Laws against sellers of used bikes?

[SumAznGuy]

Alright here's my story: (it's a loooong read!)
One day I wanted to look at a few bikes, so I found this YSR50 selling for 2300 (which he later decided to sell me for 2200). We talked a bit and we chatted, this is what he told me about the bike: Perfectly fine except hasn't run for a few weeks but starts up fine (he showed me), needs to have some fluids changed due to the above, and the choke plunger had been stolen, other than these, mechanically good. Only 2 dings on the gas tank, and 2 scratches on the rear seat cowl.

I checked the bike out, and everything was fine except the lights weren't coming on, he said that it's because the little 6 volt battery was drained from the weeks he hasn't ridden it and that I had to wait for it charge up, I didn't believe him so he revved up the bike to work the alternator and the blinker came on ONCE so I believed him. (Mind you, YSRs run on 6volt systems so when you rev it, the lights will go brighter, and the blinkers will flash for a while. And when the revs drop, the blinker doesn't blink it just stays on. All this is normal for the bike) He even showed me this on HIS YSR. (he has 2.)

So I told him alright I will buy it. So the next day, I bought it, then I took the bike to the local shop and left it there for a while. The next few days, they told me that the voltage regulator/rectifier assembly is screwed, they didn't tell me how much it would cost but I gave them the "ok" to order the parts in anyway (stupid me!). In a months time when the parts FINALLY came, the bill came to about 900 dollars (including the new choke assembly that was needed). So I paid up. Now I am having a hard time selling it for what I paid for because I need the money.

The question is, is there ANY WAY I could sue him to get my money back for lying to me? Especially after going this far... Thanks

[Mintbread]

Caveat emptor.

[Chris8187]

Well unless you have any of what he said in writing, it would be extremely hard to prove in court as it will be a he said/he said argument. That is why it is good to get as much as you can in writing and have them sign. Really, it is the only way to prove your case.

[SumAznGuy]

Would recording a telephone conversation be enough proof?

[basshole]

Only if he knew he was being recorded.

[Shiv]

I dunno dude, looks like you're gonna have to cut your losses and grin and bear it.

Then go to the big chalk board of life and notch up another one under 'Experiences'.

[Lion_Lady]

Don't think so. You bought a bike with obvious "issues" and took the seller's word on what was really wrong.

I would have asked the seller to take it to a shop for an estimate of repair costs... even offer to split the cost of that. Then buy, or not, based on what the shop says needs fixed.

In MD, any vehicle must pass a state safety inspection before it can be licensed/registered to a new owner. It is a BIG plus to offfer a bike for sale that has already been inspected.

My first bike (18 years old when I bought it) had some 'issues' and the repairs were quoted at $400 at one shop... at a more honest shop, the repairs cost $180 to get it on the road.

P

[9000white]

sounds like the shop is the one to sue since a regulator/rectifier lists for
$51.58 for a ysr50.

[SumAznGuy]

Actually I was just adding up ALL the costs. Choke assembly, rect/reg assembly, labour, and fluids. They took a month to get these parts....

[Britjoe]

Its not really a hard task changing a regulator, and really he may not of know that there was anything else wrong with it, I say the fault lays with the shop charging the excessive amount for a few fluid changes and a choke...thats where the problem is. and hey once they have your money tere is nothing that you can do.