Does your vin number start with a V?

Sledge posted this about 5 years ago

"Yeah....all the Fs and the last Es were built in Spain, they moved them over around 2002."

Quote from: Twisted on March 19, 2013, 03:23:02 AM
Does your vin number start with a V?

It sure does Twisted

Quote from: codajastal on March 19, 2013, 03:22:28 AM

Quote from: peterscotts on March 19, 2013, 03:20:20 AM
Cool... Thanks pal.. So I can say it's not a Jap bike

LOL
here is a thread on the exact question asked before

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=44053.0

Thanks Cods.... So really I havn't got a Jap bike.. I have a Spanish one! 

Quote from: peterscotts on March 19, 2013, 03:27:07 AM

Quote from: Twisted on March 19, 2013, 03:23:02 AM
Does your vin number start with a V?

It sure does Twisted

Well then it aint Japanese. My 2 start with a J

Then it is made in Spain. J for Japan.

Quote from: codajastal on March 19, 2013, 03:29:55 AM

Quote from: peterscotts on March 19, 2013, 03:27:07 AM

Quote from: Twisted on March 19, 2013, 03:23:02 AM
Does your vin number start with a V?

It sure does Twisted

Well then it aint Japanese. My 2 start with a J

That's it...  I read that when searching Vin numbers

Quote from: Twisted on March 19, 2013, 03:31:51 AM
Then it is made in Spain. J for Japan.

Cool thanks Twisted... I now have a European motorcycle 

Quote from: peterscotts on March 19, 2013, 03:42:11 AM

Quote from: Twisted on March 19, 2013, 03:31:51 AM
Then it is made in Spain. J for Japan.

Cool thanks Twisted... I now have a European motorcycle 

  At least I can say its not a Jap bike.. Ha ha!!! 

Vtt vin=Suzuki moto espania
J vin=Japan.

They moved to Spain in the early 1990s to save $$ for their smaller low margin bikes.

A lot if companies do that.

Look up vin country of final manufacture in Google. You'll learn a lot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My GS is a 2010 Spanish build. It plays havoc with US-based VIN decoders that try to tell me it is a 1980 model. Other decoder try to tell me it is a 2-stroke with an engine between 300 and 399cc. 

Nov last Suzuki announced it was closing it's Spanish motorcycle factory in Gijon. Workers have out up a bit of a fight but the Spanish economy is fcuked and 31 March next seems to be slated as the final day for the Suzuki production line. So, that's that for the GS500 and a whole lot of other Suzuki Spain bikes. Never been really clear but got a suspicion that the GS500 motor is Jap built and the Spanish team make/assemble the cycle parts. Suzuki have been remaindering the end of line GS500 stock at amazing prices. Suzuki now looking to China for a deal of its bike production.

The GS500 was a surprisingly strong seller in Australia last year but I can see the new Honda 500 killing it even if Suzuki doesn't. It doesn't matter where it is made, the GS needs to be updated with EFI, a valvetrain that requires a lot less attention and an ABS option. Water-cooling may also help with market perceptions but I'm not sure it is necessary and it may reduce reliability.

Quote from: Banzai on March 19, 2013, 04:39:13 AM
My GS is a 2010 Spanish build. It plays havoc with US-based VIN decoders that try to tell me it is a 1980 model. Other decoder try to tell me it is a 2-stroke with an engine between 300 and 399cc. 

Same!

Quote from: jestercinti on March 19, 2013, 04:37:13 AM
Vtt vin=Suzuki moto espania
J vin=Japan.

They moved to Spain in the early 1990s to save $$ for their smaller low margin bikes.

A lot if companies do that.

Look up vin country of final manufacture in Google. You'll learn a lot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks jestercinti

Quote from: noworries on March 19, 2013, 06:43:01 AM
Nov last Suzuki announced it was closing it's Spanish motorcycle factory in Gijon. Workers have out up a bit of a fight but the Spanish economy is fcuked and 31 March next seems to be slated as the final day for the Suzuki production line. So, that's that for the GS500 and a whole lot of other Suzuki Spain bikes. Never been really clear but got a suspicion that the GS500 motor is Jap built and the Spanish team make/assemble the cycle parts. Suzuki have been remaindering the end of line GS500 stock at amazing prices. Suzuki now looking to China for a deal of its bike production.

Interesting... Thanks!! 

Quote from: Twisted on March 19, 2013, 03:08:51 AM
If your bike as this symbol on the forks it is made in Spain

I cant make out the symbol inside that, but mine as the same thing on the forks.

Quote from: Banzai on March 19, 2013, 07:08:04 AM
The GS500 was a surprisingly strong seller in Australia last year but I can see the new Honda 500 killing it even if Suzuki doesn't. It doesn't matter where it is made, the GS needs to be updated with EFI, a valvetrain that requires a lot less attention and an ABS option. Water-cooling may also help with market perceptions but I'm not sure it is necessary and it may reduce reliability.

How much for the new Honda 500.. Ride-Away

Quote from: wayne242 on March 19, 2013, 05:58:59 PM

Quote from: Twisted on March 19, 2013, 03:08:51 AM
If your bike as this symbol on the forks it is made in Spain

I cant make out the symbol inside that, but mine as the same thing on the forks.

Isn't this a better indicator of where it is made?


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Quote from: peterscotts on March 19, 2013, 06:00:07 PM

Quote from: Banzai on March 19, 2013, 07:08:04 AM
The GS500 was a surprisingly strong seller in Australia last year but I can see the new Honda 500 killing it even if Suzuki doesn't. It doesn't matter where it is made, the GS needs to be updated with EFI, a valvetrain that requires a lot less attention and an ABS option. Water-cooling may also help with market perceptions but I'm not sure it is necessary and it may reduce reliability.

How much for the new Honda 500.. Ride-Away

Just found out.. Around 2 grand more... AUD