What happens to the abandoned Motorcycles/Cars? Goes for auction?

Taiwan Where Can I Find...?
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There’s a …ok there was a beautiful Caferacer motocycle parked near my company. In front of a Family Mart to be exactly. Before was shining with brown seat and brown handles…now is whats shows at the picture

Since the first time I saw it, I always stare at it after buy something at F-mart. But after few months i noticed that the motocycle has never been move.

Then 1 year has pass, the handles started to look more dry and whiter ( was brown )

Until one day Surprise! The plate has been removed and was a small pink sticker at the gas tank. Itnwas a code bar and with the adress of the motocycle location.

2 years passed and the sticker already fade away, and the Tires started to lose air. So i ask the staff of F-Mart if they can call i dont know…who ever government/ transportation/ law responsible to report about an abandoned motocycle, and if there’s a chance I can buy it if theres any auction.

But the F-mart clerk just said " nononono, don’t know the owner…dont want trouble. "

At that time, my dear friend = my motorcycle was officially dead after 10 years of extreme royalty.

  • Outside during raining season while i was 2 month vacation in my country
  • Typhones
  • 5 Crashes
  • Accidently added Diesel instead of Nafta 95

So after my last business trip before the Age of Covid, I was 3 months without riding it. The acceleration cable got broken because got dried and tight with the rain. Water in the engine , and to fix all that was nearly 10k .

So i thought: I wouldn’t mind spend that or even more to fix the abandoned Caferacer taht obviously was it worst state than my bike.

But since I needed a new bike asap, I just bought a Quannon. With the hope that one day i can have the right information and steps to follow in order to get and at least as hobby I could restore that Caferacer.

First time I saw it was 2018.
I bought new motocycle in 2021
Now 2022… The Caferacer its still there…waiting

So any suggestions or info about the LEGAL way to get and own that beautiful piece of trash? Hahaha

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The only way would be to find the legal owner and have them transfer ownership to you. Taiwan is very anal about such things. Just ask @Taiwan_Luthiers.

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And what happens if the Owner is not longer in the country? or worst case scenario not longer alive? Don’t having plate is already a Fault. Even if you don’t use your motocycle for years, still need pay taxes and take it to Smoke Testing.

So without plate and without moving it and in the state it is now…i’m sure it has the enough reasons to be towed and place it in the tow yard.

Some one told me that when this happens and the owner not claim the motocycle in 6 months, it goes for auction.

But until now…even taiwaneses and colleagues I ask don’t have idea about this case with motocycles.

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I can tell you right now that the motorcycle is little more than scrap metal at this point. That’s assuming you got the owner to give it to you or sell it to you. If the owner gave it to you take it to a scrap yard NOW and collect whatever they give you. If the owner is nowhere to be found or not in the country, call 1999 and someone will take it away.

If the scooter you have been riding is giving you so much trouble what makes you think a motorcycle that has been sitting around for 2 years, through sunshine, typhoon, moisture, rust, etc. is going to even work?

You’ll spend about 100,000nt in parts or mechanics fee (actually if mechanics, expect to pay more) to even get it to start. All the oil will have to be drained and replaced, the gas will be no good and will have to be drained too. All belts, wiring, etc. is likely shot and must be replaced.

You do NOT want it even if you can get it legally. If it had been sitting in a garage then it may be good but not if it’s in the rain, with all the parts having rusted and all that.

Oh and the engine will likely need to be taken apart and completely refurbished too, as there are going to be gaskets and seals that need replacing.

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Yes agree with you. But like I said, already bought a new motorcycle. Now the only thing I want to do with that Caferacer it’s just play with it on my garage as hobby.

Torn it apart and slowly step by step, piece by piece make it whole again. OR at least just get it clean and shine for exhibition in my restaurant or hang it in the wall.

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Again, you would need to contact the owner and ask if you can have it, and the title transferred to you, or if you need it gone because it’s taking up space and it’s an eyesore, call 1999 and they will send someone to collect it.

Don’t just take it as you may be on the hook for theft… and being a motorcycle with title it will be felony theft…

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not sure if this will help
https://epamotor.epa.gov.tw/

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HAHAHAHAA ofc. I will call 1999 and then ask them to update me if the owner ever shows up or if there’s an auction /re-sell stuff.

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They don’t do that. They end up in gov’t lots and then eventually sold for scrap to large scrapyards. People who want to get rid of old, broken down bikes can also sell them to dealers, who will then refurbish and sell them. This also involves legal transfer of ownership.

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I don’t know how you can get the bike legally without knowing the owner, maybe have a chat with the local police.

But as a hobby to strip down and do up its a simple ish machine to work on, it’s small enough that you don’t need any specialty lifting gear.
I’m not going to tell you how to suck egg’s as you already understand its going to need a full bottom up rebuild and paint job. If you’re putting the time in yourself and invest in a proper maintenance manual you could probably get it up and running with minimum parts (making it ridable, then making it pretty is another story).
bear in mind there are scooter brakers yards around you can salvage parts from, you could probably pick one up in similar condition form there for a couple of grand and save the hassle of finding the owner.
If you do decide to go ahead with the project you can find replacement parts on

I normally find the part on an English website and get the part number then look for it on the above two websites

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Thanks for the advice Shaun. And yes, I know it will not be easy, but I’ll consider it as therapy to spend max 1 hour a day to take out a part /replace. Or at least make it lighter and use it like a “motorcycle sculpture” .

Now is more clear, I will just aim this motocycle IF authorities says somethig like:
-Since the owner doesn’t show up and also have a long list of infraction for not pay the taxes for this motorcycle NOW will be OUR property, so or you can recycle it or you pay something and we register it as yours, etc "

OR just like you say, just find one in similiar condition in a yard.

For me It’s just painful see that bike everyday in there

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I’ve seen abandoned AMG Merc, couple of Peugeot 206 and a few early 60’s Vespa.
I’m capable of restoring old machines so I went through same pallava and got absolutely nowhere.
Advice I got from Taiwanese friends was go to police ask them to find ownership saying your interested in buying, contact owner go that way.
However I had a go asking police in a station close to me - no go not interested.

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Hope they can find the owner… without the the Plate number

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The frame number will also be on the database, just need to have a look around to find where it is on that model.

I understand there have been a few strays I have wanted to adopt, but I don’t have a garage to do them up.

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Some crazy folk might just go ahead and take an obviously abandoned thing without even asking because they know they will never ever get a good answer that doesn’t involve letting the thing go to complete waste. I don’t know who would do such a thing…

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There was an Audi S6 rotting away next to park for a few years and then gone. A late 80s Mercedes 190e Cosworth, similar story. I wanted to adopt these cars. Hotrod shop fantasy. Seen a couple of Peugeots taken over by the weeds as well.

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The best you can do is find out who owns the title for that car, ask if you can buy it. If not and it’s an eyesore, best you can do is call 1999 and have it taken away if you can’t find who owns it.

Otherwise it’s grand theft auto.