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  #1  
Old 28 Oct 2005
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Buying a motorcycle in Europe??
Being a US citizen and having no residency in Belgium or Germany,can I buy a new or used motorcycle in Europe travel for 4-5 months and sell it back?
I know there had been some discussions about this but I want to learn the current situation.
Thanks to everybody for the input.
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  #2  
Old 30 Oct 2005
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I'm a Canadian and bought a bike in Italy.

I went to a Mom & Pop dealer and explained to them that I wasn't an EU resident and would that be a problem.

Much head scratching and debating ensued in Italian. I'm not fluent in Italian so, I'm not really sure how they went about it. A large volume dealer probably wouldn't have given me the time of day.

In Italy, where there's a will, there seems to be a way. That might not hold true in northern Europe.
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  #3  
Old 6 Nov 2005
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Two other possibilities come to mind. Search the HUBB for "export plates". Contact your nearest BMW dealer to see whether BMW still run the factory delivery scheme: you buy a new BMW through your dealer in the US, travel to Germany to collect it, they register it for you on export plates. At the end of your trip you either keep it and ship it home or try to sell it in Europe.

Good luck!
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  #4  
Old 6 Nov 2005
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Sadly the BMW factory delivery scheme is no longer on, and if it was it would be pointless if you were just going to sell it in Europe anyway.

Note that bringing a Euro bike back to the US is more trouble than it's worth.

You should have no trouble buying a bike in Europe and then reselling it after a few months. Lots of ways to do it.

Contact Stefan Knopf - sponsor of this forum - he can probably sort you out easily.

Grant
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  #5  
Old 6 Feb 2022
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grant Johnson View Post
Sadly the BMW factory delivery scheme is no longer on, and if it was it would be pointless if you were just going to sell it in Europe anyway.

Note that bringing a Euro bike back to the US is more trouble than it's worth.

You should have no trouble buying a bike in Europe and then reselling it after a few months. Lots of ways to do it.

Contact Stefan Knopf - sponsor of this forum - he can probably sort you out easily.

Grant
Hey I'm having a hard time finding the contact info for Stefan Knopf. Can someone help me with this? Thanks
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  #6  
Old 6 Feb 2022
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Nick, Just search Stefan Knopf in the search box at the top of the page and you'll find LOTS of references to him. Should be easy,

good luck, hope it works out well for you!
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  #7  
Old 6 Nov 2005
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Thanks for the help everybody.
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  #8  
Old 14 Jan 2006
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by doubleplay:
[B]Being a US citizen and having no residency in Belgium or Germany,can I buy a new or used motorcycle in Europe travel for 4-5 months and sell it back?

if you (somebody else) are still looking for a bike (especially an airhead) to buy or rent in central europe, sent me an email.

regards...
-=airhead=-
(http://le-chais.de.vu)
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-=airhead=-
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  #9  
Old 25 Jun 2007
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Moto rental
[QUOTE=airhead;89105]
Quote:
Originally posted by doubleplay:
[B]Being a US citizen and having no residency in Belgium or Germany,can I buy a new or used motorcycle in Europe travel for 4-5 months and sell it back?

if you (somebody else) are still looking for a bike (especially an airhead) to buy or rent in central europe, sent me an email.

regards...
-=airhead=-
(http://le-chais.de.vu)
airhead,
I would like to rent a an airhead (800 cc minimum) for 23 days beginning Aug. 18, 2007. What would the rental cost be?

-=3brick=-
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  #10  
Old 15 Feb 2012
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I need to register a DR 650 I'm purchasing in Europe .

Have any info ?

Cheers, Dan danvelo1973@yahoo.com
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  #11  
Old 16 Feb 2012
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buying bike in Germany and getting carnet for it
Hi everybody,

From what I read so far, it seems impossible to buy a bike in Germany and get title in my name if I'm not a resident.

While for touring around EU, having bike in a friend's name is sufficient, going outside EU would most likely require all the papers to be in my name.

I understand that having export license plates is probably the best way to go about this, but what about countries that require Carnet? Since having export plate implies that the bike won't be returned to the country of origin, I doubt anybody would be willing to issue a Carnet for it.

So the question is, what would be the best way to get a bike in Germany for a trip to Africa or Middle East? Has anyone done this?

What are the documents, steps involved and approximate cost, if possible at all?

Is there a less painful way to do this starting in some other country in Europe?

Thanks
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  #12  
Old 29 Aug 2012
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If anybody needs help buying a bike in Europe, contact me here or at sfadvmoto@gmail.com

I am based in Ireland, bikes here are cheap and I can supply a registration address and storage. I can also get paperwork sorted to get the bike in your name.
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  #13  
Old 30 Aug 2012
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G'day mate,
Quick query, from Ireland how hard/much is it to get bike back to England?
I've been to Cork and loved it. Perhaps I will now come again...
Cheers
Tom
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  #14  
Old 9 Jul 2006
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Any Advice?
Quote:
Originally Posted by doubleplay
Being a US citizen and having no residency in Belgium or Germany,can I buy a new or used motorcycle in Europe travel for 4-5 months and sell it back?
I know there had been some discussions about this but I want to learn the current situation.
Thanks to everybody for the input.
Did this work out for you? I want to do the same thing. I will be over in Europe for atleast 7 months. I want to buy a bike and sell it when I leave.

Chris.
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  #15  
Old 9 Jul 2006
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Red face buying in UK for your tour
Most EU countries require only an address of residence to send speeding fines and owners documents. As you will need the bikes log book (not a book really, just a sheet of paper). This can take two-three weeks to process and be returned. Crossing borders or being stoped by police, many will want to see the log book and insurance etc : In UK we have MOT certificate for bikes older than 3 years old, this is a test every year for road worthyness. In Germany bikes have to be original with no none-standard parts fitted (engine,exhausts etc).
UK prices seem higher for new bikes, but can be less for used machines. Maybe use an agent here (UK) to secure bike and register it here before you arrive. Buying here easier for you as we speak a similar tongue. Travel through tunnel under the sea for £50 pounds. See London or even better the North of England.
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