taking bikes to the usa

[gudgeon]

good evening all anybody done this i am moving to the usa and want to take one of my bikes with me anyone know the rules/laws that the usa would impose on such a venture the bike is a 1995 triumph any help would be much welcome (i dont want to end up with harley)

[bimsb6]

sell it here and buy one over there ,less hassle and it will be cheaper .they do have other bike dealers other than harley ones in the u.s .

[aeropilot]

Yup, sell it and buy over there, as there is a difference between Euro/UK spec and Federal spec, so best not risk taking something that you may not be able to use. There are even differences between states as well, particularily California which has much tighter emissions regs/spec IIRC.

[dttheliman]

Hi, I am further down the road than you with this - basically any vehicle imported into the US must conform to EPA and DOT rules and regulations of the state into which you are taking it. Now when you take bike into the US, customs will impound it and it will be handed over to an certifing authority - who will at your cost make the bike conform to the US spec as it was at the date of manufacture - this is not cheap - can max out at about $20k USD, if it is deemed to be unable to conform it will be returned to the country of origin or destroyed - again at your cost - yeah harsh I know - but red tape is red tape there is sod all you can do. I was taking a HD back - I have decided to take all my custom bits off and pack those only, the rest will be for sale - the same applies to a dissasembled bike (bits that obviously can make a bike)or even an "non-conforming" engine. You can just google the horror stories.

Sell it

Cheers Tim

[dttheliman]

More info


www.CUSTOMS.USTREAS.GOV/TRAVEL/AUT
www.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/CARS/RULES/IMPOR

[gudgeon]

thanks guys i also did a bit of digging and found the grim realities so will buy something over there;- so on sale will go my little collection

1 1980 bonneville
1 old shape speed triple 1995
1 daytona 1997

anyone sold bikes on piston heads before? got my tvr up for sale so might add the bikes get a job lot