Exactly... Honda wouldn't do that... someone else has. You need to look into the bikes history via the VIN and rego check to see if it has been written off. No frame number = people can't check easily. Worst case scenario its written off and you have to buy another road registerable frame.
Thanks for your suggestions I did the PPSR check, Identifier number: JH2MC22U9WM103009 Identifier type: VIN Vehicle type: MOTOR CYCLE Make: HONDA Body type: MOTORCYCLE Model: CBR250RR Colour: GOLD / BLACK Engine number: MC14E1403009 Registration plate number: No data recorded. State vehicle registered: QLD Registration expiry: No data recorded. Year of manufacture: 1998 Year/Month of compliance: 1998-07 Written off: No data recorded. Stolen: No data recorded. When I run the vin through the TMR page I get the correct plate number that was on the bike when I picked it up. Obviously rego had run out but the plates match. The area where the old number is very neatly grounded off, while its a little sus it doesn't look badly done like I would of expected. I'll check under the seat for the sticker when I get home tonight.
Gents, mystery solved. I got home from work and took a look under the seat, the sticker is still there! CBR250RRR Color code: nh-196 After a bit of research I found a few others people in aus with the same problem of the original frame number being neatly filed off. The story is that someone at Honda was doing this instead of crossing them out. Either way at least I have an approximate year now. Thanks everyone!
I struggle to see Honda MPE being an importer of grey bikes from Japan, weird this is a nh-196, or better known as a MC22 tricolor
Glad that is sorted, thought that you would find that number under the seat. According to what I have seen on the net. production of these bikes ceased in 1996 and were sold for a few years thereafter. So your bike will be classified as a 1998 model when registered.