Xj750 id

Hi my dad is looking to buy a 1982 xj750 but struggling to find out exactly what it is. vin number is 5GB013670 can anyone point me in the right direction please?

 

https://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/xj-parts-catalog-section-a-introduction.44644/

 

Thanks Dan, looks like it is a xj750a, japanese import. Do you know if parts are readily available for this model?

 

"Parts" - now there's a word - in the UK, some. Yambits has a lot of remade stuff, not all of it is good, but most is, and not too pricey. CMSNL are pretty good, but not as cheap. I've found that bikes not sold here originally are not even listed with Yambits - my 650 Maxim for instance, but with a bit of research you can find the same parts on other Yam bikes.
If you click on the XJ Forever symbol top right of this page you will find enough information to keep you occupied for a day or more, and they also supply anything you might need. But you will pay for carriage from the States, plus import duty plus VAT on all of those costs - it can make a huge difference to price.
Good solid bikes, a nice ride, but typical 80s design - is the 750 a low miles bike? I bet it is.

 

One of the prettiest:

 

Mileage is less than 20k.nit doesn't look like thenphoti you have posted, looks more like a xj650. Wondering whether bodynoarts and running gear will be xj650 and engine parts xj750?

 

The XJ750 has the twin disk brakes up front, the other lower CC bikes do not. Unless someone took a lot of time and changed out the front end. If the price is right and you are little handy with some tools pic it up.

Make sure the gas tank is clean or free of rust. If the bike has been sitting for a lot time it will have to have the carbs removed and cleaned very well. There are lots of links in the forum to help with that.

Looks like a great bike, so if the price is right go for it.

 

Can you give me some idea of what this works out to (on a percentage basis)? And, if there is any trick in how products are classified to minimize these fees? And I'm not talking about putting false (reduced) values on products, only legitimate ways of tariff codes, etc. that may reduce the fees.

 

Mostly the import duty should be based on the value of the items, sometimes the importer puts a handling charge on which is the undefined bit, then VAT in the UK is 20% (on all of it if I recall).
If I were to order say $100 of parts, would you organise a carrier? And then add that to my price? Are there any other taxes your end I would have to pay?
Lets see if we can find out an accurate cost, it might be cheaper than I think.

 

Well, we offer shipment to any location (domestic in USA or anywhere else) via USPS (Post Office) and UPS (also Fed-Ex if you kick and scream, but they have been so unreliable and expensive that we no longer list them as a standard option). We are not set up with DHL, but I suppose that could be arranged, they seem to provide good service on many incoming shipments from our suppliers in Europe and elsewhere.

We mark shipments as containing products falling under HS commodity code 9966.00, which exempts such items from duties going into Canada. I'm unsure whether this code applies in the UK (although it should, since Harmonized System (HS) tariff codes are supposed to be global in application):

from https://www.trade.gov/harmonized-system-hs-codes

HOWEVER, when searching thru the UK's tariff codes for different products: https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/find_commodity

The 9966.00 code does not appear to exist, at all, and trying to find the proper classification for "antique motorcycle parts" results into a descent into the 10th circle of Dante's hell.

So maybe someone over there could assist in determining what is the proper tariff code to use on shipments into the UK?

Yes, the $100.00 worth of parts would be listed as individual line item(s) showing our part number, brief description (e.g. "master cylinder rebuild kit"), and price for that item and quantity purchased. There is a summary field for the total value of all products purchased ("Parts Total"), then a separate entry for shipping charges, another separate entry for any additional services (mainly used for any optional shipment insurance charges purchased), and finally an invoice grand total, which of course is just the summary of the above three items.

There is no USA tax (local, state, or federal) that would be due.

Interestingly, the shipment manifesting system that we use has very recently introduced a new option for us to "Prepay duties and taxes" for shipments into Canada, for a fee of USD $ 9.75 (regardless of order value). Of course, since the tariff code of 9966 eliminates import duties into Canada for these types of products, we don't use this option, and I do not know whether that same option applies to shipments into the UK (as we have not had an order going to the UK since this option first appeared on the manifest system).

All that being said, shipping costs to the UK by any carrier will get expensive, quickly, depending (mainly) on the SIZE of the items (which require larger packaging). Small items are fairly reasonable, but once they get larger than, let's say, a rear wheel drive sprocket, then the costs start to go up exponentially, and thus the shipping costs as a percentage of the product value becomes grotesque. However, if a very large order (say, over $1000) within a reasonable size package (meaning: no fork tubes, no windscreens, handlebars, seats, gas tanks, etc.) then the shipping costs will become more realistic, amounting to perhaps 10-20% of the product value.

 

Oh, and one other thing: typically, when using the Postal Service as the carrier, the products will go thru customs "for free" (notwithstanding any duties, VAT, etc.)......there is no "charge" for the customs clearance procedure. When using a "private" carrier (UPS, FedEx, etc.) then there may be an additional "brokerage fee" added to the shipment and due upon arrival (along with any VAT, etc.)...the idea being that the private carrier must now contract with an import "broker" in order to move the package thru customs.......or put another way, customs will not charge for their efforts when dealing with a government agency (the postal service), but will charge for their "service" when dealing with a private company.

On the "pro" side of the argument for using a private carrier, they are typically much more reliable on a delivery time basis, and sometimes can be much less expensive than the postal service, especially for larger items.

 

I'm not sure if using your postal service means that it will be picked up at customs by "our" postal service. From memory, the last time I imported goods, I was contacted (by email), and told the item was being held pending the import duty, handling charges and VAT were paid.
I'm guessing the rabbit hole of HS codes will be as difficult as you outline from this end, I've heard that it can be a lottery as to what is applied and what is ignored...

 

Well, it should mean that. True, until all the "fees" are paid, then the item is held at customs, and once they are paid, then the items gets released to Royal Mail for delivery.

With the private carriers, it can be different......once the fees are paid, then a private carrier may contract with another private carrier to pick-up the item from customs and do the final delivery. They may even contract with Royal Mail to do so. So if using a private carrier, such as UPS, the item may be delivered at your address by a company not driving a brown UPS truck........

Here in the states, if an package is shipped by Post Office, it is delivered by the Post Office, even if the post office has contracted with an independent carrier......but, that independent carrier (or person) will still be in a white USPS truck or van. If it's shipped by UPS, then it may be delivered in a brown UPS truck, or by someone else, including the Post Office....in fact there is an entire UPS "service level" called "Ground Saver" which is:

a) you drop off the package (or have it picked up) by UPS
b) UPS, at some time during the transport form the originating point, injects the package into the Postal System (this can be at the origination point, at the destination hub, or anywhere in-between) and the Postal Service does the rest of the delivery.
c) this is typically a less expensive bit almost always slower service level, and it is a formal arrangement between UPS and the USPS.

Of course, if something goes wrong with the delivery......loss or damage.....then you have the fun of arguing with 2 different huge organizations as to whom is at fault and "responsible", with twice the stalling, sand-bagging, and other techniques used to deny such claims.........

 

Yes, it can depend on the custom inspector's whim, the weather, and what he had for lunch that day......

In reality, most (a vast majority) of packages are never inspected, the code selected by the shipper is used to calculate the import fees, and that is what is billed to the recipient. In the case where a package is inspected, and found to be of some "other" code, then the import levy is adjusted, and the bill to the recipient is adjusted, and the process continues. If contraband is found in an inspected carrier, the the package is impounded, maybe notification is given to the sender or the recipient (and maybe not), maybe it's returned to the sender, etc.

 

There are three places to check the VIN.
1. The sticker on the left side of the headstock.
2. The stamping on the right side of the headstock.
3. Above and to the rear of the Clutch cover on the engine.

On a bike that has the original engine, both the headstock marks and the engine marks will match.

The engine capacity is cast into the head at the front, directly above the oil filter housing.

 

Not exactly. The 650 on down to the original 400 all had models with twin disk front brakes (depending on the market). IIRC all JDM machines had a twin front disk option.

 

But, JDM bikes often will not have an engine number - it's left blank.

 

@k-moe, good to know, thanks for educating me. Well shoot, now I will really have to pay attention to FB market place stuff and not just look at the front brakes. Always something....lol

 

This is true.....and really odd. I strain to understand their reasoning on this issue.

 

Let’s see more picks of that 750 cc 650 Seca!
Pretty cool bike.