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Living/working in France; need motorcycle! Living/working in France; need motorcycle!
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  #1  
Old 16 Nov 2007
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Living/working in France; need motorcycle!
I am looking for advice for an American wishing to own a bike in France.

I 'm applying for a position in France that would have me living there for 6 months to a year, so of course I'll have to have something to ride! I have heard that used bikes are cheaper in the UK, and that seems true based on what I've seen online. Anyone know the procedure for an American, buying a UK bike, bringing it to France? Would it be easier to just buy in France? Any hurdles for that?

Anyone looking to sell or do a bike swap? I ride DS/SM bikes. Have a KLX650SM and an XT350 that I just rode around Central America. Had a KLR650 and KLR250, both stolen. Damn Minneapolis street thugs. (Seen 'em?) I would also consider an Enfield, but then I'd keep it and put a diesel in it. Working on a diesel in the XT this winter. My bikes are in the US; MI/WI/MN.

I had a bad experience with a Chinese dual sport I bought in Ecuador while I was living there. Swing arm bolt broke. I don't recommend them. I don't recommend buying them here either, the damn things are everywhere these days, but at least here there is access to proper medical care. My buddy almost lost an arm...


Sorry to ramble. American. France. Motorcycle. How? Thanks.
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  #2  
Old 16 Nov 2007
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second hand bikes are generally cheaper in uk than france.
It is not difficult ( normally) to move them about the EEC
Moving fromm EEC to/from USA is much more difficult unless the bike is old.

If you at all intersted in a used BMW a local guy always has loads for sale. You might be able to work out some kind of buy back deal.
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  #3  
Old 16 Nov 2007
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All depends on how long you're going to stay for.If you're not going to extend your 6 month stay and hence won't need to register a bike in France then i'd certainly get one here in UK( good old Ebay....).BUT....if you need to register it in France,this can be a right old pain.Far easier to buy something French registered already,and the authorities don't seem too keen on people modifying their machines either.Like all good law abiding citizens though there are ways....an English friend now living over the channel bought a crunched French registered Guzzi and simply stuck all the ID onto his UK bike,and this was a tip passed onto him by a French Mayor!
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Old 16 Nov 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldbmw View Post
second hand bikes are generally cheaper in uk than france.
It is not difficult ( normally) to move them about the EEC ...............
I have recently moved from the UK to France and bought a couple of UK bikes with me.
My experience (and that of others) says that it can be difficult, very difficult.
Yes bikes are cheaper in the UK but my advice would be to buy in France.
There's plenty of advice about this here -
French Living and Property - for sale rent renovation at Total France
and here -
France Forum
Good luck, sorry I mean, bon chance.
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  #5  
Old 16 Nov 2007
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Buy it in the UK, register it there, run it in France on French insurance. No one will bother you.

Modifying bikes in France is a piece of piss... there is no safety check, MOT/TUV here. The police only care that you have a licence and insurance (and have the registration docs with you).

J
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Old 16 Nov 2007
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Originally Posted by Redboots View Post
Buy it in the UK, register it there, run it in France on French insurance. No one will bother you........................
I'd say that probably they won't but have an accident and it can go very, very pear shaped.
See the forums I mentioned above as there is lots of discussion about this approach.
Pays your money and takes your choice of course.
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Old 17 Nov 2007
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Now I may have missed something...but from my research, Americans were not allowed to register vehicles in Europe without residency. Now if your situation grants you residency, then go right ahead. The other thing I found was that used bikes are even cheaper in the states than in Europe and that the most economical was to buy a bike here and ship over.

Example: I just bought a 2002 R1150R with bags and many extras for $4700
Shipping it to Munich Germany for $1200 Warrens Motorcycle Shipping
Total $5900

ebay.co.uk 2002 R1150R with no bags or extras 3495pounds (~$7100)

Buy here, ship there and save some dough. Plus the bike will have a higher resale value when you decide to sell over there.

Just a thought.


Good luck either way.
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  #8  
Old 17 Nov 2007
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Originally Posted by Hustler View Post
I'd say that probably they won't but have an accident and it can go very, very pear shaped.
See the forums I mentioned above as there is lots of discussion about this approach.
Pays your money and takes your choice of course.
Wouldn't dream of having a UK reg bike here... sticks out too much.
The import of bikes from UK or DE to France is simple though. Just go to your prefecture and they will give you a list of required documents.
Gather the ones you need and give them (and loads of money), in and your done.

Only had a bit of hassle with my F6C.. I had to go to the DRIRE offices to show them the mirrors(!!), and indicators. As they were all made in the US, they wanted to check they did not have amber reflectors on the rearward sides of the bike and that the mirrors were not concave like some car nearside mirrors.

John
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Old 17 Nov 2007
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[QUOTE=wile e;159597]Now I may have missed something...but from my research, Americans were not allowed to register vehicles in Europe without residency. Now if your situation grants you residency, then go right ahead.

given that the guy will be working hhere for 6 months he will have an address, that is all you need to be resident. a 'fait accomplis'. You do not need any thing that resembles a work permit/green card. just somewhere to send tickets etc.
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