Bike that I want... Not available in USA

[RhadamYgg]

So, I'm on TotalMotorcycle.com and I'm checking out the bikes. Mostly stuff I can't afford, of course. And I spot a Honda that I really like the look of...

CBR125R - max speed of 75 - enough to keep up with highway traffic, not strong enough to get me in to trouble.

Fuel Injected, Liquid Cooled, low emissions...Front and rear disk brakes.

And looks that match or beat the '08 model of the Kawasaki Ninja 250 and make my '07 Kawasaki Ninja 250 look like a booger.

So, is there a grey market path to get a bike like that in to the states?

RhadamYgg

[Erg0n]

you can try and import it from canada, if you can find one. I hear they sell out pretty quick

I've ridden one and it is a nice sweet bike to learn on, but as a regular commuter you'd want to stick with your 250

[RhadamYgg]

Yeah, probably just a case of the grass is always greener in Canada. Must be those cold winters.

I actually noticed in looking up the CBR125R - that there are several 125cc bikes out there that develop horsepower claimed to be similar to my 250. That would be probably be quicker... Although that isn't exactly what I'm looking for.

RhadamYgg

[TrueFaith]

I like those 125s too and with the success of the '08 Ninja 250R am hoping that Honda will send a few to the US market soon to test the waters on small displacement bikes. It would be nice if Yamaha did the same with their 125cc. If not, you could always contact a few dealers across the border in Canada and take a day trip up there with a rental van. I'm sure you'd have to pay import and customs fees, but having it inspected and registered in the US shouldn't be that big a problem. If you can find one.

[Johnj]

You can't import a bike to the States that doesn't have EPA certification.


You don't want to get caught with one either.

[TrueFaith]

Damn. Somehow I knew it couldn't be that easy! You wouldn't know how to go about getting one of those, would you John? Or if it's even possible?

[Shorts]

You can't import a bike to the States that doesn't have EPA certification.


You don't want to get caught with one either.

Pretty much on the dot. I can bring over any bike I want from JP, but the catch is I have to have it certified. You'll go through the EPA for the cert, costs anywhere from 2-5k for the testing and such. It must also go the NHTSA for inspection and modified (change out parts) to meet standard safety specs. If it doesn't have a 17-19 digit US style VIN number, it has to be given one of those too before you can even think about registering it in your state.

[RhadamYgg]

You can't import a bike to the States that doesn't have EPA certification.


You don't want to get caught with one either.

Pretty much on the dot. I can bring over any bike I want from JP, but the catch is I have to have it certified. You'll go through the EPA for the cert, costs anywhere from 2-5k for the testing and such. It must also go the NHTSA for inspection and modified (change out parts) to meet standard safety specs. If it doesn't have a 17-19 digit US style VIN number, it has to be given one of those too before you can even think about registering it in your state.

So, it is do-able, I'd just have to have a lot of money, patience and some time to take the bike out to where these things can be done.

You know it is kind of funny - Canada's pollution standards are roughly equivalent to the USA, and Japan, too for that matter. It is too bad you can't be certified in one country and the other countries accept that certification (assuming that the certifying country has regs equal or better to the country of import.

RhadamYgg

[Shorts]

Yup, it is doable. We considered it for my bike, weighed the pros & cons and have since decided it'd be best not to bring it. I did the hair-pulling research on it - not fun