KZ;273135 wrote:
Aren't the frames welded and isn't the paint applied in Japan? As far as I understand the bikes only get assembled here.
Sorry, that's wrong mate- to meet BOI rules Thai manufactured products have to contain a minimum of 80% Thai manufactured components by value. All of the frames in Thai manufactured Kawasaki motorcycles are manufactured in Thailand.
Go to your local Kawasaki dealer and LOOK at the frame welds on the Japanese manufactured Z1000 or Vulcan 900 and compare them to the frame welds on a Thai manufactured frame.
If you get right down and LOOK at the frame welds on a Thai manufactured frame and them compare them to the frame welds on a Japanese manufactured frame you'll see quite clearly that Japan still has better build quality than Thailand.
Now, is an ugly weld less strong than a clean one? Perhaps not. When I toured the Kawasaki plant in Rayong it's evident that they have multiple levels of QC and don't think twice about pulling bikes off the assembly line that don't pass their qc standards. So in the end a Thai frame is probably just as strong as a Japanese frame, but the ugly welds can lead to the paint flaking off and rust setting in- it's something that owners of Thai-manufactured Kawasakis have to keep an eye on.
I rode steel frame Japanese manufactured Honda motorcycles in snow and road salt back in the States and thanks to the exceptional build quality of Honda I never ever spotted any rust. Try that with a Thai manufactured bike and I expect the frame will show serious rust in a short period of time.
That said, the Thai manufactured Kawasaki's remain an unbeatable value here in Thailand and as mentioned before, they are mechanically sound. I just don't expect them to age as well as equivalent Japanese built bikes.
Happy Trails!
Tony