NC30 UK and Japanese spec and differences.
Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:07 pm
This question gets asked quite a bit, and worthy of making sticky.
NC30's for the UK home market were slightly different to the japanese market bikes. These differences are listed below
Uk bikes had
No speed limiter.
a MPH speedo.
H4 headlamps (using proper H4 layout bulbs and 55/60 watts bulbs).
Headlamp relay and slightly different loom to accomodate the above.
Side lamp bulbs 5w over 1.5w
Heavy duty rectifier - still complete crap, just lasts nearly as long as an OEM ducati one
Oil cooler - small element is located under the nosecone and pipes feed from the oil filter area.
Oil pump uprated to cope with cooler Same as NC24 item, 2 circuits, one for oil distribution inside the engine, other for cooler.
RC30 style black mirrors (hole mounts are not the same as RC30 but the mirror head is (just wrong colour)
Massive fireblade / RC30 style indicators mounted on different brackets on the front.
Front nosecone has oval holes to allow indicators to pass though (not like jap spec that attach to nosecone) Also while looks identical, its cut back further on the underside to allow the oil cooler to clear but a jap spec one can be easily modded.
Rear undertray is different (has separate numberplate lamp which makes numberplate lower than japanese spec)
Tail section joiner is in 2 parts unlike the jap spec single H piece. The UK one leaves the middle section between the 2 rear lamps exposed like the RC30. Could easily mod a jap spec Tail joiner.
Carbs are slightly different. Metal slides and not plastic, Jetting is richer setting and i think the main jet holders are different too.
Exhaust is a different part no, and is allegedly better flowing but looks identical.
Rear subframe is different to relocate the heavy duty (yeah right o) rectifier a bit further back.
Plaque on the right hand frame spar near the headstock to identify it as a domestic market bike.
Am sure there are a couple more things (mail them over if you know of anything or something needs correcting)
URBAN MYTHS
There were only 200 UK NC30's made - prob more like 2500+
Suspension is firmer for the UK fat ass market - Nope more likely the older japanese market bikes are more shagged out.
To ride they are the same. back to back my F plate jap spec bike was actually quicker and stronger than the same setup on the UK bike. This could also have been down to a number of factors.
The 89 import had gold calipers and silver fork lowers. the UK bike has black calipers and silver fork lowers.
The UK model was also available in another later colour scheme and not just the famous RWB RC30 lookalike.
Incidently, plastics are a different part number yet are identical (apart from nosecone and rear mid sections) but also command around an extra 20% in price. could be way off the mark but more proof of rip off britain ? or was the £6000+ price tag a snip for a sporty trick 400 in its day? i suspect we get boned for pretty well everything.
Are they worth the extra money ? to the collector yes, to your average guy who wants a bike to ride then not really. shame to ruin a nice looked after bike but that could be said for any bike i guess.
Thanks to everyone for contributing one way or another.
NC30's for the UK home market were slightly different to the japanese market bikes. These differences are listed below
Uk bikes had
No speed limiter.
a MPH speedo.
H4 headlamps (using proper H4 layout bulbs and 55/60 watts bulbs).
Headlamp relay and slightly different loom to accomodate the above.
Side lamp bulbs 5w over 1.5w
Heavy duty rectifier - still complete crap, just lasts nearly as long as an OEM ducati one
Oil cooler - small element is located under the nosecone and pipes feed from the oil filter area.
Oil pump uprated to cope with cooler Same as NC24 item, 2 circuits, one for oil distribution inside the engine, other for cooler.
RC30 style black mirrors (hole mounts are not the same as RC30 but the mirror head is (just wrong colour)
Massive fireblade / RC30 style indicators mounted on different brackets on the front.
Front nosecone has oval holes to allow indicators to pass though (not like jap spec that attach to nosecone) Also while looks identical, its cut back further on the underside to allow the oil cooler to clear but a jap spec one can be easily modded.
Rear undertray is different (has separate numberplate lamp which makes numberplate lower than japanese spec)
Tail section joiner is in 2 parts unlike the jap spec single H piece. The UK one leaves the middle section between the 2 rear lamps exposed like the RC30. Could easily mod a jap spec Tail joiner.
Carbs are slightly different. Metal slides and not plastic, Jetting is richer setting and i think the main jet holders are different too.
Exhaust is a different part no, and is allegedly better flowing but looks identical.
Rear subframe is different to relocate the heavy duty (yeah right o) rectifier a bit further back.
Plaque on the right hand frame spar near the headstock to identify it as a domestic market bike.
Am sure there are a couple more things (mail them over if you know of anything or something needs correcting)
URBAN MYTHS
There were only 200 UK NC30's made - prob more like 2500+
Suspension is firmer for the UK fat ass market - Nope more likely the older japanese market bikes are more shagged out.
To ride they are the same. back to back my F plate jap spec bike was actually quicker and stronger than the same setup on the UK bike. This could also have been down to a number of factors.
The 89 import had gold calipers and silver fork lowers. the UK bike has black calipers and silver fork lowers.
The UK model was also available in another later colour scheme and not just the famous RWB RC30 lookalike.
Incidently, plastics are a different part number yet are identical (apart from nosecone and rear mid sections) but also command around an extra 20% in price. could be way off the mark but more proof of rip off britain ? or was the £6000+ price tag a snip for a sporty trick 400 in its day? i suspect we get boned for pretty well everything.
Are they worth the extra money ? to the collector yes, to your average guy who wants a bike to ride then not really. shame to ruin a nice looked after bike but that could be said for any bike i guess.
Thanks to everyone for contributing one way or another.
