Korean Job Discussion Forums

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

On the heels of my bike thread...I've been taking a look at any random bike I come across(I'm in Seoul).....and came across an abandoned Hyosung Comet 250 R with kit(yamada) next to a very large abadoned building next to seoul....now many of you are thinking "Just buy a damn bike you cheapskate", but I love fixing up up stuff....plus I'd love to turn it into a rat bike(google it).....I'd love to turn it into a project for some of the motorcycle friends of mine to mod to high heaven.

Im sure it's abandoned, part of the electronics bay in front has been disabled and disconnected, it's a bit rough up'd, and parts of the kit are cracked. The liscense plate has been removed...and more importantly, the local police has placed a notice claiming the bike will be fined(3,000,000!*) or be removed if the "owner" does not remove it from the premises by May 4th......according to my friend who read it....

Picture of the notice:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iOa5eoR1ouE/SgBrvifXzNI/AAAAAAAACNM/r9QzAbK9F4U/s912/DSLRdongdaemun%20051.jpg

I don't think I will be able to "ride" it back....but it does look possibly repairable....

ChinaBoy · Joined: 17 Feb 2007

So you're going to steal it?

GoldMember · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

You want to make modifications to a 250cc Korean Bike?

Its the equivalent of putting alloy wheels and low profile tires, lower suspension and an extractor on a Daewoo MATIZ.

Meaning, not a good idea!

Underwaterbob · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

Yeah, Rat bikes are those scary mad max looking vechicles....Similar to Rat rods...

I live above a chicken delivery place with three motorcycle drivers....they're sitting around doing jack all...they'd probaly love working on that thing with all the down time they have.

My coteacher said it's a GO!!! She suggested I get a VIN first and check it online...anybody know where to find the VIN on a Hyosung Comet?
She said it might be a problem, but from the form, it's kinda up for grabs...I'm borrowing a Bongo truck asap.

GoldMember · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

When it comes to motorcycles the goal is not to get the cheapest machine the goal is to get the safest.
Would you buy a discount parachute if skydiving?
The Comets have a great little engine BUT they are usually equipped with elcrapo tyres (Shinko or Swallow) elcheapo suspension and spongy twin piston brakes.
Don't risk your neck, upgrade the tyres and get some scintered brake pads.

Personally the ONLY reason I'm still alive is I've owned bikes with fantastic braking (4 piston twin calipers, scintered pads with a floating disk) and Michelin or Dunlop tyres. and great handling (Showa forks).

Your life is in the hands of your machine!

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

If your life is in the hands of your machine, then the best thing to do is get a slower bike.

Manner of Speaking · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

I have a friend in another city who works for the city government, and his job is to handle the abandoned vehicles in the city, in this case cars. He gets at least 1 to 2 calls a day about a reported abandoned vehicle. In most cases, the owner abandons the vehicle because it costs too much to fix it up or to keep it on the road, or it's just too old. The city has to pay for collecting the vehicle and having it sent to a junkyard.

I asked him once about the feasibility of claiming an abandoned car, and he said it was not a good idea because many people who abandon their cars report them stolen, I guess for insurance reasons or so that they don't have to take responsibility for them...the problem is, if you "rehabilitate" the car and it has been reported stolen, you could get in trouble with the police; it's your word against theirs that you didn't steal it. Same for motorcycles and bikes.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

OP: I seriously doubt that back in your home country an abandoned vehicle is "free for the taking." If you're convinced the vehicle is abandoned, go to your local cop shop and tell them about the vehicle. They will then make the necessary arrangements to remove the vehicle from its current locale.

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

Some states are more lenient than others...Korea's pretty flexible on laws it seems.

Went to go get the bike, ran into a cop, asked him about it...basically a resounding hell no...also according to the cops, they don't auction off seized vehicles....they try to return the bike or car to the owner at all costs...

I wasn't getting this bike to be cheap, I like jacking around with equipment...I would rather go nuts on a free bike than break apart a 1 million won bike.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

Some has less red tape and BS to go through...I was hoping Korea didn't have much....