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Manufacturing origin?

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Discussion starter · #41 ·
Wow I was expecting more of yes and no answer lol

I think what FreelancerMG said above makes sense. I've heard of something like that with regards to other things.
 
#42 ·
FreelancerMG said:
My vin also has the J in it and it's a 2013 ABS model. I believe it's because the vast majority of the parts were manufactured in Japan and then shipped and assembled in Thailand. Because the vast majority of it was made in Japan, they were required to use Japan as the country of manufacture on a large portion of the bikes. Like maybe there was an issue with customs on the origin of manufacture and Kawasaki was forced to re-label later model bikes? I know some countries require the country of manufacture to be where the majority of the product was manufactured at, and not the location where it was assembled in order to prevent companies from back dooring tariffs by using the "developing nation" clause. I believe the U.S. and the U.K. are two places that come to mind that reduce or eliminate tariffs for developing nations (which Thailand falls under,) and have checks in place to make sure companies aren't trying to cheat the system but getting cheaper labor of assembly AND dodging import taxes.
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Interesting theory. I like it. So I could all be just paperwork
 
#43 ·
They were made in Japan, it's the same reason Harley can say made in America. The definition of "manufactured in" is the processing of raw materials into a finished product.
 
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#44 ·
MoFetti said:
They were made in Japan, it's the same reason Harley can say made in America. The definition of "manufactured in" is the processing of raw materials into a finished product.
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aaaahhhhh even though HD gets a lot of its parts made in Japan they still call it made in USA
 
#46 ·
reggae5 said:
Mine says 10/12 Made in Thailand first letter of the vin is a J
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Yeah, my Thai bike has a "J" as well. Xtina explains it well here imo

xtina said:
This website says the 2013 abs versions were made in Japan. http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/2013/kawasaki/ninja/300_abs/127927/05/
The J in the Vin refers to the country of manufacturer origin. My acura has a J and its made in Canada.

And my 2013 non abs has a J as the first letter in my vin
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If anything...assembly is now in Japan. Parts still made in Thailand? Of all my OEM parts and accessories (seat cowl, spare clutch line, touring windscreen), only the windscreen was made in Japan.
 
#47 ·
so far the engine problems I have seen posted (including mine) are 2013 so they are in Thailand. problems undoubtedly held in both ABS brakes, as in the ECU.
 
#48 ·
Darkdraw said:
so far the engine problems I have seen posted (including mine) are 2013 so they are in Thailand. problems undoubtedly held in both ABS brakes, as in the ECU.
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The problem is because all first year models will have kinks that will surface so they can continually fix it and the later models benefit from it therefore they have less problems.

If the first year models were made in Japan and the subsequent models made in Thailand, the Thailand models will have less problems.
 
#50 ·
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#51 · (Edited)
Supersport said:
Darkdraw said:
so far the engine problems I have seen posted (including mine) are 2013 so they are in Thailand. problems undoubtedly held in both ABS brakes, as in the ECU.
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The problem is because all first year models will have kinks that will surface so they can continually fix it and the later models benefit from it therefore they have less problems.

If the first year models were made in Japan and the subsequent models made in Thailand, the Thailand models will have less problems.
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I can accept that a brake failure, I can accept that I was off the bike ... But the engine of a motorcycle in Uruguay costs U$D 10.300 destroy me like a stupidity by Kawasaki, it's a shame, whatever first bike or last, this should never happen if you take control of oil and can not cut forever ... a shame and I feel cheated by Kawasaki, since I'm not the only one suffering this fails a Ninja 300 is from Thailand, Japan or Mars
 
#55 ·
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#57 ·
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#58 ·
alan903 said:
Then why some label says made in Japan and some days made in Thailand ?


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Just as some cars say 'Made in the USA' when most of the parts were made in China or Mexico, the 'made in' designation only identifies the country where it was assembled. It's a great marketing scheme for US automakers.
 
#60 ·
8/12 Thailand (with a J begining number).... but who cares?
I still have the fairing issue 1/8", doesn't bother me.
Other issues? nope, not until this year, my turn signal lights are acting spotty, that is ok though, I am thinking of a different setup back there because I will be building a luggage rack to put on it.
Manufactures should have to put "assembled in" instead of "made in"... no vehicle built today is totally 100% made in any country, pieces parts are made everywhere and shipped to a facility and Assembled.
My Honda VTX was "assembled in Ohio", but I think the tag still said "made in Japan". It is a tax/tarriff thing I believe, they will say anything and can, if the object is not "fully assembled"
If it is shipped 20% assembled and 80% assembled at the location... they can legally say, "made in" at the second location.
But as stated before, it is first the quality of parts that matter, then assembly second....after all, if a part is perfect and joe schmo puts it in with a steel hammer rather than a rawhide one.... well then, thats "quality of build" issues.
I am just happy that my little beast is still operating at optimum capacity :) Change the oil frequently and hose it off on occasion and this thing is great! Oh... and every once in a blue moon, you have to do a checkup on it.... but my moon hasn't been blue for awhile...
 
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