use. Their prime reasons for arriving at the mileage was the general cleanliness of the engine, the tread remaining on the tires and the condition of the air filter.

I am a Structural Engineer with an emphasis on Failure Analysis. I have been in this field for almost forty years. I use the unnoticed factual details to paint the larger picture and then arrive at a conclusion. San Diego Superbike looked at a clean but wrecked motorcycle and ignored all evidence of wear.

I sent them detailed photographs of exterior component wear that could not have happened in 100 miles or even 1000 miles. I believe this engine has approximately 5000 miles based on wear patterns of steel parts. Mr. [redacted] has called this “normal wear”. It is normal wear but not for 100 miles. He has stated that he offered to send photographs of the motorcycle before it was dismantled for parts. That is not true. Mr. [redacted] claims I dismantled the engine. That is a lie. I sent the ECU (the brain) to an Authorized Aprilia Dealer for analysis. That is exactly what San Diego Superbike would have done if they had wanted to know what was in the ECU’s memory.

San Diego Superbike has stated that information is easily available to prove their mileage claim. They claimed they had the information but were not allowed by law to reveal the information to anyone but the legal owner. I told them they are the legal owner. At that point their story changed. I was told to get the information myself. Mr. [redacted] did not say how I was to do that.

If San Diego Superbike has reasonable information as to the mileage on this engine the have had ample time to produce it.

Regards,

Business

Response:

We initially provided Mr. [redacted] with the VIN# so he could look up all public information on the

donor vehicle. We offered to send high resolution pictures of the donor vehicle and all of its

parts which we listed on ebay so he could see the bike was in almost new condition. Finally we

offered our help to show Mr. [redacted] how to find data on the donor vehicle if he would end his

online tirade. Mr. [redacted] has never expressed any interest in our help. It seems he is

only interested in making un-educated claims and demands in an online cyber-rage fashion.

Mr. [redacted] has escalated his case thru Paypal to be the judge and make a decision. Paypal has also

agreed that the item was listed accurately and that Mr. [redacted]'s claim was without merit.