A CORONER will write to a shop which sold a motorbike to a young rider just weeks before he died in a road accident.

Care assistant Gareth Bowen, from Broadway, Meir, was killed on the A518 The Dove Way, Uttoxeter, on July 2.

A month earlier, the 20-year-old had bought the powerful Suzuki Bandit motorbike from DK Motorcycles, Liverpool Road, Newcastle, which had not been fitted with a power restrictor.

According to motorbike laws, riders under the age of 21 are only allowed on motorbikes with 25 kilowatts of power or less, which equates to about a 250cc bike. More powerful motorbikes must be fitted with a power limiter. Without it, the Suzuki would have had a power output of about 600cc.

According to Mr Bowen's family, the Suzuki was ordered with a limiter, but when he went to pick it up, the safety kit had not arrived.

John Brindley, his uncle and godfather, aged 42, of Stone, said: "The bike should not have left the premises. We have written to trading standards about it."

He said: "He was a lovely lad. A gentle giant."

Yesterday, an inquest at Cannock Coroner's Court heard Mr Bowen died after losing control of his motorbike when an overtaking manoeuvre went wrong.

Witness Paul Archer, who was overtaken by Mr Bowen, said: "It appeared to try to go to the near-side of the car in front and hit the kerb and the rider came off the bike. The bike was travelling at excessive speed and I think while braking he lost control."

Sergeant Neil Mycock, collision investigation officer, said Mr Bowen had probably lost control of his bike due to the speed he was catching up with the car directly in front.

Mr Bowen, below, was catapulted off his bike into a crash barrier, suffering extensive chest injuries and a broken spine.

He spoke to paramedics shortly after the crash, but fell unconscious and was pronounced dead at the scene.

PC Daniel Bingham said police had spoken to DK Motorcycles, but no crime had been committed.

Mr Haig, South Staffordshire coroner, recording a verdict of accidental death, said: "It does appear the speed of the motorbike was a contributory factor. It is likely he was overtaking these cars at a considerable speed.

"I propose writing to DK Motorcycles to seek some assurances it will not sell motorbikes to people without a restrictor. That would appear to be poor practice."

A Trading Standards spokesman said, as the motorcycle itself was not faulty, the agency has decided against pursuing the matter.

He said: "Under the Road Traffic Act there is no offence selling a motorcycle without a restrictor fitted. The offence is driving not in accordance with the driver's licence – driving without a restrictor."

DK Motorcycles declined to comment.