The 2020 emission regulations will be applied to motorcycles for sale in Japan from November 2022, resulting in a large number of discontinued models that do not comply with the regulations. The model that has represented the 400cc class for many years, the 4-cylinder Nanahan that was once the flower of the motorcycle class, and the models and traditional engines that have represented each company are about to disappear. But it may still be possible to purchase a new motorcycle from stock now!
Some motorcycle models have already skyrocketed to super-premium prices.
A check of the CB400SF market on Webic's new and used motorcycle search site Bike Select showed that as of November 14, 2022, there were no new cars available, but 235 used cars were listed. The motorcycle price of CB400SF starts from (approx.) 6310 USD, but motorcycles with low mileage and good condition were priced above the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Of the 235 motorcycles listed, 21 were priced under 4070 USD, while 29(approx.) 930605 USD, with the most notable motorcycles listed in the higher price range.
In recent years, the tightening of emission regulations for the production of motorcycles has been accompanied by the repeated discontinuation of older models. In Japan, new regulations for continuously produced motorcycles (2020 emission regulations) will be enforced in November 2022, and many models will be discontinued in October 2022 as a result.
However, this does not mean that new motorcycles may not be sold after November 2022; it only means that they can no longer be produced. In other words, there are still some new bikes available for purchase if they are in stock.
For example, the KLX230SM, a newly introduced supermoto model that has not been available from a Japanese manufacturer for quite some time, does not comply with the 2020 emission regulations but was released last October 15, 2022. If sales were restricted, it would be available for purchase for only 17 days, but in fact, new motorcycles can be ordered after November.
In other words, if there are any in stock, even models that have been discontinued due to emission regulations can still be purchased, but for some models, in addition to the reason that this is the last one, the fact that production delays due to the Corona disaster prevented a rush to production has added to the shortage, and new motorcycle prices have skyrocketed to extremely high levels. However, there are many models that will be discontinued only in 2022 and you can still buy a new motorcycle now!
"UPS", which offers an easy motorcycle-buying service where all you have to do is take a photo and send it to them, explains in an article about the soaring prices of CB400SFs. The CB400SF is also popular on this site, and its price is high. Click here for the article.
Discontinued models for 2022 are quite shocking.
Many famous models have disappeared in the past due to the inability to comply with stricter emission regulations, changes in headlight safety standards, mandatory installation of ABS, and other regulations, but the models that will be discontinued in October 2022 include models that have represented each company or use traditional engines, shocking many motorcycle fans.
In this issue, we have selected models that will be discontinued in October 2022 that we would like to focus on again precisely because of the timing of the discontinuation. The selection is based solely on the author's own judgment, but we have selected five models with a focus on their history.
Some models are already at a premium or are so scarce that they are no longer feasible to purchase, while others are still available. In some cases, discontinued models are revived years later as new models, so this may not necessarily be your last chance to acquire a new car, but you may want to consider purchasing a model that you can still afford.
HONDA CB400 SUPER FOUR
It represented the 400cc class for 30 years.
Since its launch in April 1992, approximately 76,700 units were sold over a seven-year period until 1998, and along with Kawasaki's Zephyr and ZRX series and Yamaha's XJR400 series, it was the riding force behind the naked boom of the 1990s. Honda's CB400 Super Four featured a liquid-cooled parallel four-cylinder engine mounted on a rear twin shock body.
The 1999 model year saw the introduction of the Hyper VTEC mechanism, which switches the number of valve drives between 2 and 4 depending on the engine speed, and other innovations and maturation continued, culminating in the 30th anniversary of the company in 2022.
In the 2000s, the model lineup of the 400cc class, which is basically unique to Japan, was drastically reduced due to the shrinking Japanese market and stricter environmental regulations, which resulted in a devastating situation for 4-cylinder engine models. However, only the CB400 Super Four survived, while continuing to comply with regulations for Japanese motorcyclists. In 2022, however, the history of the CB400 Super Four finally came to an end.
Many fans regret this, and the price of the last model of the CB400 Super Four has already skyrocketed. New motorcycle available often carries a price of nearly 2 million yen. This is also true for the Super Boldor, which was based on the Super Four and equipped with a half-cowl. Considering the price, it may not be very realistic to purchase a new motorcycle in the future, but fans who still want one may want to hurry their decision.
SUZUKI GSX-R1000R
Suzuki's flagship machine is now gone.
In November, Suzuki officially announced on its official website in Japan that it was discontinuing production of the GSX-R1000R, which has been active on the racing scene as a flagship Supersports model.
The company has announced that it will withdraw its works teams from the MotoGP and World Endurance Championships as of 2022, and we cannot help but feel saddened by the news that Suzuki's flagship supersport will disappear from the production motorcycle lineup.
The GSX-R1000 debuted in 2001 and helped establish the 1000cc supersport category, which was not yet firmly established at the time, and was the benchmark in its class for some time due to its superior performance. GSX-R1000R was also introduced as an advanced version. Since that time, only the R-spec model has been sold in Japan.
Although the 2023 model has been announced for North America and other markets, it is reported that production will be discontinued even in Europe, which has the same level of emission regulations as Japan. As a result, it seems that it will be difficult to ride the 2023 model in Japan even as a reimported motorcycle, but at present, there appears to be a reasonable number of new motorcycles available. Prices have not risen particularly high.
It remains to be seen whether Suzuki will kill off the GSX-R1000 series or bring it back as a new model in a few years, as rumored, but Suzuki sports bike fans should take this opportunity to acquire one!
SUZUKI GSX-S750
The 「750cc」4-cylinder tradition finally comes to an end.
In Japan, the GSX-S750 was launched in the 2017 model year as the successor to the GSR750 which debuted in the 2011 model year. Although the 2017 model features a new look and strengthened brakes, it is still basically a well-balanced sports model with a supersport-derived 749cc liquid-cooled parallel four-cylinder engine derived from the 2005 GSX-R750 and mounted on a specially developed, supple steel frame. The basic model is still a naked model with a well-balanced sports appearance.
Until the 1990s, the "「750cc」4-cylinder" had a special meaning in the world of sportbikes, and the 「750cc」4-cylinder was the mainstay of Supersports at the time, serving as the base motorcycle for superbike racing.
Later, after a period when twin 1000cc machines were able to run in the same class, Superbike racing shifted to 1000cc in the early 2000s due to changes in the production lineup. This completely ended the role of the Nanahan as a race base machine, but Suzuki remained committed and continued to produce the GSX-R750 thereafter.
And in the North American market, there is also a 2023 GSX-R750, but it cannot be sold in Japan, where environmental regulations are different, and the era of the GSX-S750 being the only new Nanahan 4-cylinder motorcycle that can be enjoyed has continued, but that is finally coming to an end.
New cars are still in stock and no price hikes here, either. Now may be the last chance to get a new engine with nostalgic memories.
HONDA VFR800F
Honda's continued commitment to the V-4 also
Honda introduced the 4-stroke V-4 NR750 in the 1979 Road Race World Championship and shifted to the 2-stroke NS500 in 1982. As for production motorcycles, Honda was the first to work on V4 engines with the VF750 series in 1982 and developed a racing machine based on the VF750F. The VFR750F, a production sports tourer, and the supersport VFR750F were designed based on further feedback on this technology. In addition, the company also developed V4 engines for the 400cc and 1000cc classes, and was very particular about these engines, especially in the 1980s and 1990s.
Since the late 1990s, the liquid-cooled V4 engine has changed course for sports tourer use. The VFR800F, with its roots in the 1998 VFR, has been sold as Honda's last liquid-cooled V4 model, along with the VFR800X crossover model based on it, while undergoing maturation over its 20-year history.
Models from 2002 onward are also equipped with the Hyper VTEC mechanism, which switches the number of valve drives between 2 and 4 depending on the engine speed. This has also become a traditional Honda technology. New motorcycle inventory already seems to be low, but there is no atmosphere of skyrocketing prices at present.
YAMAHA FJR1300A/AS
The end of the traditional European tourer
The FJR1300 was first unveiled at Intermot in Germany in September 2000. However, its roots can be traced further back to 1984 FJ1100, which had an air-cooled parallel four-cylinder engine.
The so-called high-speed tourer of the time evolved into the FJ1200 in 1986. It was highly regarded for its maneuverability and stability on the autobahn, as well as its ability to quickly ride on secondary roads with two riders.
In 1991, a Japan version was also introduced. However, the Japan version disappeared after the 1994 model year.
Then came the FJR1300, a newer model that inherited the features of the FJ1200. Mounted on a newly designed 1298cc liquid-cooled, parallel four-cylinder engine, and aluminum frame, it was a trans-European tourer that aimed to be the best in the world.
In 2003, the 1300A with ABS was introduced, and in 2006, the AS version, which allows shifting gears without clutch operation, was introduced. It has been sold for more than 20 years, with major model changes in 2013 and 2016.
One historical model is about to disappear, although it is not so popular in Japan, where long-distance travel at very high speeds is not possible. This one, too, is still available for purchase today, and prices do not seem to have skyrocketed.
