IMPORTANT - Have you the correct Headlight?

[HowardQ]

My view was the same Andy, that's why I never bothered.
Sad to see so many supposedly UK bikes brought in by Aprilia with Euro lights though, they must have known.
Could have been the dealers who didn't bother changing them, but they should not have been on the road here if not UK type approved spec..
Get all of them off the road I say!!!
I'll find space for a few more in my garage

[Firestarter]

Good news today, Motorcycle Centre phoned to say Aprilia have acknowledged that it was supposed to be a UK bike, not EU, therefore they'll resolve it "under warranty". Reading between the lines, I would say there was an issue with a number of imports - if they've gone back to Aprilia to confirm whether the bike was imported as UK, I'm guessing some paperwork balls-up at Aprilia. Although I do wonder whether it should have been picked up during the PDI?

MCO have gone one further, they're going to order the light in now rather than waiting for Aprilia to do all the paperwork, and claim it back from them later

Howard, given that it seems to be going back to Aprilia to confirm what it's intended locale was, and they're picking up the tab, maybe there is some mileage in you going back through the dealer, or maybe to Aprilia direct?

One further question - I assume everyone has been insuring their bike as "UK" rather than "import" - is anyone going to change this, and does it actually matter?

[HowardQ]

Might have a word with DK, because I now think, like you, that this was an Aprilia cock up that the PDI should have picked up, but we all know how much time is spent on PDIs.
Silly thing with all this is until I looked at Andy's photos, I had never noticed anything unusual and like my old CBR, the beam always looked flat with no flick up either way. It had never failed a test and had been through 4, (seriously twitching about the next one in June now I've said that!). It was a UK model, I'd checked before the sticker blew off and it is declared as a UK model.
I first thought that from the info. being reported it was just later models and assumed dealers were bringing em in from abroad, when they had found they could sell em much easier when the prices dropped.
Mine was one of the earlier ones that were much more expensive, it was registered in 2001, built late 2000, but classed as the 2000.5 model. These were the ones that incorporated the first batch of major changes, including the modfied Blue spring shock, with better heat insulation.
Sadly it now seams that there are more Falcos with EU headlights than UK ones throughout the period they were on sale, which is pretty naughty.

I still think that some sort of combined "attack" on Aprilia might be our best way forward, especially if some of the "bought new" bikes keep getting fobbed off and never actually get new units fitted.

[D-Rider]

mmm - this is a new development - I think I'm right in saying we've not seen one before with UK sticker that has the wrong light ... but not much feedback from those with UK sticker - so this is useful info.

[HowardQ]

Trouble is Andy, how can I know (or more importantly prove) that the previous owner didn't damage the original headlight and just bought one off fleabay without checking.
I'm sure this will be DK's response and don't really have much of a case as I didn't buy from them.

[Firestarter]

Well, MCO have phoned today - the headlight has arrived!!! and would I like to book in. Unless they had one on order already, I'm amazed that it's arrived so quickly. +1 to MCO

So, hopefully be sorted soon

Is there anyone still waiting?

[Nooj]

I finally got round to checking mine the other day and it looks like the drawing of the EU light on page 1. Arse! I've also just been out to check the sticker on the frame and have discovered it's an EU bike as well! Double Arse!

Now, as KJM lied to me and said it was a UK bike before I bought it, is it their responsibility to provide me with a UK light rather than Aprilia's? It's technically the correct light for the bike, but the wrong bike for this country.

Also I drilled two small holes in the top of the main beam section to put a couple of LEDs in to run as sidelights, if the light needs to be swapped by the dealer I bought the bike from (I hope not, KJM are a four hour ride away!) and sent back to Aprilia, would this cause further problems for me??

My MoT was due at the end of October '07, but I SORNed the bike before then so I have that to look forward to later this year. Interesting to see that some have been passing so I'm wondering if I should try and put mine through as it is?


To sum up: EU bike sold to me as a UK bike three years ago and I believed them so didn't check, light has been modified by me. Any suggestions as to what I should do??

For the database:

Bronze
Bought new
'03 bike
EU light (came with the bike)
EU bike (I was told before buying it that it was a UK bike, which I'm a bit pissed off about as I believed them and haven't actually checked until just now!)
KJM Superbikes in Wigan

[Firestarter]

Check your paperwork from when you bought the bike (invoice), see what it says about UK/EU etc. If the paperwork says UK, someone else (either dealer of Aprilia UK) definitely has the liability. If it says EU/import, they'll say you knew and therefore the liability passes to you. Unfortunately, mine didn't say anything...

If it doesn't say anything, first port of call is still going to be KJM, get them to confirm with Aprilia whether the bike was supposed to be UK or EU - from speaking to the dealer I got mine from, I got the impression that they thought the bike was UK not EU, as if it's some sort of paperwork balls-up. Mine is being done "under warranty", even though the warranty has expired, so they should be able to do it at any genuine Aprilia dealer.

Dropped mine off today, hopefully back tomorrow with the new light fitted

Good luck!

[Firestarter]

One other thing - I nearly bought from KJM, but they told me "UK spec" rather than "UK bike", but either way, the headlight should be a UK-type

[D-Rider]

I finally got round to checking mine the other day and it looks like the drawing of the EU light on page 1. Arse! I've also just been out to check the sticker on the frame and have discovered it's an EU bike as well! Double Arse!

Now, as KJM lied to me and said it was a UK bike before I bought it, is it their responsibility to provide me with a UK light rather than Aprilia's? It's technically the correct light for the bike, but the wrong bike for this country.

Also I drilled two small holes in the top of the main beam section to put a couple of LEDs in to run as sidelights, if the light needs to be swapped by the dealer I bought the bike from (I hope not, KJM are a four hour ride away!) and sent back to Aprilia, would this cause further problems for me??

My MoT was due at the end of October '07, but I SORNed the bike before then so I have that to look forward to later this year. Interesting to see that some have been passing so I'm wondering if I should try and put mine through as it is?


To sum up: EU bike sold to me as a UK bike three years ago and I believed them so didn't check, light has been modified by me. Any suggestions as to what I should do??

For the database:

Bronze
Bought new
'03 bike
EU light (came with the bike)
EU bike (I was told before buying it that it was a UK bike, which I'm a bit pissed off about as I believed them and haven't actually checked until just now!)
KJM Superbikes in Wigan

Should not have been registered in the UK if the correct headlight was not fitted.
I would guess that unless they can prove to you that they made you aware that it did not comply with UK regs, it would be reasonable for you to assume it did.
Your contract is with the dealer that sold it to you - you need to take it up with them .... but you may have to get it back to them to be rectified.

Have a look at the earlier part of the thread Nooj - most of this is covered early on.

[DavShill]

Nooj - I got mine from KJM too (Dec 2005). Mine is ok but if it helps you I've got a copy of their website advert that clear descibes them as new UK spec bikes. let me know if you want a copy and i'll email a scan or post a copy to you.

[Nooj]

Ooh yeah! That'd be good, thanks.

bigscarynigel at em-es-en dot com.

[DavShill]

I'll do it tonight when I get home Nooj.

[Nooj]

Got it, thanks for that! Don't know when I'll get time to do anything about it though

[D-Rider]

OK - I've reached a conclusion on this ..... my headlight was swapped over today !

Hooray!