RC36 Market Differences

Background

Modern motorcycle manufacturers are required to comply with various market-specific rules and regulations relating to everything from horsepower restrictions, to emissions labels, to exhaust noise limits. The VFR750FL model, for example, was manufactured in at least 15 different versions (if you count each "Area Code" specified in the Parts Catalogs as a different version). Most of the differences between these 15 versions were minor, but some were more noticeable, such as the restricted Japanese-spec engine, the California-spec charcoal cannister or the Italian-spec single-headlight. What follows is a discussion of market-specific differences between the various versions of the 1990-93 VFR750FL-P. This is not a complete list of worldwide FL-P market differences, but it covers most—if not all— of the significant ones.

Carburetors

There are at least 14 different carburetor ID numbers for the FL-P models listed in the Parts Catalogs: Some markets have a different carburetor ID number for each year model; other markets keep the same number for all four years; some markets did not have their own model each year; and some markets shared carburetor ID numbers with other markets, and with other model years. Carburetors may be marked with different ID numbers for many reasons, not all of which relate to replaceable parts identifiable in the Parts Catalogs, but comparing those parts may nevertheless yield some useful information.

The following table is an attempt to understand the various carburetor differences:

VFR750FL-P Carburetor Component Parts Comparison Chart

Ref.	Part No.	Description	FL	FM	FN	FP	Area Code(s)
5	16016-ML0-721	Screw Set A	4	4	4	4	AR, CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, U
			4	4			SW
			4				J
5	16016-MT4-670	Screw Set	4	4	4	4	A
5	16016-MT4-710	Screw Set	4	4	4	4	AC
5	16016-MT4-730	Screw Set			4	4	SW
14	16048-MM5-671	Valve Set, Air Cut	4	4	4	4	A, AC
14	16048-MT4-640	Valve Set, Air Cut	4	4	4	4	CM, E, ED, F, G, IT, SP, U
			4	4			AR, FI, ND
			4				J
20	16151-MT4-000	Needle, Jet, Cyls. 1 & 3	2	2	2	2	CM, E, ED, F, IT, ND,SP, U
20	16151-MT4-610	Needle, Jet, Cyls. 1 & 3	2	2			AR, FI
			2	2	2	2	G
20	16151-MT4-700	Needle, Jet (all cyls.)	4				J
20	16151-MT4-710	Needle, Jet (all cyls.)	4	4	4	4	AC
20	16151-MT4-731	Needle, Jet (all cyls.)	4	4	4	4	A
21	16151-MT4-000	Needle, Jet, Cyls. 2 & 4	2	2	2	2	CM, E, ED, F, IT, ND,SP, U
21	16151-MT4-610	Needle, Jet, Cyls. 2 & 4	2	2			AR, FI
			2	2	2	2	G
28	99101-393-1280	Jet, Main, Cyls. 1 & 3 , #128	2				J
28	99101-393-1300	Jet, Main, Cyls. 2 & 4 , #130	2				J
28	99101-393-1300	Jet, Main (all cyls.) #130	4	4	4	4	A, AC, AR, CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, SW, U
29	99103-KAB-0380	Jet, Slow, #38	4	4			AC
29	99103-KAB-0400	Jet, Slow, #40	4	4			A, AR, CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, U
29	99103-KR3-0380	Jet, Slow, #40	4	4			SW
29	99103-437-0380	Jet, Slow, #38			4	4	AC, SW
29	99103-437-0400	Jet, Slow, #40			4	4	A, AR, CM, E, ED, F, G, IT, SP, U

Note: The Area Codes in the table above (and the ones below) correspond to the codes used in the Honda Parts Catalogs: A = USA (49-state); AC = USA (California); AR = Austria; CM = Canada; E = England; ED = European Direct sales; F = France; FI = Finland; G = Germany; H = Netherlands; IT = Italy; J = Japan; ND = North Europe; SP = Spain; SW = Switzerland; and U = Australia.

Camshafts

VFR750FL-P Camshaft Comparison Chart

Ref.	Part No.	Description	FL	FM	FN	FP	Area Code(s)
3	14110-MT4-000	Camshaft Comp., Fr. In.	1	1	1	1	A, AR, CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, SW, U
3	14110-MT4-700	Camshaft Comp., Fr. In.	1				J
3	14110-MT4-710	Camshaft Comp., Fr. In.	1	1	1	1	AC
4	14120-MT4-000	Camshaft Comp., Rr. In.	1	1	1	1	A, AR, CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, SW, U
4	14120-MT4-700	Camshaft Comp., Rr. In.	1				J
4	14120-MT4-710	Camshaft Comp., Rr. In.	1	1	1	1	AC
5	14130-MT4-000	Camshaft Comp., Fr. Ex.	1	1	1	1	A, AR, CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, SW, U
5	14130-MT4-700	Camshaft Comp., Fr. Ex.	1				J
5	14130-MT4-710	Camshaft Comp., Fr. Ex.	1	1	1	1	AC
6	14140-MT4-000	Camshaft Comp., Rr. Ex.	1	1	1	1	A, AR, CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, SW, U
6	14140-MT4-700	Camshaft Comp., Rr. Ex.	1				J
6	14140-MT4-710	Camshaft Comp., Rr. Ex.	1	1	1	1	AC

As shown in the above table, there are different part numbers for the Japanese-spec bikes as well as for the California-spec bikes. This just tells you the cams are different, but not in which way: You'd have to measure and compare the lobes to know exactly what was different about them.

Cylinder Heads

VFR750FL-P Cylinder Head Comparison Chart

Ref.	Part No.	Description	FL	FM	FN	FP	Area Code(s)
1	12010-MT4-000	Head Assy., Cylinder	2	2			AR, CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, U
			2				J
1	12010-MT4-730	Head Assy., Cylinder	2	2			A, AC, SW
1	12010-MY7-000	Head Assy., Cylinder			2	2	CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, U
1	12010-MY7-650	Head Assy., Cylinder			2	2	A, AC, AR, SW

Note: The cylinder head assemblies are the same part number front and rear.

The cylinder head assemblies don't include the cams, and the J-spec heads are actually the same as the L-M UK-spec heads (and the same as the other Euro models apart from the Swiss). Honda changed the heads somehow with the introduction of the N model.

Reciprocating Parts

Compared to the "Rest of the World" (ROW) bikes, J-spec bikes have a different crankcase (it's not apparent what's different, apart from the engine serial numbers, which are stamped on the case) and different pistons, but the piston rings are the same (as are the cylinder heads), leading to the conclusion that the difference in the pistons is in the shape of the piston crown—possibly to achieve a lower compression ratio? The connecting rods and the crankshaft are the same for ALL markets.

Exhaust

VFR750FL-P Exhaust System Comparison Chart

Ref.	Part No.	Description	FL	FM	FN	FP	Area Code(s)
6	18300-MT4-700	Chamber Comp., Ex.	1				J
6	18300-MY7-000	Chamber Comp., Ex.			1	1	A, AC, CM, E, ED, F, G, IT, SP, U
6	18300-MY7-650	Chamber Comp., Ex.	1	1			A, AC, AR, CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, U
7	18300-MT4-731	Chamber Comp., Ex.	1	1			SW
7	18300-MY7-650	Chamber Comp., Ex.			1	1	AR, SW
8	18310-MT4-003	Muffler Comp.	1	1			AR, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, SW, U
8	18310-MT4-670	Muffler Comp.	1	1			A, AC, CM
8	18310-MT4-701	Muffler Comp.	1				J
8	18310-MY7-003	Muffler Comp.			1	1	E, ED, F, G, IT, SP, SW, U
8	18310-MY7-660	Muffler Comp.			1	1	AR
8	18310-MY7-670	Muffler Comp.			1	1	A, AC, CM
9	18320-MT4-003	Pipe, R. Fr. Ex.	1	1	1	1	A, AC, AR, CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, SW, U
9	18320-MT4-700	Pipe, R. Fr. Ex.	1				J
10	18330-MT4-003	Pipe Comp., Rr. Ex.	1	1	1	1	A, AC, AR, CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, SW, U
10	18330-MT4-700	Pipe Comp., Rr. Ex.	1				J
15	18420-MT4-003	Pipe, L. Fr. Ex.	1	1	1	1	A, AC, AR, CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, SW, U
15	18420-MT4-700	Pipe, L. Fr. Ex.	1				J

Note: There is a superceded part number for the FL-M US-spec exhaust chamber; the new part number is the same as that of the ROW exhaust chamber, so the earlier part number has been omitted from the table above. (The extra parts specified for the AR and SW exhausts appear to consist of a drain screw and a crush washer.)

The exhaust system is apparently different on J-spec bikes, as are the front and rear downpipes (all, compared to the ROW bikes), but because the cylinder heads are common, the different part number cannot be because there are smaller/different exhaust ports on the cylinder heads; it must have to do with the diameter or configuration of the pipes themselves. (This means you could probably fit a ROW-spec aftermarket exhaust system on a J-spec import without any difficulty—but not the front downpipes by themselves.)

Spark Units (ECUs)

The following chart shows the spark units specified for each market:

VFR750FL-P Spark Unit (ECU) Comparison Chart

Ref.	Part No.	Description	FL	FM	FN	FP	Area Code(s)
3	30410-MT4-601	Ignition Control Module	1	1	1	1	A, AC, AR, CM, E, ED, F, FI, G, IT, ND, SP, U
3	30410-MT4-700	Spark Unit	1				J
3	30410-MT4-731	Spark Unit	1				SW
3	30410-MT4-732	Spark Unit		1	1	1	SW

Headlights, Position Lights and Bulbs

Headlight units are often different in different markets, based upon which side of the road traffic drives, and other local lighting regulations. For example, Italian vehicle equipment regulations apparently did not allow dual headlights—at least until 1994—so a special single-bulb headlight unit was made just for Italian VFRs. The following chart shows these lighting differences in detail:

VFR750FL-P Headlight, Position Light and Bulb Comparison Chart

Ref.	Part No.	Description	FL	FM	FN	FP	Area Code(s)
9	33120-MT4-601	Headlight Unit	1	1	1	1	E
9	33120-MT4-611	Headlight Unit	1				ED
9	33120-MT4-612	Headlight Unit	1	1	1	1	AR, F, FI, G, ND, SW
9	33120-MT4-651	Headlight Unit	1	1	1	1	SP
			1	1			U
9	33120-MT4-671	Headlight Unit	1	1	1	1	A, AC, CM
					1	1	U
9	33120-MT4-701	Headlight Unit	1				J
10	33120-MT4-771	Headlight Unit	1	1	1	1	IT
11	33150-MT4-611	Socket Comp., Position Light	1	1	1	1	AR, E, ED, F, FI, G, H, IT, ND, SW
12	33150-MT4-651	Socket Comp., Position Light	1	1	1	1	SP
			1				J
			1	1			U
15	34901-MC7-601	Bulb, Headlight (12v 60/55w)	2	2	2	2	AR, E, ED, FI, G, H, ND, SP, SW
			2	2			U
			1	1	1	1	IT
15	34901-MS2-671	Bulb, Headlight (12v 45/45w)	2	2	2	2	A, AC, CM
			2				J
					2	2	U

Instruments

The speedometer and the meter wiring harnesses appear to be different for many markets, due to MPH/KPH calibration and other markings, but there is no obvious "restrictor" or control unit that can be seen on the J-spec parts diagrams. Because all of the part numbers are different, there could be something built into the J-spec speedo, but one would have to be taken apart and examined to know for sure. There are also several different tachometer part numbers; one reason for this is slightly different "redlines"; another is that the low-fuel warning light is built into the tachometer (see below).

Other Differences

Certain features (or lack thereof) are unique to North American market (Canada and the USA) bikes. Only these bikes had separate license (number) plate lights (the ROW bikes have a clear window underneath the taillight unit through which the taillight bulbs illuminate the number plate), separate rear turn signals mounted on stalks (the "integrated" rear indicators are dummy units, red in color), running lights (dual-filament indicator bulbs front and rear, the 8w portion of which is illuminated at all times) and low-fuel indicator lights. Similarly, only these bikes lacked tinted windscreens, remote fuel taps, headlight off-switches (the lights are wired always on), passing switches, solo seat cowls, center stands and digital clocks (as delivered—these last three items were optional accessories).

Finally, there are some additional decal differences (apart from language differences), including "Carat" decals on French-market top fairings and "Advanced Super Sport" decals on Japanese-spec rear cowls.