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Help CBR250RR Grey Import info appreciated if possible please.

Discussion in 'Honda 250cc In-line 4's' started by Aaron81, Mar 27, 2021.

  1. Aaron81

    Aaron81 Active Member

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    Hey guys Ive got a bit of a head scratcher here (Well for my simplistic cave man style thinker that is) and I am wondering if anyone could possibly shed some light on this for me please.
    You see I am an honest person 99.9% of the time and for the other 00.1% if there is anything to feel guilt about especially when conducting business I end up pretty much shooting myself in the foot to make right the situation even if there is no situation to answer for so as I am sure you will start to understand in a minute why I am asking this so please bare with me and if anything doesn't make sense then please make note and I will do my best to address the concern.
    Over the years I have been rather lucky when it comes to finding quality bikes and cars that for a little bit of work could potentially have a value skyrocket but as we all know the longer you do this for the more items you find that just dont quite add up or tell more than 1 story and this is where the 1990 CBR250RR frame that I have comes in to question and I will attach a link to the Gumtree ad where I have it NOT FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES but due to the fact that it is the easiest linked post with photos and info for the interested parties that could shed light on the situation.

    Now I know that it is a grey import for a couple of reasons and I am sure the more knowledgeable will be able to point out what I don't know (There's a lot of this lol) The frame is the 1990 CBR250RR(L) I believe however I have not confirmed using the number stamped into the steering column, Notice the Model Name on the Vin pate you will see it is renamed as a 1990 CBR250R, now the vin when entered into PPSR comes up clean with no history yet I happen to know for a fact that this IS a RR version re double disc brake at the front (You have to trust me here as I am the one who removed and used the forks lol), the gull-wing swing arm, the big white sticker on the Subframe claiming RRL etc :) there's more but I am sure my point has been made.
    Q1-Now what I am wondering is first and foremost although it was a legit importer and there are a hell of a lot of imports plated by this same company that often share a similar discrepancy and that is where they have dropped the other R for the 250RR now I believe this was due to import tariff changes and introductions of stricter guidelines for importing performance bikes however I an not 100% certain so some incite from the more knowledgeable would be terrific!
    Q2- Considering the Vin plate is what makes it compliant to Aus and pretty much dots the I's and crosses the T's so to speak what kind of issue/s could or would this missing R make as far as road registering is concerned?
    Q3- What would be the accurate acceptable response if or when asked about the compliance plate discrepancy as I hate to give ppl a bum steer and wont ever do it intentionally hence this novel length request for info :)
    Q4-And the almighty question what is a setup like this worth to someone/anyone looking for a frame to hold all their Cibby parts?

    Guys I know this is probably getting a bit beyond anyone's patience levels and thank you ever so much for those of you who are still with me and have not fallen asleep or wandered off to another page by this point lol :).
    https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/poi...l-mc22-clear-title-complete-frame/1270191715#
     
  2. jmw76

    jmw76 Well-Known Member

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    Yes the description on the compliance plate appears to be wrong, but that should not cause any real issues. It could probably just say Honda motorcycle and it would be acceptable. Probably some confusion of the importers when the compliance plate was fixed (the 88/89 models were cbr250r). As long as the the plates look like they have not been removed (both plates have the same VIN) and the VIN is legit, then it should be ok.
     
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  3. Aaron81

    Aaron81 Active Member

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    Mate cheers for the reply and normally I would tend to agree as there were and probably still are a few importers that for one reason or another are unfamiliar with the correct procedure and info to stamp on the plate however with this particular company "Southside Motorcycle Dismantlers" I have noticed that this seems to be a fairly common practice for them. I have seen a number of 250cc street bikes imported by them that have had a second R dropped from the Vin plate or they completely drop the R or RR that would normally be there. Just in my little collection of bits and pieces there are 2 CBR250RR that are now single R and recently I have also come to notice another 2 Cbr250RR frames (Obviously no where near as good as mine lol) being sold by 2 different people however they too were imported through the same venue and have also been downgraded from the RR the R, and it is on this note that I started to wonder if it had been to Australian Import Red Tape or the likes that led to this practice as they mostly seem to involve performance bikes build around the same time period being late 80's to early-mid 90's. It might be my paranoia or something but I think it may be alittle more then an "Accidental Misprint", 1 or 2 errors yeah but seems to happen more often for it to be just a coincidence if you know what I mean. Dont get me wrong I fully appreciate your input and have not disregarded anything you have said, this just happens to be something I dont understand so I am trying to reach out to you all for discussion so that I may learn something new and in turn this may also teach others who may find themselves looking at the same kind of oddity in the future.
     
  4. Linkin

    Linkin The Mechanic Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Honestly the compliance plates on grey imports shouldn't be relied aupon - use the frame/engine numbers and bodywork etc for identification. If it was a CBR250 R and not an RR it would be a regular straight alloy beam frame and swingarm. The gull arm and frame design are definitely 250RR. The frame number will tell the whole story, I just can't remember if there is a resource to check frame numbers against.
     
  5. jmw76

    jmw76 Well-Known Member

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    If you are just concerned about the legality of your frame then I would say this:
    It appears to have a real frame number. The VIN plates look to be real and not tampered with and fixed by a registered importer. The frame is not badly damaged or modified.
    It is not stolen or on the written off vehicles register.
    Then all should be good!!!!!!
     
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  6. ruckusman

    ruckusman White Mans Magic Master Premium Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    You MUST be a pirate if you're THAT concerned about a letter "R"
     
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  7. XCite Bikes

    XCite Bikes Parts and Accessories Staff Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

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    I believe all grey imports got a compliance plate saying CBR250R. The only think important on the compliance plate is the VIN. The RMS here in NSW doesn't care about anything else. I had an MC22 registered as 900cc LAMS.
    Only way to know for sure if it's an MC19/17 or MC22 is by checking the shape of the frame, but you have already identified it.
     
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  8. jmw76

    jmw76 Well-Known Member

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    Well there you go. I just checked my grey import MC22. Yes, it is labelled CBR250R. Never thought to have a detailed look previously.
     

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