Gambler 500 Update and a Barn Find

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
09/24/2018 at 11:01 • Filed to: gambler 500, Two Wheels Good

I was confident that I’d be Gambler ready by Wednesday. But life doesn’t work that way. In fact, the reason I’ll be scrambling to get finished is such a “me” kind of problem...

For the first time ever, I wouldn’t be scrambling. I mean, the little scoot does not currently need much. It only needs tyres (tyres + valves + spoons ($85-ish)), a clutch pulley bearing (just replace the whole clutch ($28)), a new brake light housing ($8-ish) and a license plate ($160-ish).

Unfortunately for me, some bloke in California has once again stolen my debit card number. Thankfully Chase Bank is more intelligent than Bank of America and every one of his purchases (and there are many) have thus far have been denied. Doubly unfortunately for me, the algorithm that’s catching him is also flagging many of my own purchases, thus making buying things a game of roulette.

I have two theories as to why this is happening:

1) One (if not all) of my mum’s computers has a keylogger installed. I will never again give her my number or buy things while I’m using her machines.

2) One of the petrol stations I’ve been to recently had a hacked pump.

Of those, I think #2 is the more likely possibility. The last time I bought anything using my mum’s PC was several months ago and I gave her my card over the phone phone to for something several months ago. However, only a week or two ago I found myself at a petrol station that had a pump that read my card but wouldn’t let me pump petrol. It would read my card then the screen would freeze.

Aaaaanyway, I have to get this card trashed and another shipped out.

Meanwhile, this popped up on my Facebook Marketplace feed and I’m having a crisis.

It’s a barn find CB125S with 4k miles for $775. It has original everything (even license plate), title, and it runs.

It would totally further scratch my UJM itch and my Grom itch, but I really really wanted my next old bike to be a two-stroke.

Gah, it’s so beautiful though. So far as I can see from the photos, the paint is dull and there is some extremely light surface rust around the edges. But look at it!

I very nearly took off work and went to the nearest U-Haul dealer, however I’m doing the adult thing and not doing that. lol

DISCUSSION (20)

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > Mercedes Streeter
09/24/2018 at 11:44

Get a credit card, even if it needs to be a secured card . And only use it for gas. I’m around 11 or 12 times in the last 4 years for getting a card skimmed at the pump. I was stuck for 5 days out of town with zero money. It took bank of america almost a week to reclaim it all. Was a horrible situation.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Mercedes Streeter
09/24/2018 at 11:58

That Honda.....you must buy it!

Mercedes Streeter > GoodIdeaAtTheTime
09/24/2018 at 12:00

That’s actually a pretty fine idea. This has happened maybe three times in the past two years. However I do blame the one of the times on my then tenant stealing my card while I was sleeping (ugh, that saga was so stupid, never again).

Mercedes Streeter > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/24/2018 at 12:03

Shhhhhh! I intentionally borked my chances in the name of financial responsibility. :)

The soonest I could now pick it up is tomorrow afternoon. That said, I bet I could totally buy it tonight then pick it up tomorrow if I really wanted. But a CB125 that isn’t taken over by rust, has a title, and runs? Holy crap I’d be lucky if it even gets through the workday without being sold.

punkgoose17 > Mercedes Streeter
09/24/2018 at 12:13

That really stinks. I will be wary if a scan, but will not pump happens to me. It is probably good you did not buy the Honda. You have other vehicles to take care of. I almost made a depression purchase of an Isuzu Gemini Turbo. I don’t need it. I can’t actually afford it, but I want it.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Mercedes Streeter
09/24/2018 at 12:36

Yup, and I imagine you could sell it for a profit if you wanted to!

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
09/24/2018 at 12:58

My Helix isn’t going to make it. If the weather looks good, I’m going to run my Zuma 125. If it doesn’t, the RallyMetro shall ride again.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
09/24/2018 at 14:20

Oh gosh I hope the weather is good. Though I’m a glutton for pain so it’s aight lol.

What are you going to do with the Helix?

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter
09/24/2018 at 14:23

You know my answer.. buy it :p

It does look like it’s been in a bit of a crash though. That bent signal arm

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters
09/24/2018 at 14:35

There is also a small dent that doesn’t go through the paint on the same side. I assume it’s been lightly dropped or perhaps bumped into while it was in its extended slumber,

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter
09/24/2018 at 14:38

Still, seems like decent deal if it runs and goes. Parts might be a little difficult to find though. I’ve run into issues finding NOS parts for some of my 80's honda mopeds lately.

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters
09/24/2018 at 15:00

I’m slowly becoming committed to buying it and just as slowly beginning to hope he’ll let me buy tonight then pick it up tomorrow. lol It’s no two stroke (also there are a few 2s on CL right now for $ 950 in good condition) but gosh is it beautiful!

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters
09/24/2018 at 15:40

Ah bloody hell. So he would let me buy tonight and pick up tomorrow, however I just now learned that my bank decided to terminate my debit card. So I’m basically dead in the water until tomorrow anyway.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
09/24/2018 at 15:46

The Helix is going to have to be a winter projec t. It either needs a lot of carb tuning, or (more likely), the timing is jacked up. That will mean either a valve adjustment, or a new timing chain and gear ... or all of the above .

We need to talk about overnight on Saturday.

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter
09/24/2018 at 15:50

Other people racing to buy it? Or you think it’ll still be there tomorrow?

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters
09/24/2018 at 16:19

Hard to tell. I was maybe the fifth person to save the post but the first to show interest. The number of saves has tripled. It may still be there tomorrow because we’re falling out of motorcycle season however it may not be because you just don’t find these things in this good of condition, running, and with a clear title for under a grand.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
09/24/2018 at 16:24

Oof, that’s a lotta work before Friday. My biggest problem right now is getting parts for the Chuckus with a broken bank account. My debit card is now out for the count, so I’m relying on eBay for everything. Looks like the transaction for the tyres will go through as well as the valve stems, so that’s good. I can cobble together everything else if I need to.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
09/24/2018 at 17:28

I’m no longer even trying to get the Helix ready before Friday. It’s not happening. I need to be home and be dad this week, since I’ll be gone all weekend.

That’s why I don’t use debit cards. When something gets jacked, you’re missing your money until the bank credits you back. With a credit card, you simply dispute the charges, and sometimes they make you fill out an affidavit to promise that it really wasn’t you who bought that stuff.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
09/24/2018 at 17:54

Good plan! I think my biggest issue will be getting tire spoons as I can’t seem to get any shipped fast enough without paying some exorbitant price.

Thankfully Chase has been nicer to me than Bank of America. The hacker person hasn’t actually spent any of my money as the fraud prevention algorithm has correctly determined that I cannot exist in Chicago and San Francisco at the same time. The only true hardship here will be the fact I have to pay cash for everything until I get the new card and end up getting reamed on shipping for parts.

However the hacker person has intelligently attempted to spend my money, using my card for things like Comcast (???) Uber rides, Uber eats, Grubhub, an Ireland-based online store, and Amazon; things where the good could be shipped out or the service delivered before the payment gets denied.

I take it that Chase isn’t very happy about that so they just nuked my card entirely. I was hoping to keep the card good until EOD today so I could get to an ATM, but I guess that ship’s sailed.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Mercedes Streeter
09/25/2018 at 06:02

just do it!