Unkowingly bought a US spec bike from a UK main dealer

[Tim O]

You’ll need to decode it but the VIN number includes the country variant specification.

It’s been a while since I’ve had to do it but this might help:

https://driving-tests.org/vin-decoder/

Edited by Tim O on Wednesday 27th March 08:55

[Tim O]

Some info here:
https://nutjobparts.com/blog/motorcycle-maintenanc...

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Sporall said:

Yes, I'm with BikeSure and they seem not too worried about it. I kept the chat transcript just just in case.
I think perhaps they don't have this bike listed as a high risk.

Who the insurance with? Bikesure is a broker isn't it. I'd double check who your policy is with, who is funding it etc.

[Decky_Q]

My first 2 bikes were non uk models (japanese/german) bought new from a dealer and had no issues at all. Headlights were projector type halogen, there is a blanker plate that needed swapped sides on the german one. Maybe yours has a blanker too that can be swapped to opposite side?

[thatdude]

My yamaha FZ1 is a US-spec bike. No YISS, and different indicators, and the temp in F rather than C (I can have it in C, but the speedo will be in kph rather than mph!). I've not encountred any issues, and I wasnt made aware of it at point of sale (I found out when I rang yamaha to enquire why it didnt have a red key - they ran the frame number through their system and informed me it was a US import).

Anyway, as far as I am concerned it is fit for use on UK roads, no issues with headlights etc, just the idiot riding it.

[Tim O]

thatdude said:

My yamaha FZ1 is a US-spec bike. No YISS, and different indicators, and the temp in F rather than C (I can have it in C, but the speedo will be in kph rather than mph!). I've not encountred any issues, and I wasnt made aware of it at point of sale (I found out when I rang yamaha to enquire why it didnt have a red key - they ran the frame number through their system and informed me it was a US import).

Anyway, as far as I am concerned it is fit for use on UK roads, no issues with headlights etc, just the idiot riding it.

Same with my last Fireblade (UK bike). US bikes had larger indicators, side reflectors (fork mounted), no HISS immobiliser, no headlight flasher, and US bikes were always different colourways..

[Sporall]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Who the insurance with? Bikesure is a broker isn't it. I'd double check who your policy is with, who is funding it etc.

It's Aviva. I must admit it didn't occur to me that Bikesure wouldn't be able to properly check.

[OutInTheShed]

Freddie Fitch said:

DOT on the headlight is USA Department of Transportation. So US spec headlight. Not legal in UK.

One does not exclude the other!
Some things in the EU are technically legal if they are marked as conforming to a 'foreign' standard which is 'accpeted' as being 'equivalent. A lot of this stuff is more complex than meets the eye.

How old is the bike, and perhaps more to the point, when was the model introduced?
Does the bike have a VIN plate with an e or E on it?

It might be best to have a conversation with Yamaha as to whether this bike Is UK legal or not?

[bimsb6]

thatdude said:

My yamaha FZ1 is a US-spec bike. No YISS, and different indicators, and the temp in F rather than C (I can have it in C, but the speedo will be in kph rather than mph!). I've not encountred any issues, and I wasnt made aware of it at point of sale (I found out when I rang yamaha to enquire why it didnt have a red key - they ran the frame number through their system and informed me it was a US import).

Anyway, as far as I am concerned it is fit for use on UK roads, no issues with headlights etc, just the idiot riding it.

If the speedo is in kph its not US spec they use mph .

[InitialDave]

bimsb6 said:

If the speedo is in kph its not US spec they use mph .

What he said was that changing it from F to C for temperature also forces a change from MPH to KPH.

So it's US spec (MPH and F default), but the only option is to change it to what is probably the Canada setting (KPH and C).

I've had this with other North American spec equipment, it's very annoying. Individual unit changes are often not supported, so you're stuck with the manufacturer's opinions on what you would want.

[carinaman]

OverSteery said:

OP - Ask for this to move to SP&L where you will get a better legal view (albeit mixed in with other assertions.. ).

IANAL

Contract Law. Misrepresentation.

OP thought they were buying a UK Spec. motorcycle.

Can a purchaser reasonably be expected to know a dealer would be selling them a bike for a different, non-European market?

Motorcycles and cars routinely advertised as 'imports'. Motorcycle not advertised or described as an import.

[carinaman]

I like 2017 KTM Duke 390 indicator arm antlers but the indicators are incandescent bulbs and not LED.

[bimsb6]

InitialDave said:

bimsb6 said:

If the speedo is in kph its not US spec they use mph .

What he said was that changing it from F to C for temperature also forces a change from MPH to KPH.

So it's US spec (MPH and F default), but the only option is to change it to what is probably the Canada setting (KPH and C).

I've had this with other North American spec equipment, it's very annoying. Individual unit changes are often not supported, so you're stuck with the manufacturer's opinions on what you would want.

Ah ok my mistake , thanks for the info.

[bimsb6]

carinaman said:

I like 2017 KTM Duke 390 indicator arm antlers but the indicators are incandescent bulbs and not LED.

Have you seen the price of led indicators for the 390? You can buy them as powerparts but the kit is over £343 !

Edited by bimsb6 on Thursday 28th March 16:40

[carinaman]

bimsb6 said:

Have you seen the price of led indicators for the 390? You can buy them as powerparts but the kit is over £343 !

The MCN review said as Bajaj made 2017 Duke 390 should be OK for cheap parts. The retail price of the TFT and LED headlamp were £700 each last time I looked.

Greenham Kawasaki had a used Duke 790 that had some nice looking footpegs on it. Seems they were the Powerparts bits. They looked good, perhaps someone went for a Powerparts voucher rather than a money off deal?