Mr.R wroteI didn't realise that the government here in the UK had banned grey imports from Japan?
I well remember looking at 2nd hand imported bikes (mostly 400cc's) from Japan at bike/car auctions here in the UK (London) over 20 years ago.
The prices were keen, but all of the bikes looked in need of some serious money to bring them up to scratch.
At the time I was looking for a half decent Suzuki RG500 project, but they were all overpriced when considering the knackered brakes, discs, sprockets, chains etc.
In fact most of them seemed to have been run into the ground and then abandoned/sold cheap for export.
Steve R
They had several years ago...i left the UK over 12yrs ago now, and it was before then...reason for doing this, the big four from Japan were kicking up about it because the grey's were cheaper, AND the government were losing tax money...surprise surprise!! the dealers were making it hard to get parts for them, saying the Vin no's were different so they could not order parts...even though the bikes were the same!! i used to buy off an importer..and like you rightly said, they always needed fettling..carbs cleaning ect...the big boys are now coming to Thailand, Ducati...Triumph....Kawasaki all have factories here...Harley have a main dealership...they realise there is a market in this "Developing" country...and the powers to be realise the earning potential for this, it is good because the Ducati Diavel Carbon used to be 1,200,000 Thai Baht = 24,000GBP...around 9 to 10k dearer than the UK...Although the price has not dropped dramatically.. because they do not make it here yet...but models like the Monster are on par price wise with the UK...
