When 'NZ New' isn't what you expected

[Molly]

Bought a 2006 'NZ-new' Speedmaster then found it'd originally been intended for the German market. This meant the headlight dipped to the right and the handbooks were in German.

Dealer supplied a replacement headlight without fuss but it does raise the question; what exactly does NZ new mean? If the bike was built for a different market it can easily be non-NZ spec. Just because it was first registered here, does that mean it's really 'NZ-new'?

I'm happy with the bike and happy with the dealer's service at the time of purchase and in the follow-up. It's just a grey area I suppose.

[chocobo_ff]

NZ new = first registered in NZ? I doubt there'll be many NZ-spec vehicles (cars or bikes) because we have such a small market, so we probably get the same/similar as to what the Aussies get.

Personally I see it as more of a marketing term... good thing with NZ new though is that you often have access to the history (service, rego etc etc), whereas say for an Japanese import car, it's probably more difficult to obtain that information.

Edit: not sure if "NZ new" applies to vehicles imported into the country which don't have an official importer, e.g. are those cheap Chinese scooters on TradeMe "NZ new"...?

[Headbanger]

No such thing as a NZ spec bike, so NZ new simply means what it says.It was new when it came into the country rather then imported used.

[Pussy]

Suzuki has built the odd "NZ spec" bike. They are E27 models.
Most new Suzukis we get in NZ are E24 spec (Australia).
SNZ has, however, sold a lot of E03 (US spec), E28 (Canadian spec), E19 (European spec) and E02 (UK spec) bikes new in NZ.
They are easy enough to identify from the VIN plate, if you know what you are looking for

[Headbanger]

Damn them Suzuki, making a damn NZ spec bike just so I could be wrong.

Damn them to hell.

[Pussy]

Katman's Katana is a rare E27 spec model....

[Headbanger]

What???....Katmans real?

[AllanB]

Interesting post.

I purchased a NZ new Kawasaki in 1983 that was in fact a USA built model that Kawa NZ had sourced cheap as they were overstocked in the USA. They did a few models like that around that period. No idea about the headlight they probably did not even bother back then!

My GS1200ss Suzuki was NZ new but a Japanese market bike.

I guess the thing to really watch is NZ models are full power jobie's - some other markets are restricted a bit.

[Pussy]

I guess the thing to really watch is NZ models are full power jobie's - some other markets are restricted a bit.

That's where you're safe getting an E24 Suzuki.
Kawasakis (or the bigger ones, anyway) are Canadian spec in NZ for some reason. Would have thought sourcing them from across the ditch would have made more sense

[YellowDog]

I suspect that the German spec will be similar or better than the NZ spec.

If it says NZ new for your new Toyota, then you would be very dissapointed if you were to get the Japanese basic spec.

I almost bought a German spec Mercedes from Germany in the 1990s, as it appeared to be great value. Unfortunately the basic German spec was well below the UK one.

The export spec is generally slightly better than the home manufacturers country spec.

[Pussy]

Some Euro spec bikes are limited to 100hp.
Suzuki always used to supply Italian spec bikes for the press release of GSX-Rs at Phillip Island. This wouldn't have been by mistake....

[Molly]

Some Euro spec bikes are limited to 100hp.

100hp? I f'kin' wish.....

Maybe they weren't big sellers in Germany so some were diverted here. Whatever, I'm not concerned for this particular bike. I know the original VMax was sold in full-power and some other version but can't see any such issues with a Speedmaster.

In the UK they have grey, parallel, and official imports. The parallel imports played a big part in bringing down official import prices.

[kevfromcoro]

i just bought an 07 suzuki dr 650
why is the spedo in MPH,/?

[Pussy]

i just bought an 07 suzuki dr 650
why is the spedo in MPH,/?

Probably because it's either an E03 (US) spec, or E33 (California) spec

[roadracingoldfart]

With Ford cars we have a few models made in South Africa for a european market with slightly adjusted safety specs (to make emm cheaper here)
I seem to remember a few Suzuki models from the 80s that were also S.A specs.
Didnt the Hiscocks ride S.A spec Katanas in the 6 hour once ??? or was that in Aussie ?

Paul.