How do I tell which year my bike is?

My son recently crashed his SV and is looking for lots of expensive bits. I know the bits on the K3/K4/K5 and not interchangeable so any help would be appreciated. His registration is WA04 but is it a K3 or a K4. The chassis number starts JS1BY111200.

Previous owner was a dealer so could be left over stock as used as demonstrator.

I know some of this bored and I have fallen out, but this has nothing to do with my James. Come on guys.

What bits do you need Kev ?

The plastics are compatible, I think things like levers and that are too. From what I understand (which ain't alot!) things like sub frames etc may differ a little.

I do know that they both have a 90 degree V-twin

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I think the best easy indicators are an internal toolkit (K3) vs weird outside box (K4), Suzuki on the tank (K3) rather than an 'S' (K4). K3's were copper silver and blue, Im not certain but I think only blue carried over to K4. Theres something else obvious too but I can't remember.

(As an aside, a good way to date anything is take random bits of plastic off and look at the mould dates. This can give a clue to actual bulid date as parts supply is often 'just in time'. Using that I've worked out my must ahve left the factory no earlier than Nov 04. I understand this method is used in legal cases as evidence of build date).

If you have got the owners manual thing on the back in the bottom left corner it will tell you if it is K3 K4 etc

thats the only way I know

colour's a good indicator What colour is it

Originally Posted by Cloggsy

colour's a good indicator What colour is it

Not a terribly good indicator, since blue exists in K3 and K4

Basically, what Dr Rich said is the quickest way, look just in front of the back wheel but behind the shock, if there is a monstrous plastic box thing which turns out to have a toolkit in it, then it's a K4, otherwise it's a K3.
Of course, having an S rather than Suzuki on the tank is also a quick one.

[Viney]

Cut it in half and count the rings in the frame

Sorry to hear he's had an off Kev, sincerely hope he's okay and that you find the bits and info you need.


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also the gear / brake lever, if its got the gear and brake lever on the sam epivot its a K3, if its got a seperate gear and brake pivot its a K4, or easier and more accurate look on your owners manual.

Originally Posted by Captain Nemo

also the gear / brake lever, if its got the gear and brake lever on the sam epivot its a K3, if its got a seperate gear and brake pivot its a K4,

Dont you mean gear and footpeg? Or pivot at the same point?
Anyway, wonder why they changed it? This is whats resulted in the unscrewed gear selector scenario isnt it?