False advertizing at a minimum

[canuck750]

A friend sent me this link to a Benelli 650 Tornado similar to the one I am rebuilding, it's advertised as

"Here we have a ’74 Tornado in great overall condition for an unrestored bike – showing 7,401 miles."

Some poor sucker bought this pile of junk.

http://classicbikesdirect.com.au/2013/06/17/benelli-650-tornado-1974/

Well it sure as heck isn't restored but someone got a hold of a couple cans of paint and went wild covering up corrosion and god knows what else.

Some idiot painted the spokes (cad plated), wheel hubs (should be alloy), chain guard (chrome), headers (chrome), signal light bodies (polished aluminum), headlight ears (should be chrome), shock springs (chrome), side cover emblems (chrome plastic), header flanges (black) and lift handle gold (chrome), brake control arm (polished aluminum), heads (alloy), rocker covers (alloy), cylinders (alloy) and the rest of the engine cases. They didn't even bother to clean the over spray off  from their piss poor paint job!

How do shops like this stay in business?

[ITSec]

How do shops like this stay in business?

I was tempted to make a smart-aleck comment about Australians, but there are too many shops like this in Europe and North America too... 

Every time I've visited one of the big auctions, I see examples of the sublime - and the ridiculous.

[Triple Jim]

I hope the kick starter is just on in the wrong position, as opposed to something being wrong internally.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I hope the kick starter is just on in the wrong position, as opposed to something being wrong internally.

That's the correct "resting" position (or very close to it).

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/beneli/benelli_650_tornado.htm

[Triple Jim]

Thanks Charlie.  That seems unusual to me, like it would be difficult to give the engine a good spin if you start out with the lever halfway down.  Maybe someday I'll get to try it for myself.  :)

[Turin]

I does say "unrestored" which is technically accurate. The seller should have mentioned he let his 12 year old nephew spruce it up.
That looks like total ass. Probably been better off leaving it alone.

On the other hand, if you have a can of gold paint laying around, and the opportunity arises...

[JukeboxGothic]

 This is obviously a machine from the US. Miles per hour speedo is generally a dead giveaway. These shops source a lot of bikes from the states.