Description

Honda NT400J, NT400K-2, NT650J, NT650K-2 1988 Parts Catalog – Factory OEM Specs

You’re knee-deep in a BROS frame swap, the old bolts are stripped, and the parts counter kid tells you “We only have aftermarket numbers.” Stop right there. I’ve been turning wrenches since the 90s, and I’ve seen more comebacks from wrong part numbers than from bad torque wrenches. This ain’t a guesswork game. What you need is the Honda NT400J, NT400K-2, NT650J, NT650K-2 1988 Parts Catalog – a factory-issued parts bible that gives you the exact OEM numbers, color codes, and chassis breakdowns. No repackaged PDF from some third-party house. This is the same book Honda dealers used in 1988. 103 pages of authentic data, straight from the source.

What You Get: Real OEM Part Numbers and Frame Codes

Page 1 of this catalog lists the four models: NT400J (NC25-100), NT400K-2 (NC25-105), NT650J (RC31-100), and NT650K-2 (RC31-105). Each with its frame number start range. If you’re rebuilding a BROS that came from Japan or Europe, you need those exact codes to order the right bearings, seals, or body panels. I’ve burned hours chasing parts that “should” fit because some aftermarket lookup was wrong. This catalog stops that waste. The manual divides content into five chapters: a preface, Engine section, Frame section, Part Number Index, and Part Name Index. That means you can look up a part either by its Honda number or by its name – double coverage for when the old label is worn off.

Color matters more than you think. On page 2 and page 3, there are color photos and color labels. The manual shows paint codes like PB-184M-U (Granite Blue Metallic), R-114C-U (Candy Wineberry Red), and NH-124M-U (Ares Black Metallic). Each color has a photo number and the Honda base part number (e.g., 7127-KWO-300 ZA for one assembly). If you order a tank or side cover without matching that color code, you’ll get a mismatched bike. I’ve seen it happen – don’t be that guy.

Engine Coverage: Full Parts Breakdown

The second chapter covers the engine. Not just a list of bolts – it shows each assembly with Honda’s original illustrations. You get the crankshaft, pistons, cylinder head, clutch, oil pump, and transmission components. Every part has its OEM reference number. Need a new oil seal for the output shaft? Look up the exploded view, trace the part number, and order it. No cross-referencing a Chilton diagram that has the wrong dimensions. This is factory data, period.

Frame chapter includes the main frame, swingarm, suspension, brakes, fuel tank, exhaust, and electrical components. You’ll see the steering stem, handlebar controls, and footpeg brackets with correct bolt lengths and thread pitches. Aftermarket catalogs often list a “universal” brake pad set that fits, but the pad material or backing plate shape can be off. With this manual, you get the exact Honda pad part number. I’ve had a customer come back with a dragging caliper because the aftermarket pad didn’t have the chamfer – OEM numbers solve that.

3 Reasons to Choose OEM Documentation Over Aftermarket

First, accuracy. Aftermarket parts catalogs are compiled by third parties who sometimes transpose digits. One wrong digit and you order a piston for a different bore size. Second, updates. Honda issued this catalog in November 1988 (Showa 63 year) as a third edition – it includes supersessions and color label revisions. Third-party reprints often miss those. Third, safety. The torque specs and fastener grades in the factory parts list are the same ones used by the factory. Use a 10.9 bolt where a 12.9 was called for? Not on my bench. This catalog tells you what the factory put in. That’s not negotiable.

Audience Fit: Who Should Buy This?

If you own a 1988 Honda BROS NT400 or NT650, you need this. DIY guys who are pulling down a bike for restoration? You’ll save the cost of this manual on your first parts order that goes right. Home garage enthusiasts who like to have every correct nut and bolt? This is your shopping list. Beginners who are afraid of ordering the wrong part – follow the exploded views and cross-check the color label on page 3. Mechanics who bill by the hour: lose the guesswork, get the part number right the first time, keep the job profitable. I’ve seen too many guys waste an afternoon hunting down a $3 o-ring because they didn’t have the factory catalog. Get it.

Source Validity: This Is the Real Deal

AutoRepairManuals carries the largest collection of OEM shop manuals in North America. This is not a copy or a scan of a scan – it’s a direct digital reproduction of the original Honda publication. The document is 103 pages, faithfully preserved. I’ve compared it to the paper version I used in the shop in the 90s – identical. If you trust your torque wrench, trust the documentation that gave you those numbers. Aftermarket manuals are compromises. This is the original.

Related parts catalogs you might also need: Honda VFR750F 1994 Parts Catalog – OEM Factory Parts Breakdown”>Honda VFR750F 1994 Parts Catalog, Honda VFR400R VFR400Z 1989 Parts Catalog – OEM Factory Manual”>Honda VFR400R 1989 Parts Catalog, and Honda PCX150, WW150EX 2014 Parts Catalog – OEM Factory Manual”>Honda PCX150 2014 Parts Catalog.

For broader context on why factory specs matter, consider the Automotive Industry Overview”>automotive industry’s shift toward standardized part numbering, and how Automotive Battery”>even a battery cable terminal can have a dozen different part numbers across brands. Factory catalogs cut through that confusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this parts catalog include repair procedures like torque specs and removal steps?

No. This is a parts catalog – it lists every OEM part number, color code, and assembly diagram. It does not contain step-by-step repair instructions or torque values. For service procedures you need the separate factory service manual. But if you need the correct part number for that shift drum or that specific gasket, this catalog is the only source.

Can I use this to order parts for a 1988 Honda BROS that had a different paint scheme?

Yes, provided your frame falls within the ranges listed on page 1 (NT400J NC25-1000014~, NT650J RC31-1000008~, etc.). The color photos and labels on pages 2-4 let you match your current paint or identify the original color. If your bike has been repainted, cross-reference the frame code to the applicable color number.

Don’t let a wrong part cost you a weekend. Access the Factory Manual, get the right numbers, and build it once.