How can I tell if my bike is a grey or parallel import?

[monkey]

Hello mighty organs.

I have a '98 ZX6R. I know it's an import but I'm not sure how to tell if it's grey or parallel. It says on the V5 "Declared new in UK by independent dealer".

Does anyone know for certain if this means one or the other?

Muchos gratitado.

[andrewsmith]

Chassis Number and a Kawa dealer should be able tell you if its a UK spec.

Light beam pattern (unless dealer swap unit) will be one way to tell

[gruntygiggles]

Get the chassis number and call Kwak...they'll let you know :-)

[Biker Biggles]

That means it was imported by a non franchised dealer brand new so is a parallel

[Stig]

Parallel means imported via registered company other than manufacturers dealerships.

Grey means it was smuggled in the back of a fishing vessel off the coast of Southampton.

Some of the above may not be true. ;-)

[Stig]

Grey import means it isn't UK Spec. Chasis number should tell you all you know. You could probably find out on the net maybe?

[Biker Biggles]

Grey import means it isn't UK Spec. Chasis number should tell you all you know. You could probably find out on the net maybe?

No.Grey means it is imported second hand so is not registered as new.Parallels are often not UK spec either,although they might be.My SV is a parallel imported and registered new in 2000,but has a KM speedo and no carb heaters.

[21QUEST]

'Greys' means bike models that were never imported into/sold in the UK by the manufacturer.

'Parallel' are bikes that were imported through unofficial channels even though said models of bike were imported into/sold in the Uk by the manufacturers....through their dealer networks.

That's pretty right.

[speedplay]

When you start it...

Does it sound english or dutch....?




;)

[-Ralph-]

'Greys' means bike models that were never imported into/sold in the UK by the manufacturer.

What does Bike Models mean?

SV650S or SV650S K6? ie: bikes with a completely different variant (ie: SV650S Sport), or bikes with the same name and model number, but with a different non UK spec?

[orose]

The classic grey imports are the 400cc sportsbikes, like the Honda NCs, which were intended for the home market (to get around a licence issue there) but were imported here as post-learner bikes or for shorties.

[andrewsmith]

The classic grey imports are the 400cc sportsbikes, like the Honda NCs, which were intended for the home market (to get around a licence issue there) but were imported here as post-learner bikes or for shorties.

Gixxers aswel

All pigs to find parts for!

Bike like a ZX6 will be virtually same (apart from places with odd criteria for certain things) everywhere

[Sid Squid]

'Greys' means bike models that were never imported into/sold in the UK by the manufacturer.

'Parallel' are bikes that were imported through unofficial channels even though said models of bike were imported into/sold in the Uk by the manufacturers....through their dealer networks.

That's pretty right.
It's absolutely correct.

What does Bike Models mean?

SV650S or SV650S K6? ie: bikes with a completely different variant (ie: SV650S Sport), or bikes with the same name and model number, but with a different non UK spec?
Either, a parallel may or may not be UK spec, it simply means a model of bike bike that was sold here, but the bike in question came here via the importer of another country*.
At the height of the business we had bikes coming through Germany but in full UK spec, it was worth the importer requesting such bikes as they could sell them on at a profit and they'd still be OTR here for less than an 'official' import.

*It may never have been there of course - many bikes were shipped directly here even though they were 'coming in from Europe'.

[_Stretchie_]

Is it left or right hand drive?