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Grey Bikes

If it happens I am coming back to Toronto that weekend and the weather is good and there is an associated trackday I want to go in the same weekend and my bike is ridable and my truck and trailer is functional, I am down for an import ride! :D
 
deejizzle said:
So who's down for an import ride?!?!
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You might get a better response if you do a seperate official post, with date and time...maybe place too.

Might have to think of a good central meeting point tho as I can see people come from quite various different locations...

I've always wanted to meet up with fellow grey bikers, will see if this can happen this year.
 
It's all just in my was right now. I've always wanted to see other imports, and I have spoken to a few people about it. I haven't even completed my first year yet so I don't know how I feel about leading but if anyone wants to throw me some suggestions I'd be more than happy to try and set up the event. Official post and even will follow but I think this is a good place to put down the foundations for an event.
 
how would i go about making sure the bike's in proper mechanical condition before buying it from them? they seem like good people but it is a business, and sometimes you gotta lie about a few things to sell something right? am i suppose to pay a mechanic to inspect the bike or something? i don't want to be rude double checking for things if they've already told me that everything is good... it's my first bike, so i am pretty clueless.
 
I would love to get an RGV 250 or a Kawasaki KR1-S, I see those bikes in Europe but none here so far, I did see a NSR400R here that is for sale...gonna go and talk to the owner about it & see if he still has it!
 
halffttime said:
how would i go about making sure the bike's in proper mechanical condition before buying it from them? they seem like good people but it is a business, and sometimes you gotta lie about a few things to sell something right? am i suppose to pay a mechanic to inspect the bike or something? i don't want to be rude double checking for things if they've already told me that everything is good... it's my first bike, so i am pretty clueless.
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That's a nice zxr400 nuak has. I've a few friends who have bought from Nuak, and all of the bikes needed mechanical work. You could get lucky and purchase one that doesn't need anything, but most of the bikes brought over have been sitting for a number of years and are bound to have issues.

For a first or only bike, I'm not sure I would pick one up from Nuak. If you really want one, wait for a private sale one, chances are the current owner has already addressed alot of the problems.

The thing about Grey bike ownership is you spend 3 hour of wrenching to every 1 hour of riding... if you can get the correct part. I have 2 on the road because I know at some point one won't be running.
 
gammaguy21 said:
That's a nice zxr400 nuak has. I've a few friends who have bought from Nuak, and all of the bikes needed mechanical work. You could get lucky and purchase one that doesn't need anything, but most of the bikes brought over have been sitting for a number of years and are bound to have issues.

For a first or only bike, I'm not sure I would pick one up from Nuak. If you really want one, wait for a private sale one, chances are the current owner has already addressed alot of the problems.

The thing about Grey bike ownership is you spend 3 hour of wrenching to every 1 hour of riding... if you can get the correct part. I have 2 on the road because I know at some point one won't be running.
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damn 3 hours of wrenching for every 1 hour of riding? please tell me you're exaggerating. man it seems like i should really go with another bike, at the same time i already have my heart set on it... arghhhhhhh
 
gammaguy21 said:
That's a nice zxr400 nuak has. I've a few friends who have bought from Nuak, and all of the bikes needed mechanical work. You could get lucky and purchase one that doesn't need anything, but most of the bikes brought over have been sitting for a number of years and are bound to have issues.

For a first or only bike, I'm not sure I would pick one up from Nuak. If you really want one, wait for a private sale one, chances are the current owner has already addressed alot of the problems.

The thing about Grey bike ownership is you spend 3 hour of wrenching to every 1 hour of riding... if you can get the correct part. I have 2 on the road because I know at some point one won't be running.
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ok, how much work ($) exactly would be needed on this bike?
 
I picked up this 1988 MC19 CBR250R for cheap this past winter.

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I plan on using it as a track bike and have been getting it prepped. It's a bit of a mutt with an NSR250R front end and an RVF400 aftermarket fairing.
 
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halffttime said:
ok, how much work ($) exactly would be needed on this bike?
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Sorry, without seeing the bike and taking it for a test ride, I woudn't have a clue.

Even then, depends on what you want from it. Out the door, it may be fine mechanically and cost you next to nothing to run... but the two friends I have that bought from Nuak took the bikes down to the cranks and rebuilt from the ground up... so essentially they pretty much have brand new bikes. Not cheap though.

From other forums the concensus seems to be around the 3 to 1 ratio for wrenching to riding. Has been my experince as well... but may not be yours.

Do some research on common problems and issues around some of the bike you might be interested in.
Here's a couple of good place to start for the zxr400 -
http://www.400greybike.com/forum/index.php
http://www.zxrworld.co.uk/zxr400/main.htm
 
halffttime said:
damn 3 hours of wrenching for every 1 hour of riding? please tell me you're exaggerating. man it seems like i should really go with another bike, at the same time i already have my heart set on it... arghhhhhhh
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As I said in your insurance thread:

klr_guy said:
$5g for a 20+ year old import? Holy cow. I mean the bike looks nice and I understand the temptation and it's your money, but if this is your first bike I'd hate for you to lose 1/2 the season waiting on some obscure part to arrive from overseas, or ?
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A grey bike is not the smartest choice for a first bike. Would I like one, yes, but not as my primary ride.
 
halffttime said:
damn 3 hours of wrenching for every 1 hour of riding? please tell me you're exaggerating. man it seems like i should really go with another bike, at the same time i already have my heart set on it... arghhhhhhh
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More like 3 hrs of wrenching for every 1 hour of riding, and 3 weeks waiting for parts from other side of the pond, plus 3 months of hunting the no-longer-exist parts on world-wide ebay/japan yahoo, while watching your bike open up sitting in the garage.

The 3 to 1 ratio is kinna true but I would say its more for 2-stroker. I heard the 4stoker grey import is less wrench demand. That said, the 3 weeks waiting for parts and world-wide ebay/japan yahoo apply to all strokers.

Though out my 10 years ownership, I rode my bike maybe 20 times. Most of the time I have been waiting for parts, or waiting for more disposable cash in my bank account. Giving that I am a cheap ***** don't want to over-paid stuff doesn't help.
 
gammaguy21 said:
Much like Yorkee, the stars would have to align for me to be able to make the 5 hour trip to Toronto.

Would be nice though.

Yorkee and ridesolo, those are some nice 3XVs!
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Thanks! You got some nice rare ride too!

Don't know you have an RS as well... mind to share the pics?
 
Nuak is overpriced for what he brings in. I know a few guys who went the cheap/Nuak route and they're dealing with a few headaches. Besides most of those bikes were about $500-$1000 to buy in Japan and just stuffed in a sea container and sold here for $4000=$5000 over his costs. business is business. I'm in the process of working out details with a garage in Japan about getting crated and shipped to your door or business. However I won't be importing a parts bike (unless requested), my markup won't be too much, and after sales support ie. getting parts would be about a 1-2 week turnaround to your door shipped (EMS)

btw: The NS400R in the UK and North America are fetching upwards to $10K for MINT by three or four recent sales I've seen.
 
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Yorkee said:
Thanks! You got some nice rare ride too!
Don't know you have an RS as well... mind to share the pics?
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Thanks. I can't wait to get the mc18 up and running. I'm dying to see the differnce between a v-twin vs a parallel twin 2 stroke. The mc18 is tiny compared to my other bikes and the Honda build quality is amazing for that era.

I didn't post pictures of the Aprilia because it's mosty in boxes, stored away.
Actually, it's going to be a hybrid rs250 frame with rz350 (big bore or stroker) engine.
I got one of the first run rs250/rz350 engine cradle kits that the TSS 500GP was based from. Just need the time to put it together. I'll post pics once I start putting it together.
 
I would like to join meet just to see which fairing i can put on my cb-1 400 for track purpose.
I used to have a NSR 250 and it is a real fun bike.
 
[h=2]Re: Grey Bikes[/h]
Hi starboy869,

Would be good to see a new player in the grey market import business.
Keep us posted.​

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I agree!
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