2015 Model Purchase Being Sold a 2014?

I'm in the middle of taking delivery of what I'm now [i]assuming[i] is a 2015 WR250r. I live in Honolulu, HI and a few years ago I bought what I thought was a 2013 Yamaha Zuma 125 but a while later I found the factory sticker to read 2012. Never looked into it but it had me thinking for awhile that I may have been duped? Now, since that back has been sold, I'm about to take a 2015 WR250r home on Monday and I told the new dealer about what happened and she told me a story about how manufacturing and model dates overlap and that's why I might see a year-old factory sticker. I asked her to be sure it was indeed a 2015 because of what happened. Sure enough, the bike arrived today and upon looking it over I found that the factory sticker reads 2014. I called a North Hollywood dealer friend of mine to ask about this phenomenon and he said one thing he knew for sure about the 2015's is that the decals are no longer decals, that they are now "burned-in" to the the plastic. I went out to feel the graphics and they are quite obviously decals as you can feel the lip of the sticker strongly. My dealer friend also told me that the year-old bike should come with a 200-dollar rebate.

Anyone know more about bike differences in year or what I should do in this situation? I just don't want to carry this feeling of buyers-remorse that I was sold something different than what I paid for. I know there are many years of this bike where not much at all has changed but still...

Not sure but I doubt the graphics would change from decals. You can tell from the decals if it is a 2015 or 2014 model. That being said there will be 2014 plated 2015 models as they are produce in that year no matter the model well in Australia anyway. I know I waited till late march for my wife's new 2014 badge 2014 model car.

Post up a pic I have a 2014 Australia model but I know on the 2015 there is reference to GYTR on the decals not on the 2014 model. Since 2008 decals is really the only difference in the models other than colour pre 2010. The odd part number changed but to be honest it is the same part maybe a slight revision.

I know my local deal was being a tosser so I got mine 150KM's from here so I got the 2014 model with the current deal not the 2013 for the same price.

Here is a pic the week it came home. July last year 2014 badged 2014 model.

THE way to tell the model year of a motorcycle sold in the USA is with the 17-digit VIN stamped into the frame.
A 2015 model Yamaha motorcycle will have an F at the 10th digit of the 17-digit VIN.
A 2014 model Yamaha motorcycle will have an E at the 10th digit.
Period.
End of story.
You do not go by the manufacturing date shown on a label since it is very common to have 2015 models out way before the calendar year 2014 is over with.

No different as going to a car dealer and buying a 2015 model car well before the calendar year of 2014 is even over with.
YOU CAN'T GO BY THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE when determining the model year of the vehicle.
You must use the VIN.

As YZEtc said, model years are different to calender years. If it wasn't I'd be riding some form of unicorn. A 2007 WR250R.

stevep84 wrote:

As YZEtc said, model years are different to calender years. If it wasn't I'd be riding some form of unicorn. A 2007 WR250R.

 Awesome !!

BRILLIANT! Thanks so much for this information as it was really eating at me. As I said, I was there yesterday but couldn't take the bike home yet due to insufficient funds in my bank but the dealer gave me a temporary copy of the registration so I could get my insurance started which contains the Serial number: JYADG21EXF.... 10TH character is F - this the same as VIN as you are referring YZEtc?

Yes.

what month was it made? ive seen production start on the next calendar year as early as may

I've heard of many horror stories of people buying a bike thinking it was a much newer model. As stated....VIN!

The date stamped on mine is August 2014

Oh yeh would definitely be a 15'

Just to add for confirmation to OP.. mine is 2015 stamped Dec 2014

I think 2008~2012 = Blue Rear Fender
2013,2014 White Rear Fender
2015 back to Blue