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Can I import a motorcycle I bought in Columbia for use in United States? Can I import a motorcycle I bought in Columbia for use in United States?
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

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Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  • 1 Post By markharf

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  #1  
Old 12 Jan 2023
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Can I import a motorcycle I bought in Columbia for use in United States?
I'll be flying down to Columbia to do a one way ride back up to US. I'm wondering if anyone knows if I will be able to import that Columbian motorcycle into US so I can use it there long term?
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  #2  
Old 12 Jan 2023
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Doubtful unless the bike you buy is perfectly identical to one which is already sold in the US, which it almost certainly won't be. I'd do a search on the HUBB using the terms "homologation."

One exception to the above would be if you buy (or "buy") a bike with an existing US registration. And there might be an exemption for elderly bikes, but even if you can figure out how this would work you'd still have to consider whether a 20-year-old Colombian motorbike is worth owning in the first place.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
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  #3  
Old 13 Jan 2023
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Originally Posted by Chasingthesun View Post
I'll be flying down to Columbia to do a one way ride back up to US. I'm wondering if anyone knows if I will be able to import that Columbian motorcycle into US so I can use it there long term?
You can of course import a motorcycle into the US but there are a few potential difficulties: It will need to satisfy all EPA and DOT regulations. This might be anywhere from difficult to impossible depending on the motorcycle and will almost certainly involve modifications to meet US standards.

Easiest would probably be a model which is also sold in the US as the company would already meet relevant EPA and DOT standards for the US model and can hopefully help you with any required modifications.

Your state of residence may impose additional restrictions before registration is permitted. Other agencies may also need to be contacted.

Here is a relevant page from the US customs and border patrol:

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-297

Which links to a detail page:

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-impo...#Documentation

You might also want to talk to a customs broker. They help you with this type of import for a fee and can likely give you sound advice on what is possible.

Good luck!

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  #4  
Old 13 Jan 2023
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Import long term possible
Othalan above has given you the best (difficult, but possible) advice IMO.


I imported two purchased out of country. Both made it permanently onto the roads in the USA but after numerous checks, federal and local - translate that to serious bureaucracy and time. Plus a title and licensing fee in one State, Colorado and sales tax.


One HU member I met imported a Minsk he had bought in Vietnam - it rode around the USA in the back of a pick-up truck for display purposes, wasn't worth the time and money to get it papered in California.



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  #5  
Old 13 Jan 2023
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Thanks.

My plan is to buy a KTM 390 adventure which they do sell in US. The trick would be to find out if they sell it in Colombia.
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Old 13 Jan 2023
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Not sure whether you've understood that even if they sell the same model in Colombia, it will be different in multiple ways from the ones sold in the US. Those differences will have to be resolved to the satisfaction of a variety of petty bureaucrats before you can import it into the US.

That aside, it doesn't look difficult to learn whether the 390 Adventure is sold in Colombia--start calling and/or emailing dealers there, of which there are claimed to be 57. https://www.ktm.com/en-int/find-a-dealer.html

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
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  #7  
Old 13 Jan 2023
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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
That aside, it doesn't look difficult to learn whether the 390 Adventure is sold in Colombia--start calling and/or emailing dealers there, of which there are claimed to be 57. https://www.ktm.com/en-int/find-a-dealer.html
Or, indeed, go to a dealer's website.

https://www.auteco.com.co/motos-ktm/390-adventure/

Looks like about US$8500 out the door will get you a Colombian 390 Adventure.
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Old 13 Jan 2023
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Or, indeed, go to a dealer's website.
Do what he says, not what I said.

(Although you'll need to start talking to dealers anyway, because the website won't tell you whether they're actually in stock and available.)
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  #9  
Old 14 Jan 2023
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Thanks for the advice guys.
Looks like the KTM is double what I can get it for in North America.
Will look at other options. Maybe buy a cheap local bike there and just consider it a writeoff at the end of it.
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