Japanese Auction Grades Explained: The Complete UK Buyer's Guide

When you bid on a Japanese motorcycle at auction from the UK, you are trusting a single sheet of paper. That sheet — completed by a trained inspector who physically examined the bike — contains everything you need to know. And at the centre of it sits one number: the grade.

The grade is not a rough estimate. It is a standardised score assigned by a certified inspector after checking every panel, peering under the tank, spinning the wheels, and noting every mark, dent, and mechanical fault. Get good at reading grades and you will know exactly what condition a bike is in before you commit a single pound.

This guide walks through every grade number, every letter code, and every section of the auction sheet — so you can bid on Japanese motorcycles with the same confidence as a dealer who has been doing this for twenty years.

The Full Grade Scale: From Brand New to Salvage

Japanese vehicle auctions use a standardised grading system that virtually all auction houses follow. BDS — the dedicated motorcycle exchange — USS, and all other major venues apply the same scale. The numbers run from 6 at the top to 1 at the bottom, with letter codes for vehicles carrying accident or repair history.

Grade	Condition	What to Expect	For UK Imports?
6	New / Unregistered	Under 1,000 km, never registered. Essentially no marks at all.	Rare. Prices rival new bikes.
5	Excellent	Typically 1,000–10,000 km. Very minor marks only — like new in practice.	Premium price, excellent condition.
4	Very Good	Light scratches or small scuffs. No dents or rust. Full mechanical health.	Great for resale or showroom quality.
3.5	Good	Minor cosmetic issues: small scratches, slight wear. Mechanically sound.	Best value for most buyers.
3	Average	Noticeable scratches, minor dents, or light surface rust. Roadworthy.	Budget for cosmetic work on arrival.
2	Below Average	Multiple scratches, dents, fading, or minor damage. Needs cosmetic work.	Project bikes only.
1	Poor	Significant damage, heavy wear, possible mechanical issues.	Parts bikes. Not recommended for UK road use.
S	Parts / Salvage	Non-runner or written off. Confirmed parts-only status.	Parts only.
R	Repaired	Structural repair carried out (修復歴). Appears alongside grade: 4R, 3.5R, etc.	Caution — see Red Flags section.
RA	Repaired Accident	Accident damage that has been repaired. Structural work confirmed.	Avoid unless heavily discounted.
A	Accident	Unrepaired accident damage present on the vehicle.	Insurance write-offs only.

Letter Suffixes and Condition Codes: What A, B, and U Mean

The grade number tells you the overall condition. The letter codes tell you exactly where the issues are and how serious they are. These codes appear both in the grade description and plotted directly on the damage diagram.

The standard codes used across all major Japanese auction systems are:

Code	Meaning	Severity Scale
A	Scratch	A1 = hairline, A2 = visible, A3 = deep scratch
B	Dent / Ding	B1 = small, B2 = medium, B3 = large dent
U	Rust	U1 = surface only, U2 = moderate, U3 = deep or structural
W	Wave / Ripple	W1 = slight, W2 = noticeable, W3 = severe
C	Crack	C1 = hairline in fairing, C3 = structural concern
X	Parts replaced	Component has been swapped (e.g. non-original exhaust)
XX	Parts missing	Component is absent entirely
E	Corrosion	Deeper than rust — chemical or salt damage
S	Stain / Fading	Discolouration, UV fade, oil staining
P	Repaint	Panel has been repainted — may hide previous damage
Y	Modification	Aftermarket part or custom modification fitted

When these codes appear alongside the grade — for example, 3.5 A2 B1 — it means a Grade 3.5 bike with a visible scratch and a small dent. The damage diagram (see below) shows you exactly where they are on the bike.

The Damage Diagram: How to Read Location Codes

Every auction sheet includes a schematic of the motorcycle — typically views from above and from both sides. The inspector marks each damage point directly on this diagram and annotates it with the relevant condition code.

The clock-face location system

The diagram uses a clock-face reference for locating damage:

• 12 o'clock — front of the bike (headlight end)
• 6 o'clock — rear (tail end)
• 9 o'clock — left side (rider's left when seated)
• 3 o'clock — right side

An annotation reading A2 — 3 means a visible scratch on the right side. The same code at 9 means the same damage is on the left side.

Most frequently marked locations on motorcycles

Knowing where marks commonly appear helps you interpret the sheet at a glance:

• Tank — key scratches, belt buckle dents, sticker residue
• Fairing lowers — stone chips, road rash, scuffs from footwear
• Exhaust cans — surface corrosion, heat discolouration, cosmetic marks
• Frame rails — any marks here indicate a laid-down; inspect very carefully
• Swingarm — chain wear marks, road rash from drops
• Wheel rims — kerb rash, impact dents from potholes
• Levers and switchgear — broken tips, scuffs from low-speed drops

Beyond the Grade: Mileage, Service Records, and Equipment

Experienced importers always cross-check three additional sections of the auction sheet before finalising a bid.

Mileage (走行距離)

The odometer reading is recorded by the inspector and marked as either verified (確認) or unverified. BDS electronically logs mileage from the instrument cluster where modern bikes allow it. USS and other general auction houses do the same for cars.

Extremely low mileage for the model year is a positive sign, but dramatic discrepancies deserve scrutiny. If a 2003 bike shows 3,200 km, cross-reference the physical wear indicators on the sheet — tyre tread depth, chain condition, and brake pad thickness are difficult to fake and tell a more reliable story than the odometer alone.

Service records (整備手帳)

The sheet notes whether a service book is present (有 = present) or absent (無 = absent). Japanese bikes sold with their original service books and registration documents command a price premium, but the documentation is particularly valuable for UK MSVA or IVA inspections on bikes outside Type Approval. For investment-grade or limited-edition motorcycles, absent service history is a genuine concern.

Equipment and modifications

The sheet lists non-standard equipment: aftermarket exhausts, custom handlebars, and accessories. Any modification from standard specification is flagged. This matters because heavily modified bikes can face additional scrutiny at DVLA registration. A stock bike with a clear specification is almost always simpler and cheaper to register in the UK than a modified one.

Grade 3.5 vs Grade 4 — Where the Real Value Hides

The auction price gap between Grade 3.5 and Grade 4 on the same model is often 15–40%. Yet in practical terms, the difference between them is almost entirely cosmetic.

Grade 4 bikes are very clean. They photograph beautifully, present strongly at resale, and require nothing beyond a standard service on arrival. For buyers who intend to sell quickly or show at events, Grade 4 is the right call.

Grade 3.5 bikes have minor cosmetic issues — perhaps a jacket-zip scratch on the tank, or light fading on a lower fairing panel. These marks do not affect reliability, performance, or roadworthiness. A mechanically well-maintained Grade 3.5 is often a better long-term proposition than a Grade 4 that has sat unused for three years.

	Grade 3.5	Grade 4
Auction price	Lower (typically 15–40% less)	Higher
Cosmetic condition	Minor marks present	Very clean
Mechanical condition	Same as Grade 4	Same as Grade 3.5
Arrival prep needed	Possible minor touch-up or detail	Service only
Best for	Value buyers, daily riders	Resellers, show bikes

For most buyers using AWA to source a reliable Japanese motorcycle, Grade 3.5 in the right mileage and model bracket delivers the best return on investment. The lower hammer price typically covers a professional detailing session — with money to spare.

Red Flags That Override a Good Grade

A strong grade number does not guarantee a perfect purchase. Several specific conditions should cause any experienced buyer to pause, regardless of what the headline grade says.

1. The R or RA suffix

An R suffix means documented structural repair history (修復歴あり). Grade 4R means the bike is cosmetically excellent but has had frame or chassis work done. For daily riders who prioritise function over history, this may be acceptable at the right price. For investment bikes, limited editions, or bikes you intend to resell, avoid R and RA grades.

2. Damage codes on structural components

Frame rails, the steering head, swingarm pivot, and fork stanchions carry the bike through every corner and braking event. Any condition code plotted on these components warrants extreme caution and, where possible, a pre-purchase inspection before you place a bid.

3. U3 rust codes

Surface rust (U1) on exhaust fasteners or chrome trim is cosmetic and easily treated with a wire brush and rust inhibitor. U3 codes — especially on frame rails, the swingarm, or wheel rims — indicate structural corrosion. Full remediation is expensive and the long-term reliability of a structurally corroded frame is compromised.

4. Grade mismatched with mileage

A Grade 2 bike with 8,000 km has been mistreated. The grade and mileage should broadly correspond — a significant mismatch suggests poor maintenance, unreported drops, or odometer manipulation. Treat the combination as a warning signal.

5. Missing service records on premium models

For high-value machines — Honda RC30, RC45, Kawasaki H2, Yamaha R1M, any limited edition — absent service history substantially affects resale value and makes provenance hard to establish. The missing book does not prove poor maintenance, but it removes an important layer of confidence.

Understanding auction grades is one of the most valuable skills any importer can develop. Pair this knowledge with a full picture of the total cost breakdown for Japan-to-UK imports and the complete inspection sheet reading guide, and you will have everything you need to bid confidently on any bike in the Japanese market.