1. What's a grey import Motorcycle? A moderator on this forum, hi @GreyImport Generally, a Grey import was sold and used in another country then exported for resale if the destination country's import laws allow it. Grey Import motorcycles may not have been originally sold in the destination country or if they were may have different specifications to the localized version. Unlike localized models, grey imports receive no official support through the manufacturer's dealer network. 2. What's this got to do with bikes? A large portion of the 250cc used bike market, is made up of grey imports. It is important for people to be aware of this and of its implications. for example, the Australia delivered CBR250RR has different switch blocks and connectors to the Jap spec models. 3. Which bikes are grey imports ? The most prominent in Australia are the four-cylinder 250cc and 400cc sports bikes; the CBR250R and CBR250RR, Yamaha FZR250, Kawasaki ZXR250 and, the Suzuki GSX-R250, VFR400, RVF400 etc The GPX250 and ZZ-R250 have been solid sellers for Kawasaki's Aussie arm since their release in 1988 and 1990, respectively, but there are still some grey examples floating around, particularly of the GPX250, which came with twin front discs and a different ignition module for the Japanese market. 4. Where do grey imports come from and how do they get here? In a word, Japan. In Japan, as vehicles age, they become progressively more expensive to re-register. As a result of this, enormous numbers of otherwise perfectly serviceable cars, vans and bikes end up in warehouses and open-air holding yards, victims of a massively oversupplied used-vehicle market. 250cc (and 400cc, incidentally) sportsbikes were further made irrelevant by changes in Japanese motorcycle licensing and registration laws which came through in the mid 1990's and made it easier for people to own and ride bigger bikes. To a large extent, bikes like the CBR250, ZXR250 and FZR250 were created for the large numbers of Japanese riders who wanted something flash, but were unable or unwilling to go through the onerous process required to be able to own a CBR600, a ZXR750 or an FZR1000. When the laws changed, demand for 250 sports bikes vanished overnight. The factories ceased producing them, and piles of them wound up in holding yards. These holding yards now serve as strip-mines for grey import 250's and 400's which feed a worldwide market. Once they arrive here, the bikes are cleaned up and fitted with an Australian compliance plate so they can be tarted up for sale. 5. How old are grey 250's, then? For the most part, very. The ZXR250, CBR250RR, FZR250 and GSX-R250 all ceased production in or around 1997, when the regulations in Japan changed. The current batches of grey 250 sports bikes are composed of bikes with have probably spent close to a decade laid up in a holding yard. 6. So, Why are there lots of grey 250's being advertised as 2005 models? Legally, a vehicle in Australia came into existence when it first gained Australian compliance. Thus, it is perfectly legal for a CBR250R which rolled off the Honda production line sometime in 1988 to be advertised as a 2005-model bike. 7. Why do so many grey 250's in shops have really low odo readings? Because part of preparing the bike for sale involves winding back the odo. usually to 10000 kms. 8. Why do most grey 250's in shops have current-looking colour schemes? After spending a decade in the open air in a Japanese holding yard, a bike will look pretty secondhand. Even if the bike wasn't already carrying damage when it first arrived at the holding yard, chances are it will have picked some up while there or, more likely, while in transit from Japan to Australia. For the bike to fetch a good price, it should look tidy, so the importers re spray and re-sticker the bikes as a matter of course. Depending on who they farm the work out to, the result can range from average to awesome. The importers came up with their own paint schemes, you see a ZXR250 with ZX2R stickers, that brand identity was created by the importer, also lost of MC19 CBR's are stickered up with CBR250RR stickers. The condition of a grey 250's fairing is no reflection on the rest of the bike, you can polish a turd 9. Can I get Parts ? In a word yes but be warned, you cant rock down to your motorcycle dealers part counter and order parts, they tend to clam up, start stuttering and then build up the courage to berate you for owning a grey import, you are better off finding the part number and asking for that. Some of the importers who brought in bikes also bought with them spares so they are available, but pricing can be sketchy. When parts are no longer available, our good friends in china are reproducing them, quality can be challenging but they are doing it. Keep an eye on eBay and cast your search to item location being "worldwide" to get better results. 10. Servicing There has been a trend of late that mechanics tend to shy away from servicing and repairing grey imports sighting lack of manuals and parts availability as the reason. You want head gasket done for an FZR250, your mechanic calls Yamaha who say nope, don't stock it, so then they have to try and locate one, its all too hard. If a mechanic brushes you off, take them a copy of the manual on a USB stick and source the required parts yourself, that might help sway them in your favour to complete the work. This origionally appeared on a WIki at http://www.overclockers.com.au/wiki/IK's_Grey_Import_FAQ, I have just updated it to reflect changes that I see in the market.
Thanks for sighting above i just brought 89 zxr250 and is rego works like a demon but has 97 yr model on rego papers as was a above but at $200 it was a buy not to pass up I wasn't quiet shore that the details of it being a 89 not 97 model but after reading above it definitely needs further checking any sites that vin numbr checking will tell me would u now Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The year of manufacture on imported bikes is actually the import date. You can determine the actual year model via VIN, frame no. and engine no, as well as visual features and other parts.
