I've been looking at a nice bike online advertised as a 1966 C15.
However, the frame number is B40. 5871 and the engine number is C15F 1646.
Looking at the numbers database the frame appears to be from a 1963 B40 and the engine is a 1965 C15. Are my assumptions correct that this is a Bitsa rather than a genuine C15?
Strictly speaking the V5 should show this bike as a 1963 B40, albeit with a replacement C15 engine fitted, since the identify of the bike is based on the frame number. If it still shows this as a C15 on the V5 then at some point the frame has been changed probably due to crash damage.
I'm leaving this one alone. The V5C does not match the bike.
All the previous owner had to do was to stamp the old frame number on to the replacement B40 frame and then everything would have been ok and you would probably have been none the wiser! As it stands, assuming the frame number does not match the V5, the bike is uninsurable!
Thanks. It's a good job I checked as I was about to buy it. 😯
Do the frame & engine numbers on the V5 match the frame & engine numbers on the bike? If so, it is easy to insure as a B40/C15.
I own a C15T in a B40 frame; it is on the V5 simply as a BSA, no problems at all with insurance. Apparently, it was a common combination 'back in the day'
In answer to your original question though: no, it ain't what it says it is!
The only two things that matter on the V5 are the frame number and the engine size - you can change the engine size within reason as long as you inform DVLA but you can't change the frame number. In this case, it appears that the frame number did not match the V5.
Quote from: Spaceman on 25 Oct, 2022, 09:46
In this case, it appears that the frame number did not match the V5.
I agree with everything you've said Spaceman, but I think we've just read the post differently.
You have concluded that the V5 doesn't match because of frame number; I read it that it doesn't match because the bike is described as a C15.
Either way, it doesn't matter as the OP has decided to leave it alone.