Sorry, typo, I meant MSVA (not MVSA)

After a long drawn out process I've got the bike on its way, this time hopefully it will arrive and still belong to me! Sounds like you're having one heck of a ride, enjoy

alan

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have fun with your helmet!

Sorry for the delay guys but tbh not much happening, lot's of phone calls to ProCycle and finally got a list of essential mods I think I need.
Goods despatched from PC to dealer at Houston. All arrived and dealer after checking list boxed the parts up with the bike.
Latest news is bike and bits delivered to the dock and checked in, now the shipping company pick up the thread and with a bit of luck I should hear from them in a few weeks to say come get your bike.
Then I start the MSVA process, thanks Walkabout, useful link!

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have fun with your helmet!

How you got your DR650 (and you!) into China is beyond me! I just can't imagine the paperwork nightmare you must have gone through and abuse taken. But you are there! Congrats Hope it's going well!

I had questions and doubts about my DR650 too ...took a year before certain things started to add up, along with several comparo back to back rides on various other bikes. Once back on "old reliable" DR650 things begin to click inside my head. Once a trust developed, I could really relax traveling on the bike.

Having owned & traveled with (or on) the competition the last 25 years, I have some perspective. The harder I look (and ride) other bikes against the DR, the more the DR650 comes up Aces. A nice surprise!

Took a couple serious Mexico trips for this to sink in but eventually it could not be denied: The DR650 is GOOD!

Do all the best mods, learn it's care & feeding and it will treat you well.

My first "modern" dual sport bike was my 1987 XL600R Honda. (I rode and raced dirt bike before that) The old XL was a great bike but had failure issues, wasn't as good on highway as the DR650.

Various XR's, XR-L, and KLR and KTM could not compare ... once I discovered just what the DR650 could do, the more impressed I became. Rode BMW F650 Dakar back to back with my DR in Moab, Utah. Not close off road.

The DR is the most versatile and quite reliable. Can be loaded heavy, can sit on 70 mph all day, then bash through wash board or rocks for a week, then get back on highway and ride 2000 miles non stop.


Not bad on nice two track trail


A struggle up this STEEP boulder strewn trail ... but made it first time.

Baja sand.

Glad to hear the bike is finally on the way

Wayne

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The Balkans
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/poi_entity/8417

Great news Alan!

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Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

[attach][/attach]

Just what I wanted, stock standard DR here in the UK with less than 500 miles on the clock. Christmas arrived early this year

Attached Thumbnails

 

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have fun with your helmet!

Congrats!

Always nice to have a success.


Please post some facts/figures about the importation when you find time - and the registration business.

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Dave

Just the paperwork to sort out now

Anyone who wants one of these real world do it all bikes pulled into Europe as opposed to a 250kg 140+hp fashion missile then go for it.
I'll be shopping at ProCycle and sorting the documentation out next. No major hassles so far just lots of research and a dollop of trust!

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have fun with your helmet!

Will do for sure. I'm just starting the legals at this end so it's not over yet in terms of spending but what a massive relief to have the bike, it's been all talk and promises until now.
Time wise i just looked back on this thread and saw my post on finding a dealer with a DR which was 4 August so around three months from start to finish re acquiring the bike but I'm sure I could halve that time now I have the knowledge and the contacts.
I must say I'm dreading actually working out the total cost of this once the process is complete

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have fun with your helmet!

The bikes looking good, well worth the wait no doubt

Wayne

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The Balkans
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/poi_entity/8417

Maybe this will indicate why Bridge Moto don't bother too much with that aspect of their business. i.e. it may be a good proposition for an individual who has the interest in a specific bike, and the time to address the administration and logistical requirements without having to "cost in" that time.

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Dave

Yes I'd have to agree although the import tax admin side of things should be a formality for them. There's probably more profit in old Harleys etc.
For me personally there was no preferable alternative. The nearest bike to my personal ideal is the XT660 which weighs more and has a much more complicated engine. I'm guessing once I factor in shipping etc. it will end up costing roughly the same as the Yamaha.
I couldn't imagine even considering this route without the internet.

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have fun with your helmet!

Yep, that's all realistic.
What you have achieved at some personal time, effort and cost to yourself has to be paid for when it comes to a business consideration.
Bridge Moto also bring in bikes from Japan, for instance - "all ready to go" in terms of riding on the left of the road; and there are others who ship in what they know that they can sell - Jap specialist cars and camper vans are popular for various reasons.

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Dave

QUOTE "Bridge Moto also bring in bikes from Japan, for instance - "all ready to go" in terms of riding on the left of the road;" QUOTE
Err, they drive on the left in Japan.
Sounds like you're doing a pr job for Bridge Moto here so it's only fair to say I did contact Bridge initially after hearing they were bringing two DRs into the UK, one sold and a Grey 2013 one for sale.
The guy took a £500 deposit off me and I started buying accessories etc but then a few weeks later I received a short message simply saying "sorry, made a mistake, the bike wasn't for sale"
Now I have no idea whether they sold it for more money to someone else or simply lost the ability to count to two but either way I was suddenly without my bike so I decided to do it myself. Yes it took a few calls and some organising but no more let downs plus I saved about a thousand pounds.

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have fun with your helmet!