1973?!? JDM RE5 in Hiroshima for sale

[Eurotech]

One of my mates from Japan alerted me to this RE5 in Hiroshima, asking is 1.1 million yen (about $14,500 USD) with something over 6200km on the clock (close to 3900 miles). I shot them an email, questioning the year, they insisted it WAS a 1973. Did they start early production on these for the domestic market? I asked for motor and frame numbers but didn't/haven't received a reply on that inquiry. Thought it rather interesting, though.

Here's a link to the translated page:

www.mjbike.com/ubike/sch_details.asp?vwtype=all&id=592086&

If you are using IE as your browser, it may not translate, I use Chrome, it automatically translates.

[goandy]

Hmm. No tank decals and late model oil cooler (both inlet and outlet on rhs).

[Eurotech]

From what I understand, the RE5 production line wasn't even operable until early '74 (my RE has a production date of 10/74, and the engine and frame numbers are early on it. according to the Registry), so how could this shop possibly have an RE5, even if it IS a JDM, titled as a '73 (clerical error, perhaps). Unfortunately, my mate is a car guy, and doesn't know motorbikes very well. He just happened to spot the ad not long after we had an email conversation in which I told him about the RE I had purchased, so he sent me the link when he saw it a couple of days ago. He's in Hokkaido, which is far north of Hiroshima, too far for him to go take a look-see and get the vital numbers, so it would be difficult to verify the authenticity of the bike without the numbers. But just based on what info is available, I can't see how this bike could be a '73. Frame and engine numbers would tell the tale, if I can get them, still no reply to my last email. I'll give it another go, if I still don't receive an answer, I'll just have to wonder (or scrape up the cash and fly over to see it for myself, NOT very likely! ).

[Eurotech]

I finally got a reply on the numbers, and they actually have two for sale. The one listed for which I posted the link is actually a later production unit, frame #14607, which if you go by the registry listings, would put the date of manufacture during the March 1975 production run. The other (and i haven't even seen pictures of it yet) is orange by their description, also carrying a 1.1 million yen price tag, bearing frame #11266, which puts it in the November 1974 production run. They didn't provide engine numbers, but going by the frame numbers, that's a moot point. So they were very mistaken listing these as 1973 models (you would expect more from a bike shop, especially in the bike's country of origin). Just goes to show, even in Japan, these bikes are a mystery to the average bikie. Amazing what they are asking for over there though, thought there might be a few more in the domestic market than anywhere else, meaning slightly more reasonable prices. Reckon not!