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Bristol show
Posted by geoff the bonnie on February 16, 2025, 11:22 pm
This weekend and back to Shepton this year. Expensive entry but you have to spend money on something or you do nothing. I am going to look for a pair of 6volt coils as mine are very old and after 20 miles, i sometimes have a misfire. Cheap enough although they are new Lucas not as good as the old Lucas. Last year, my stepson did buy a Trident at 6000 pounds from Russel James motorcycles. The engine blew up after 19 miles and under 1 hour. That dealer is to be avoided and the issue just finished with him being in court for a CCJ with judge awarding all the money back and 1000 pounds costs. In court, Russell stated all his bikes are just for looking at as an ornament. His mechanic said that none of them should be ridden as they need oil sloshing around so they need leaning over a lot so no flat road riding. The judge told the mechanic he knew very little. Then Russell started answering questions for the mechanic so judge shut him up. Near the end of the court hearing, Russell James started shouting at the judge that she knew nothing about the Law. We also found he was not really called Russel James, that is a false name. This was covered by the consumer protection act 2015 and i could not lose using that act. Early on, this trader warned me not to take him to court as it would be expensive and would cost a lot of money. yes, it cost 1000 pound of Russell James money. At least he paid up but has not collected the bike yet. You can see the actual bike on his website as featured at the 2024 show. Its green and black. Also on youtube as a T150T. The centre rod is sticking out of the cases now. Just be warned, this is a rogue trader and none of the bikes can be ridden and he does not road test any bike he sells. His so called master mechanic really knows nothing about bikes and was told this by the judge. If only the press had been there at Exeter county court. Have a look at his website and it looks impressive but none of the ramps in the shop have been used and no marks on any tool chests and a supe clean floor as no work is done there.
Re: Bristol show
Posted by Andy C on February 17, 2025, 6:50 am, in reply to "Bristol show"
Thanks for the warning Geoff - he usually has lots on E Bay, being fairly local to me I have ridden down to take a look a couple of times.
The place is never unlocked, never any signs of anyone about, and there is a sign saying visits by prior appointment only.
His "shop" is actually quite a big industrial unit.
Sounds like his "mechanic" was talking out his arse.
Bet it wont stop him trading though.Who needs a signature anyway......
Re: Bristol show
Posted by Andy C on February 17, 2025, 7:02 am, in reply to "Re: Bristol show"
Do you mean this one?
?si=Hsxz3BbN3eg482d0Who needs a signature anyway......
Re: Bristol show
Posted by geoff the bonnie on February 17, 2025, 11:15 am, in reply to "Re: Bristol show"
Thats the bike Andy. Still featured on his website even now. Apparently, he said this was the best one in the UK. It did look good at 5995 and Steve paid the full price after viewing it. The Dealership does not open to the public at all without phoning, possibly as customers turn up for refunds. His reviews have been edited but another review site has bad reviews where he has threatened customers after they complain. Some of the sales have had major engine faults and he blames the buyer etc. The mechanic had worked there 5 years although Russell said he had no mechanic at all at the sale. He looked about 13 years old and the Judge commented on this point after learning he knew nothing about the bike he had worked on prior to selling. If the bikes is stripped for parts, it might make 2500. It has brand new rims and spokes, 3 new premier carbs, new seat. In fact, nearly all parts were new and paint was unmarked and top quality. Built by Geoffrey Rice who previously owned it. We dug deep to find what was going on so spent many days gathering evidence. I was supposed to be in court but was away so Steve went alone and made a good job of memorising all the paperwork as he does not read very well with dyslexia. Some reviews on the other website would suggest not buying as he gets aggressive if it goes wrong. His idea that no one rides the bikes he sells and those who do only ride short distances is strange. I note in some adverts where he has cut frames to make customs, he states they are off road use only as they may be needing inspection for safety yet they are sold as registered for road use. Steve told the Judge he was lucky to be there alive after seizing up then oil on the rear tyre on a rainy day on the motorway. he said maybe this business might check their bikes before someone gets killed by the dangerous state they might be in being checked by people who know nothing. Not sure why he has a mechanic full time shut inside a warehouse with no bikes to repair as he does not do repairs to bikes, just polishes the turds to sell. That youtube video makes it look very good but notice he will not describe it at all but other adverts, he does. The claim that he was selling for a man living in Scotland was odd and i was told to take him to court. There is the law that says the redress is with the retailer and not any supplier so his solicitor advise that it was a private sale was wrong. The former owner has nothing to do with the sale, just the seller and then the seller has to get his money back from the former owner. This idiot just dug his heels in. All notices to him were served on time, i checked everything available i could use until i could not lose the case. Worst of all was the invoice at sale stating motorcycle sale and fully paid, bike owned by Russell james. After the failure he sent another altered invoice, back dated saying it was a commission sale. Of course, this invoice by email had its real date marking which can be found easily. However, in the small print, that invoice, again stated it was owned by Russell James as his computer automatically prints that out. Of course, he is also not called Russell James and i cannot find the business registration but he is a partnership and VAT registered. No idea who the partner is and i suspect the so called mechanic is a stepson and to cap that, his name was JONA and he holidays with Russell as stated on his court papers. Glad its done now but if he fails to collect the bike, i will be stripping it down after serving him notice to cover garage fees for 12 Months in storage
Re: Bristol show
Posted by Andy C on February 17, 2025, 12:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Bristol show"
Sounds like a grade 1 arsehole Geoff, but I cant find anything aabout him on the web, all that I can find is good.
No negative feedback on E-Bay, so perhaps people are just bying ornaments !
Some of his stuff looks really good, but now we know better.
Whenever I sell a bike, I make the buyer aware of any known faults, and ask them to sign to say that it is bought as seen, and with no guarantee implied or given.
Dont know if that covers me in the event of any problems, but it seems the "right" thing to do.
If it threw a rod then either the rod was already cracked or perhaps a catastrophic oil pump failure Trident oil pumps can give a lot of problems.
Think you should take "Mr James" for whatever you can.
Who needs a signature anyway......
Re: Triumph/BSA triple oil pumps and conrods
Posted by Stuart on February 17, 2025, 6:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Bristol show"
Hi Andy,
>perhaps a catastrophic oil pump failure Trident oil pumps can give a lot of problems.
Don't know where you got that from because by-and-large it isn't correct, they don't - there is the odd original that had problems, but BSA made upwards of 30,000 of 'em, and there was a batch around for a while that someone hauled out of the scrap skip after Small Heath closed.
If the pump was a problem, any rod problem is more-likely the timing-side one, because of the crank drillings; otoh, the centre rod is between the two supplies to the crank through the centre main bearings ...
Centre rod letting go could simply be age - they're ally rods, ally rods have a finite life; even if that isn't shorted by lots of high rpm and/or knocking 'em against the crankcase mouth, an original rod would've been at least 54 years old ...
When I had my T150 and 160 I was also told to pay close attention to the oil pump as they were prone to problems - perhaps I was miss informed.
Broken con rod could be an age thing you are right, or a big end cap bolt could have let go.
Either way after paying 6K you would not expect it to blow up after 19 miles.Who needs a signature anyway......
Re: Bristol show
Posted by Greeves Rider on February 18, 2025, 2:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Bristol show"
Interesting that they avoid showing the registration number in Youtube video!
Re: "Russel James"
Posted by Stuart on February 17, 2025, 7:15 am, in reply to "Bristol show"
Hi Geoff,
Great outcome.
>Russel James, that is a false name.
His real name is obviously Richard Cranium - "shouting at the judge that she knew nothing about the Law" ... Jeez ...
Regards,
Re: Bristol show
Posted by A65Bill on February 17, 2025, 5:01 pm, in reply to "Bristol show"
Well done Geoff It's a huge amount of work to prepare and present a case, doubly so when facing a crook.
Re: Bristol show
Posted by Greeves Rider on February 17, 2025, 6:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Bristol show"
Well done Geoff there are far to many of these cowboy dealers out there selling 'inflation proof' motor cycle 'ornaments'
Re: Bristol show
Posted by geoff the bonnie on February 17, 2025, 10:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Bristol show"
Today, this man has been sending texts asking for money to pay a courier to return what is now, his own bike. Just waiting for a few more then involve the police that he is now trying to defraud Steve and defy the Judgement that he has to collect the bike at his expense. We are happy to store it as its worth 2500 in parts. Next we serve notice of 4 weeks before disposal of the bike due to garaging costs. This arsesole scares no none here but i will have to stop Steve punching him as he has injured a few over the years and a few court cases. Little man about 5 foot 4 but exceptionally strong.
Re: Bristol show
Posted by Greeves Rider on February 17, 2025, 11:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Bristol show"
Posted by geoff the bonnie on February 18, 2025, 6:33 am, in reply to "Re: Bristol show"
No connection with that business. Its operated by one man but declared as a partnership at court but no details of the partner, possibly his wife as that helps with the income tax side. The business is dressed to look good with large Triumph trade mark signs all around the building. Not sure who supplies a lot of the bikes he sells but virtually all of them are new builds and look as new. They seem to be built and not run before sale so its a high risk. In the case of this Trident, he had stated prior to sale it had been ridden over 1000 miles recently so i then had to prove that it had not been ridden during the last 2 years prior to buying it. The dealer just lies on every part of the sale . If you do a google search for Russell James motorcycles reviews, there are some reviews by a company called birdeye that Russell is unable to remove. Some of those reviews are also indicating bikes failing on the first ride then the new owner gets abused. One also went to County court but unfortunately, he did not do enough research to win at court. There are many good reviews but every bad one has the same story of abuse and blaming the new owner.
Re: Bristol show
Posted by Greeves Rider on February 18, 2025, 2:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Bristol show"
Bit of a coincidence as Richard James Classics (actual name Richard Peck) also appears to specialise in Triumphs!
Re: Bristol show
Posted by Andy C on February 18, 2025, 6:53 am, in reply to "Re: Bristol show"
Hopefully Steve wont end up punching him, much as I am sure he would like to.
That would be just playing into the toe rags hands.
It will be just as satisfying and annoying for arsehloe having to come and collect the bike at his expense or recieve a letter from your solicitor nofifying him of disposal.
Of course if he does come to collect it, it could take a very long time to unlock the garage to get the bike out Who needs a signature anyway......
on February 16, 2025, 11:22 pm
