Rare Japanese Market Kettle

[Suzsmokeyallan]

Malky what shade of yellow is that, and do you have a colour code or what it was originally used on.

[RING_DING]

Some more pics of the Japanese Market-specific stuff:

[oldjapanesebikes]

As Allan mentioned earlier in the thread, the CCIS decal is unusual - that is the first one I've actually seen on a Buffalo.

[Suzsmokeyallan]

And the good news is Reproduction Decals have them. Now why would they make them for what appears to be a limited use item and what other bikes were they fitted to?

[oldjapanesebikes]

And the good news is Reproduction Decals have them. Now why would they make them for what appears to be a limited use item and what other bikes were they fitted to?

I was curious also ! Back in the early 1970's, Suzuki had a line of small jeeps called the LJ10 and LJ20 which used a 359cc, twin cylinder, reed valved, air cooled, 2 stroke engine, and which happen to have CCI ! The CCIS decals were used on it for certain, and obviously on some bikes intended for the Asian market.

[Suzsmokeyallan]

Oh ok that would make sense since they had a two stroke engine. They were here on the island too but by the time they arrived in the mid 70s it was the LJ50, a 550cc two stroke version of the 360 model.
I did a frame up restoration on one of those jeeps back in the early 90s, it was still the same bodyshell but now called the LJ80 with a four cylinder 800cc water cooled four stroke engine.
To allow the taller engine to fit in Suzuki altered the hood design to accommodate it and redesigned the front panel slightly.
This was the colour I chose, it was similar to Suzukis Pholina yellow, the original RM moto-cross yellow.
Along with many updates I did were the seats shown in the photo which were originally from a Nissan March/Micra, a near perfect fit and way more comfortable.

[H2RICK]

Welcome to the board, Roy.
Whatever it is, you have a HUGE job ahead of you. That poor old Buffalo looks like she's been stored at the bottom of a salt water swamp.....for at least 20 years.
Good luck with your project.

[RING_DING]

Haha....thanks H2Rick!
Funny you mentioned the swamp....when I first looked at it I also thought it looked like it had been at the bottom of a lake for a while. Ian has given me some excellent advice on how to proceed. First step will be to see if I can get the motor running.

By the way I had no intention of doing a full restoration when I bought it, but now that it's been identified as a rarity, I've had to rethink that. I'll be pinging you all for advice!

[H2RICK]

Yep, with a rare JDM Buffalo like that, a full on resto is in order, IMO.
You will certainly have the only one on your block......or probably even in your state/province. One thing for sure, you won't EVER meet yourself coming down the street.

[two-stroke-brit]

hey ring ding where are you located.
mark

[RING_DING]

Mark....I am in Cary, NC

[two-stroke-brit]

so ring ding you have 13 months to do the full resto before the 2012 deals gap meet.
see you there with your rare buffalo.
cheers mark

[RING_DING]

Now I don't feel so bad....check this out:
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/2322438902.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RING_DING]

Another decal found....

[malky]

I havent got any of those features on my JHM model apart from the cut out below the left hand headlamp bracket but this bike has been restored at some time in its life before I acquired it so possibly these features were removed at the time -the yellow colour so Ive been told is supposed to be a Lamborghini colour called chrome yellow but I dont know if that is correct or not. I like the Japanese warning labels on Roys bike and wonder if originally mine would have carried these also- isnt it a shame we cant travel back in time to 1976