neil
Thrash Merchant
my 125
Posts: 385
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Post by neil on Apr 19, 2019 20:40:32 GMT 1
Hi, could people please tell me their thoughts on import 350lc's. I'm thinking of going down this avenue. Are they easy to convert to mph clocks? Is the general wiring different to that of a UK bike? I've heard the rear mudguard is different, and they can carburate funny being designed to run on cheap fuel in other country's!? Some or lots of advise would be appreciated. Cheers
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 19, 2019 22:23:32 GMT 1
I've done it and I'd do it again. Euro bikes run on the same fuel so no carb issues. Brazilian ones need the jets changing. MPH conversion is easily done. Headlight will point in the wrong direction though. My MOT bloke cut some leccy tape and slapped it on lol. No idea why the muddie would be different. Wiring should be the same apart from the side stand wire on some Euro bikes.
Alex
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Post by midlifecrisisrd on Apr 19, 2019 22:37:41 GMT 1
If we are talking 350lc and not ypvs then not much to worry about
As said headlight points wrong way but new UK ones still available
Yes the sidestand will retract automatically. Bin the springs and small bracket and fit a UK spring
Steering lock will be a separate lock on the headstock. Either fit a UK lockset or who cares
German bikes had longer rear muddy. Repro UK ones available
Speedo in KPH. MPH Speedos are rare and expensive. Take the bezel and needle off, fit a mph face so speed will read in mph but distance still in Km's
Probably forgot something but nothing major
Steve
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Post by reedpete on Apr 19, 2019 22:38:54 GMT 1
Continental mudguards , German in particular, have an extension. Held on by a rivet. Easy to make look like Uk but leaves the ‘tells’ you see in so many bikes.
If the bikes come from countries that don’t use salt on roads in the winter they are generally in better condition than similar Uk bike, but UK bikes will still hold a premium for all ‘emotional’ reasons that have been debated on here many times.
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Post by icarus001 on Apr 20, 2019 5:26:29 GMT 1
If it's a Japanese built 350LC then apart from the cosmetic stuff like mudguards, and the speedo, then as far as I know they're all the same.
Some people have a thing about wanting one that was originally imported to the UK by the factory and not someone else a few years later, and some people have a thing about numbers and want them to have the same numbers on the frame and engine, I think it's weird but folk are folk.
One of my bikes was made in Japan, then shipped to Germany, then some years later was shipped to the UK.
In every mechanical way it's the same as one that was made in Japan then shipped to the UK - but for some people it's worth less.
In my experience, and this is only pure subjective speculation, the bikes made in Japan and destined for the Japanese market always seem to be put together a bit better. So if you have a JDM bike then in my mind it should command a premium, like the JDM TDR250, it's a better bike than the UK version.
I think the JDM bikes were made on a different line than the export bikes.
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Post by jon on Apr 20, 2019 7:29:51 GMT 1
If it's a Japanese built 350LC then apart from the cosmetic stuff like mudguards, and the speedo, then as far as I know they're all the same. Some people have a thing about wanting one that was originally imported to the UK by the factory and not someone else a few years later, and some people have a thing about numbers and want them to have the same numbers on the frame and engine, I think it's weird but folk are folk. One of my bikes was made in Japan, then shipped to Germany, then some years later was shipped to the UK. In every mechanical way it's the same as one that was made in Japan then shipped to the UK - but for some people it's worth less. In my experience, and this is only pure subjective speculation, the bikes made in Japan and destined for the Japanese market always seem to be put together a bit better. So if you have a JDM bike then in my mind it should command a premium, like the JDM TDR250, it's a better bike than the UK version. I think the JDM bikes were made on a different line than the export bikes. The JDM bikes didn’t vary differently in spec did they? Just put together more carefully? This used to make me laugh with Lambrettas as well as LC’s. People used to bang on it was an Italian lambretta rather than an Indian one, an so far superior. Now don’t get me wrong the finish was slightly better on an Italian one. BUT we’re talking about 40 year old bikes that have been rebuilt a few times using spares from wherever. I’d rather an Indian one in good condition than an Italian one that’s been bodged over the years. Same goes for an LC. The numbers thing makes me laugh too. Again, don’t get me wrong, if you’ve got a matching numbers bike then great. Other manufacturers don’t match numbered frame and engines so does that make them inferior? Other than checking frame and engine numbers are sound and match the logbook during purchase I can’t remember ever looking at them again. One of my bikes does have matching numbers, but I don’t keep checking they match to give me a rosey glow. So to sum up, check the condition of the bike and the numbers are sound and match the logbook and then enjoy, whatever it is. Jon |
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Post by earthman on Apr 20, 2019 8:45:32 GMT 1
If we are talking 350lc and not ypvs then not much to worry about As said headlight points wrong way but new UK ones still available Yes the sidestand will retract automatically. Bin the springs and small bracket and fit a UK spring Steering lock will be a separate lock on the headstock. Either fit a UK lockset or who cares German bikes had longer rear muddy. Repro UK ones available Speedo in KPH. MPH Speedos are rare and expensive. Take the bezel and needle off, fit a mph face so speed will read in mph but distance still in Km's Probably forgot something but nothing major Steve I've thought about fitting a UK lock to mine but that's only half the story, you would need to weld on tabs to the frame too. The box of tricks that makes the self cancelling indicators work is missing too. Those stick on mph stickers block out the light from the bulb within the clock, better to change the inlay card itself. |
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Post by midlifecrisisrd on Apr 20, 2019 9:03:29 GMT 1
If we are talking 350lc and not ypvs then not much to worry about As said headlight points wrong way but new UK ones still available Yes the sidestand will retract automatically. Bin the springs and small bracket and fit a UK spring Steering lock will be a separate lock on the headstock. Either fit a UK lockset or who cares German bikes had longer rear muddy. Repro UK ones available Speedo in KPH. MPH Speedos are rare and expensive. Take the bezel and needle off, fit a mph face so speed will read in mph but distance still in Km's Probably forgot something but nothing major Steve I've thought about fitting a UK lock to mine but that's only half the story, you would need to weld on tabs to the frame too. The box of tricks that makes the self cancelling indicators work is missing too. Those stick on mph stickers block out the light from the bulb within the clock, better to change the inlay card itself. Ah! So the LC doesn't have the tab on the frame? The ypvs frames have both And yes, complete face is preferable Steve |
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Post by reedpete on Apr 20, 2019 9:54:01 GMT 1
The mph conversion is not compulsory on an LC so I decided on the one I’m building up just going to leave it as kmh, all you need to do is quick mental conversion or just know 80=50, 120=75...
Apart from the rear guard which I don’t like the look of, if it’s a European one I’d just leave it like it is. My logic is that the more you try make an EU one like a UK one the more it reinforces the UK one is more desirable. The collectors side of the market will make always make it like that but let’s do what we can to keep parity amongst the good honest everyday riders out there.
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Post by bezzer on Apr 20, 2019 11:32:35 GMT 1
The mph conversion is not compulsory on an LC so I decided on the one I’m building up just going to leave it as kmh, all you need to do is quick mental conversion or just know 80=50, 120=75... Apart from the rear guard which I don’t like the look of, if it’s a European one I’d just leave it like it is. My logic is that the more you try make an EU one like a UK one the more it reinforces the UK one is more desirable. The collectors side of the market will make always make it like that but let’s do what we can to keep parity amongst the good honest everyday riders out there. A good point, well put Pete. I have a U.K. matching numbers bike, and one imported from Sweden, arguably the Swedish bike was a better base than my U.K. one, but I wouldn’t put one above the other, just enjoy them. |
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Post by earthman on Apr 20, 2019 14:28:36 GMT 1
I've thought about fitting a UK lock to mine but that's only half the story, you would need to weld on tabs to the frame too. The box of tricks that makes the self cancelling indicators work is missing too. Those stick on mph stickers block out the light from the bulb within the clock, better to change the inlay card itself. Ah! So the LC doesn't have the tab on the frame? The ypvs frames have both And yes, complete face is preferable Steve Only going by my 4LO, certainly no tabs on my frame sadly. |
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Post by iwantalc on Apr 20, 2019 20:00:56 GMT 1
just ride it and enjoy it ..
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neil
Thrash Merchant
my 125
Posts: 385
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Post by neil on Apr 21, 2019 19:36:17 GMT 1
Well good to know stuff, I could live with the differences but the clocks would have to be mph. As said nowt stranger than folk lol
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Post by icarus001 on Apr 22, 2019 2:24:17 GMT 1
The JDM bikes didn’t vary differently in spec did they? Just put together more carefully? I don't think the 350LC's are different spec, but a fair few bikes were, like the RD500 and the TDR250. The JDM market often got fancy kit on the bikes, whereas the European ones were a bit more basic. |
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