Kiwi Specification bikes

[Biff]

A general and possibly broad question regarding the specification of bikes brought into New Zealand; apart from Kiwi kikes being right hand ride, are there many other differences between US spec bikes, Aussie bikes, Kiwi bikes and even European bikes?

I know that there are one or two differences between my Bird and it's European cousin. But is there a general rule of thumb?

[Sniper]

What sort of differences are we talking about, you mean to tell me that the throttle is on the left side of the bike now??

[Waylander]

A general and possibly broad question regarding the specification of bikes brought into New Zealand; apart from Kiwi kikes being right hand ride, are there many other differences between US spec bikes, Aussie bikes, Kiwi bikes and even European bikes?

I know that there are one or two differences between my Bird and it's European cousin. But is there a general rule of thumb?
What do you mean by right hand ride? If you mean the throttle then guess what my bike has right hand throttle aswell and as far as i can tell has no diference in specification from the NZ version.

[Biff]

What do you mean by right hand ride?

Sorry guys, that bit was a (bad) joke. The rest is a serious question (for a change).

[Sniper]

I beleive on European bikes you fall off on the left side of the bike and not the right as it is punisable but death of a thousand virgins

[vifferman]

I believe we get Australian-spec bikes here.

Main differences are that the US and European bikes have lighting set up for right-hand drive, and Jap-spec are often restricted. Minor differences are that US-spec bikes don't have the "Pass" high-beam flasher, have 45W headlight bulbs, and "PAIR" valves to satisfy emissions regulations. Oh - and of course, MPH speedos.

[JohnBoy]

i dont know how true this is but i always thought that we had canadian spec bikes (cause thier laws are as loose is ours when it comes to restrictions).
i didn't think that there was a NZ spec, we just got what ever was sent from the factories.

[bugjuice]

make sure the dash is for right hand drive, instead of left..??

The only thing I can sensibley think of is the headlights. The low-beam lighting often illuminates more of the kerb side of the road. I know this for cars, but might not apply to bikes, and might be different now, with new 'clear' headlights etc. Have to check mine when I get home..
Apart from the head lights, can't think of anything that would specifically make it left or right sided of the road.
Hell, my bike even has a Canadian tested sticker on it, so I guess it could have gone anywhere..

[XTC]

Yeah what he said and also US bikes may have the speedo in miles... May have hard wired lights etc.

[vifferman]

i didn't think that there was a NZ spec, we just got what ever was sent from the factories.
Not quite - we get sent Australian-spec bikes. My last one had "ADR Compliance" stickers on it.

[Biff]

I believe we get Australian-spec bikes here.

Main differences are that the US and European bikes have lighting set up for right-hand drive,

Thanks Viffer - Clarification q - I thought Shamericans rode on the left? So why set up their lights for right hand ride?

[Waylander]

make sure the dash is for right hand drive, instead of left..??

The only thing I can sensibley think of is the headlights. The low-beam lighting (http://searchmiracle.com/text/search.php?qq=Lighting) often illuminates more of the kerb side of the road. I know this for cars, but might not apply to bikes, and might be different now, with new 'clear' headlights etc. Have to check mine when I get home..
Apart from the head lights, can't think of anything that would specifically make it left or right sided of the road.
Hell, my bike even has a Canadian tested sticker on it, so I guess it could have gone anywhere..
It is true with some bikes they warned me that i might have to get mine switched. I think its with all bike made after '96 that the headlights have some kind of dedlector that points it mostly to the right side of the bike in the states. Here it needs to be off to the left to keep it out of oncoming traffic.

[F5 Dave]

We get the end runs from where ever it is convenient & cheap. Typically we used to get SA spec or Australian, but those got a bit funny sometimes, so when we get Canadian/Euro etc ones they need a headlight swap when/before they come into the country & if you are luck a kph speedo.

Some countries are restricted more than others for noise, power or emissions.

RF900s for example came here from at least 3 different markets 04, 06 & something else.

[bear]

Don't NZ get over runs from the States, like Suzuki Bandit's and SV's.
My Bandit must be from that way, no off switch for the headlights, no pass button, speedo in miles (km in small text).

[Sniper]

I cant seem to find a website on this, can anyone help as I would like to broaden my horizens

[Skunk]

Kawasaki get their bikes from Canada and Australia mostly. The Canadian ones need headlight changes so they dip the right way.

Some Suzukis are US spec I believe (true WT?)

[Waylander]

Thanks Viffer - Clarification q - I thought Shamericans rode on the left? So why set up their lights for right hand ride?
You drive on the left hand side of the road here, in the states its on the right.
Or as a friend of mine likes to say "In the states you drive on the right, but here we drive on the correct side."

[Sniper]

Try this one out

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/BikeSpecs.aspx

[Ninja51]

A small but relevant point... UK spec bikes dont have orange reflectors bolted to the side of each fork. Ive certainly spotted them on new Kawasakis here. And on US spec machines too.
NZ Customs didnt find anything else whewn I imported mine. And the vehicle inspectors didnt require a certificate of compliance either.

[Biff]

You drive on the left hand side of the road here, in the states its on the right.
."

Is that my right or your right?!

Obvious mistake - sorry! 3 cups of coffee in 15 minutes doesn't help.


A small but relevant point... UK spec bikes dont have orange reflectors bolted to the side of each fork. Ive certainly spotted them on new Kawasakis here. And on US spec machines too.

None on my Bird either, and she was bought last October from new.


The main difference between my Bird and a European one is that there is an oxygen sensor built into the exhaust system for all European models. This monitors the level of oxygen (fancy that) and provides feedback to the engine management system, which, in turn, regulates the EFI fuel flow. My bike appears to be straight EFI without active 02 feedback

[Sniper]

Haha, nicely said, but what other rules apply to that other side or the road stuff?

[Waylander]

A small but relevant point... UK spec bikes dont have orange reflectors bolted to the side of each fork. Ive certainly spotted them on new Kawasakis here. And on US spec machines too.
NZ Customs didnt find anything else whewn I imported mine. And the vehicle inspectors didnt require a certificate of compliance either.
You damn lucky dasterd!!! My bike has been in country for 7 months and I'm still trying to sort that shit out. So far I have needed to get a certificate of compliance, letter of border check exepmtion, bill of lading, and a host of other paperwork that I see no purpose for. I have had my bike inspected 6 times by 3 diferent agencies and each time I'm pointed in a different direction saying I need to fill out this form, or sign this document. Ok angry biker Vs government rant over.:done:

[Motu]

I think we get a sort of ''base'' bike,all the restrictions are add ons for other countries - but as Dave says we get run outs of odd models that don't sell in other markets etc...one of the reasons parts are hard to get for NZ models as compared to Jap imports.

The headlamp should dip straight down,but a modern lamp may illuminate the left side more as Bugjuice says,having the headlamp point to one side of the road is not a smart idea.

[Waylander]

Haha, nicely said, but what other rules apply to that other side or the road stuff?
ok another road rule is that if you want to turn across oncoming traffic (wich here is a right turn but in the states is a left turn) then the person who is turning down the same street as you does not have the right of way.

[Mongoose]

Kiwi bikes have gotta be robust, our roads aint that good.
They need to be massively over powered, for the doing as runner of.
They need to beable to go cross country(knobbleys suggested, although they have to be special Kiwi ones for high speed tarmac cornering)
Idealy they will have all this and get 98mpg 'cause we dont like paying fer gas.



And finally, the headlight should "dip" to the left.

Shortly they will have to have factory zorst, headlight on and every other legal requirement that other countries seem to be heading in.

[Sniper]

Yep I noticed that, and do you know, New Zealand is the only country in the world to have that rule

[Ninja51]

[QUOTE=alucard_draken]You damn lucky dasterd!!! My bike has been in country for 7 months and I'm still trying to sort that shit out. So far I have needed to get a certificate of compliance, letter of border check exepmtion, bill of lading, and a host of other paperwork that I see no purpose for. I have had my bike inspected 6 times by 3 diferent agencies and each time I'm pointed in a different direction saying I need to fill out this form, or sign this document.

What bike is it AD? Where was it shipped from? I needed all those docs too (except the CofC) but NZ Customs in Welly were "officiously efficient" and MAF spent less than ten minutes looking over the bike. After that it was plain sailing. Had the bike registered and on the road in 48hours from arrival in Welly.

[Waylander]

What bike is it AD? Where was it shipped from? I needed all those docs too (except the CofC) but NZ Customs in Welly were "officiously efficient" and MAF spent less than ten minutes looking over the bike. After that it was plain sailing. Had the bike registered and on the road in 48hours from arrival in Welly.
It's a '93 Yamaha XV1100 Virago, and if my shipping company (bloody stupid crown) had done their job I would have been able to go on the Guided ride for noobs thing. Had MAF look at it (twice) had the testing centre look at it (3 times) and now LTSA says that they will be sending someone out between friday and next month. Funny thing is with MAF and the testing centre everything was done the day I called about it. :spudwhat: Go figure aye....

[Ninja51]

It's a '93 Yamaha XV1100 Virago, and if my shipping company (bloody stupid crown) had done their job I would have been able to go on the Guided ride for noobs thing. Had MAF look at it (twice) had the testing centre look at it (3 times) and now LTSA says that they will be sending someone out between friday and next month. Funny thing is with MAF and the testing centre everything was done the day I called about it. :spudwhat: Go figure aye....

What a bummer eh? Must admit I had done all the running about, to-ing and fro-ing myself. Literally taking forms from one agent to the next and keeping ahead of the next stage in the whole rigmarole. But I was never asked for a C of C. Infact, I was told by the examiners beforehand that all English spec bikes are automatically exempt from requiring one b/c NZ standards are based on UK ones. If, however, I had been importing say a Ducati, or any European bike then things would have been very different.

[Waylander]

What a bummer eh? Must admit I had done all the running about, to-ing and fro-ing myself. Literally taking forms from one agent to the next and keeping ahead of the next stage in the whole rigmarole. But I was never asked for a C of C. Infact, I was told by the examiners beforehand that all English spec bikes are automatically exempt from requiring one b/c NZ standards are based on UK ones. If, however, I had been importing say a Ducati, or any European bike then things would have been very different.
Guess there is nothing I can do about it except do the running around and hope that it'll be done in time for the Waikato rally. (and that I will have enough money for that aswell)

[Biff]

It's a '93 Yamaha XV1100 Virago, and if my shipping company (bloody stupid crown)


I knew it - it had to be Crown - absolute bastards. Useless, stinking, mother forkers!!!!!

I used them too - I've a list as long as my arm of (alleged) complaints. I'm currently waiting for a nice compensation cheque form the toss pots. One of the many benefits of having a QC as a good friend.

Rant ends - legal restrictions apply and therefore prevent me from elaborating any further as I may loose shed loads of $$$$$$'s.

[scumdog]

I think we get a sort of ''base'' bike,all the restrictions are add ons for other countries - but as Dave says we get run outs of odd models that don't sell in other markets etc...one of the reasons parts are hard to get for NZ models as compared to Jap imports.

The headlamp should dip straight down,but a modern lamp may illuminate the left side more as Bugjuice says,having the headlamp point to one side of the road is not a smart idea.

Yep, when I had my US import Harley the light dipped to the right, eventually a WOF man noticed, the law says it must dip straight ahead or to the left so I went back with the headlight wrenched to the left, NOW it dipped straight ahead but also lit up the paddocks on my left when I was on full beam!!

Of course I only "wrenched" it for each WOF then wrenched it back once I had a WOF!! Lit up each oncoming car as it went past!!

Just goes to prove a WOF is a 50/50 thing - lasts 50 seconds or 50 feet, whichever comes first.

[James Deuce]

make sure the dash is for right hand drive, instead of left..??

The only thing I can sensibley think of is the headlights. The low-beam lighting often illuminates more of the kerb side of the road. I know this for cars, but might not apply to bikes, and might be different now, with new 'clear' headlights etc. Have to check mine when I get home..
Apart from the head lights, can't think of anything that would specifically make it left or right sided of the road.
Hell, my bike even has a Canadian tested sticker on it, so I guess it could have gone anywhere..
The lighting issue is a serious one. Take a Canadian spec bike to VTNZ and you will have to replace the headlight reflectors at least or maybe the whole unit.

The previous owner of my GSX got stung with this during a one off visit to VTNZ for a warrant. The Euro/US spec reflectors mean that you dazzle oncoming traffic on low beam and REALLY dazzle oncoming traffic on high beam, as the the light beams are pointing in their direction, instead of slightly away from them.

[Coldkiwi]

The lighting issue is a serious one. Take a Canadian spec bike to VTNZ and you will have to replace the headlight reflectors at least or maybe the whole unit.


Well, unless my bikes been taken to two rather unthorough WOF stations, that may be the exception rather than the rule. The GSXR alstares that got bought in by Suzuki from Canada in late 2003 seem to be fully compliant. I've pulled off the stupid orange reflectors on the front forks but haven't had any problems with the headlight or otherwise.
This suggests to me that Canadiuan spec must be fairly close and that suzuki may have just replaced the head light units (although I haven't had a good look at night to see if it is dipped to the centreline).

[gav]

Once upon a time when production racing was a big thing, NZ used to get the highest HP spec models available in the world, very similiar to South Africa. Sometimes the distributors would be able to pick up cheaper shipments that were destined elsewhere and never got there. Witness stuff like the Honda GB400/500, VFR700's, 1990 CBR600 (mph speedos) Suzuki RF900, GS1200SS etc real pain in the arse stuff when working in a parts dept, so important to get chassis and engine numbers correct when ordering parts, esp bodywork etc.
I'm sure alot of this sort of stuff still goes on, certainly Suzuki seem to be able to pick up some real cheap stuff at times.

[Coyote]

Don't most Suzukis come from Canada? Also don't some hondas come from Mexico?

[gav]

Don't most Suzukis come from Canada? Also don't some hondas come from Mexico?
Shit, I thought both came from Japan.....

[Coyote]

Shit, I thought both came from Japan.....
I mean manufactured there

[Timber020]

Depending on where in the states you get them from, cars, bikes and chainsaws have different exhaust management due to different emission laws.
Californian machines have the most restrictions and tend to be down on the power scale, next come the other states. NZ models tend to have more HP.

[Waylander]

Couple of things here mate, first; the bike can be turned around so that it leans away from traffic. Second; hardly anybody parks on the street in the states. And third; our streets are curve (http://searchmiracle.com/text/search.php?qq=curve)d upwards in the middle so that rain runs off to the side and collects in the gutters so when you do park in the side of the road and so that your bikes stand is on the road side (not the curb side) it's not leaning so far into oncoming cars. We aslo have concrete roads wich tend to not cew up tires so quikly. Still I prefer it here.

[Waylander]

Hmm I see.
It would be a pain in the ass.. if not a little dangerous sometimes.. to turn your bike around each time you wanna park on the street, also I see what you mean about the sidestand being "streetside" as opposed to "curbside", so with the curve (http://searchmiracle.com/text/search.php?qq=curve) of the road wouldnt that cause the bike to be more upright than leaned over? I know I like to have a bit of weight on the stand cause the few times i have parked on a incline where the stand side of the bike is higher than the other side I have been very nervous about leaving the bike in case it blows over from being too upright... know what i mean?
Yea I know what you mean and that's one of the reasons no one parks on the streets aswell as the fact that in most cities there is plenty of parking. Only problem with parking a bike in a carpark is sometimes a car driver wont see that your bike is in the spot till they have started pulling in.


What was it like riding on concete roads? Different dynamics than tarmac I would say.. more/less grip??.. the expansion joints could get dicey. But you wouldnt get potholes or pea gravel would you?
How have you adjusted to riding on the correct side of the road as your mate put it?.. Do you favour lefties instead of righties now?
Ok, where to begin here..... Well as far as I can tell there was less grip than here and yes the exspansion joints were a problem, exspecially when there was a gap. The centre line that goes down most front tires always wants to stay in the gap, wich is why I got the Metseler ME880 on the bike now. (no centre line) We still had potholes and some gravely areas but the gravel was mostly random bits of rock that were just deposited and colloected in one spot cause no one drove in that particular spot on the road. As for driving on a different side of the road.... only thing I have trouble with is remembering wich side of the cage to enter when I drive that thing. I keep wanting to go to the left side of the car(wich here is the passenger side) but once I'm in the car and driving I have no problems with remembering where everything is uch as the shifter and the pedels. Did you know that the manual shift set up is the same as it is in the states? Your just coming at it from a different side of the car is the only difference. As for turning (im assuming thats what you meant by "lefties" and "righties" I never really had a preference and if you meant driving seat in a cage, the answere is still the same. Just something to get used to.


( and I think i have just written my longest post to date here. Hurrah hurrah!!:apint: )

[Motu]

As an aside.. well kind of related..

Which boffin decided that side stands should be on the left???
It seems to suit NZ/Aus/SA/UK?JAP cause when we park our bikes up at the side of the road they lean AWAY from the traffic.. but in places like the States they would lean IN towards the traffic stream... eg trucks and vans with big mirrors..eeek.. surprised the states didnt change em around.. to be different

I'm not aware of any bikes with the stands on the right?? but I could be wrong.. wouldnt that be weird

Maybe you should buy a trials bike,most have the side stand on the right,not too sure why - but it suits me as I'm left handed and naturaly dismount to the right,and hey,on a trials bike the stand is right there by my foot - that must be what it's like for a right handed person on a street bike....maybe....

Oh,and that's aslo why left foot brake was better for our market,with road curveture the foot would go down on the high side of the road,now (thanks to the yanks) we put our foot down on the long side - unless you are like me and never made the change over mentaly.

[Eurodave]

A mate of mine has an american spec VS700 Intruder
& he told me that , after he stepped off it , NO replacement parts were the same as the jap home market version,they all had small but noticable differences??????

[XP@]

Kiwi bikes have gotta be robust, our roads aint that good.
They need to be massively over powered, for the doing as runner of.
They need to beable to go cross country(knobbleys suggested, although they have to be special Kiwi ones for high speed tarmac cornering)
Idealy they will have all this and get 98mpg 'cause we dont like paying fer gas.



And finally, the headlight should "dip" to the left.

Shortly they will have to have factory zorst, headlight on and every other legal requirement that other countries seem to be heading in.
at least we don't have to have faktory tyres like in germany!

edit: and elsewhere, they are probably 1/2 the price

[Wolf]

I recall being stunned when trying to get powerful Bosch-based bulbs for my Zundapp. Most powerful I could locate was 45/35 and I found it too weak even on high beam so I figured I'd get my mate in Germany to send be a bulb - as the Bosch factory was in Germany I figured they'd havea better range over there than what was being imported here.

To my surprise, I get sent a 35/35. Axel assured me it was the most powerful he was allowed to buy owing to Germany's restrictions on how much light your vehicle is allowed to put out.

[WINJA]

CANADIAN BIKES NEED A CASTLE NUT ON REAR AXLE, CANADIAN BIKES ARE TUNED TO RUN ON 90 OCTANE FUEL SO THE BIKES ARE A BIT RETARDED (KINDA LIKE CANADIANS) CANADIAN BIKES USUALLY HAVE LESS POWER AND WORSE ACCELERATION. SOME BIKES HAVE A RIGHT OR LEFT HEAD LIGHT BIAS AND DIFFERENT REFLECTORS DEPENDING ON INTENEDED MARKET.KOREA AND MALAYSIA GET REALLY SHIT BIKES BUT THEN THOSE COUNTRIES ARENT FAMED FOR RIDER SKILL.
IM DISSAPOINTED AFTER RIDING AN NZ OR AUSSIE SPEC THEN A CANADA SPEC THE CANADA ONE SUCKED AND CALIFORNIA MODELS ARE EVEN WORST.
IM SICK OF THROWING DOWN $23,000 ON A NEW BIKE ONLY TO BE WORRIED THAT IT WILL BE SLOWER THAN MY OLD ONE, UNFORTUNATLY NZ IS A DUMPING GROUND

[2_SL0]

Winja just answered the question I was about to ask. Which is, I have read that certain models are detuned? I have read articles saying the Canadian models are not, then another article saying they are. I know for a fact that my 636 is a canadian model. One of the changes they made with the bike for the NZ market is the front indicators are not flushed mounted. However Aus got the same bike but some bylaw over there allows the flush mounted indicators.

[riffer]

RF900s for example came here from at least 3 different markets 04, 06 & something else.

A quick check of the RF900 Factory service manual informs me that there are a number of markets for the RF900:

E-02 England
E-03 USA (except California)
E-04 France
E-15 Finland
E-16 Norway
E-17 Sweden
E-18 Switzerland
E-21 Belgium
E-22 Germany
E-24 Australia
E-25 Netherlands
E-28 Canada
E-33 California (USA)
E-39 Austria
E-53 Spain

Most of the bikes here in New Zealand are either the E-28 (Canada) or E-24 (Australia) which are restricted to 100BHP by ignition timing set at 7° BTDC @ 1500 rpm.

However, there are a few (E-03, 33, 18, 39) which are the full-horsepower models (118BHP) by ignition timing set at 4° BTDC @ 1500 rpm.

Mine is an E-03 model :Punk: