Import bikes from Thailand

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High_Side · #1 Unread post by **High_Side** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 3:20 pm

http://www.asiatradingonline.com/bikes.htm
These look like fun. A friend of mine spends time over there and talked of importing bikes to North America but looks like these guys are doing it first! I'll take a nice VFR400 please!

Ninja Geoff · Fri Feb 24, 2006 3:30 pm

http://www.asiatradingonline.com/bikeredm.htm

imported for 3,175.40 USD.

I think... i want one.

flynrider · #3 Unread post by **flynrider** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:31 pm

I looked over the site. They don't mention what a nightmarish proposition it is to import a bike into the U.S. (of course not, then no one would buy one

).

Before it can be ridden, it'll have to be modified in conformance with all US DOT and EPA regulations. That'll probably cost more than you pay for the bike.

Importing vehicles into the US is only feasable when the vehicle being imported is an expensive exotic. Then the $20K or so spent to bring it up to spec is just a small fraction of the price.

High_Side · #4 Unread post by **High_Side** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:45 pm

flynrider wrote:I looked over the site. They don't mention what a nightmarish proposition it is to import a bike into the U.S. (of course not, then no one would buy one ).

Just strip it to pieces and import it as "Chopper Parts". Then rebuild it and take it to wherever they certify those hand-built chopper POS things and you are off and running......

In all honesty, here in Canada there is a place in Vancouver that does import grey market bikes and manges to get them certified for a not-too-unreasonable price.

jmillheiser · Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:10 pm

Thats canada not the US.

Its even tricky to import engines here. If the paperwork is not perfect the engine is not sent back, its destroyed, same goes for cars.

Certifying non-us cars here is tough too. When Motorex started importing skylines they actually had to crash test one first to make sure it met US crash standards.

paul246 · #6 Unread post by **paul246** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:22 am

You are right about U.S. Customs. I heard of 3 fellas that went together and had 3 Chang Jiangs (Chinese m/c with sidecar) imported. One unit was sent to a different warehouse and managed to make it through somehow. The other 2 units were inspected by a different officer, rejected on the spot and ordered destroyed. So, the 2 unlucky guys were out of pocket a few thousand each. Its a real krap shoot. Those same bikes can be had in the U.S. through a distributor that imports them, surprise, surprise, as part assemblies. The buyer then assembles the bike and registers it as a homebuilt motorcycle.

High_Side · #7 Unread post by **High_Side** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 6:48 am

paul246 wrote:Those same bikes can be had in the U.S. through a distributor that imports them, surprise, surprise, as part assemblies. The buyer then assembles the bike and registers it as a homebuilt motorcycle.

Thats what I'm talkin' about. There has to be a way.....

Motofiend · #8 Unread post by **Motofiend** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 7:55 pm

why are they only for export sale??

thats seems shady

Randy · #9 Unread post by **Randy** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 5:25 pm

another thing is parts and service. Unless you do it ALL yourself, you are in for quite a journey to find filters etc.