Alberta-resident Canada/France citizen, best way to buy bike for Europe/Russia trip?
 

Hi all,

I know this topic has been discussed endlessly, so I apologise if I'm creating a totally redundant thread or if this would be better posted in the regional Europe forum!

I'm a bit lost on the possibilities of buying a bike in Europe, when I have Canadian and EU (French) nationality. I currently reside in Alberta, and want to do a 6-month trip in 2018 (Western Europe to Pacific Coast of Russia, then back to Europe via the 'stans). Vehicle of choice will be a used KLR650 or similar.

Maps of trip for those interested:
First leg: https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Paris...47.8863988!3e0
Second leg: https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Ulaan...d48.856614!3e0


It would obviously be the least hassle to buy/register the bike in Alberta (although I won't be maintaining an address here) and ship it to Europe - I am more than willing to ride it to Toronto or New York to ship for a low cost, because extra road trips are always welcome!

However, the cost of shipping both directions basically costs the value of the bike, and I am always willing to do some extra legwork to save money. When I look at the used KLRs for sale in France, they're not uncompetitive with the pricing in Canada after currency conversion, so I might stand to save some money if I buy there.

So, I see these as my possible options:

1. Buy and outfit bike in Alberta, ship it to Europe, ride around for 6 months, and ship it back.
2. Fly to France, buy bike there (may have to establish "residency" for registration but this should be easy with French passport), ride around for 6 months, sell it in France, return to Canada.
3. Buy and outfit bike in Alberta, ship it to France, establish "residency" and import/register bike tax-free as a moving expense, ride around for 6 months, sell now-French-registered bike in EU - although I may apparently have to have it registered to me for 12 months to import it duty-free before selling it - and then return to Canada (or don't? No job will be waiting for me!).

I know option three it a stretch, but I'm just wondering if the savings with #2 and #3 are worthwhile, or if it's a whole lot of work for not much return. Any advice or knowledge on this topic is appreciated. Sadly, I have no significant knowledge of French, so my own investigation has only got me so far.

Cheers,
Sam

With an EU (French) passport buying a UK bike is really easy. There must be a lot written here somewhere. The search function at the top of the page is v good.

Can't comment on buying in France, but I'm sure someone with local knowledge will pop along soon.

In the UK all you need is a UK address. HUBB user wheatwacker has a business sorting out Irish bikes for non EU citizens.

In Estonia you can buy a bike and register it in your name (EU citizen or not), just need a local resident to be listed on the paperwork as "responsible user", basically the person who talks to the government if something is wrong with the bike.

Check out eng.mototehnika.ee to get an idea of prices and selection (obviously much fewer ads in the winter).

All the participants of the Mongol Rally we met or saw last summer, around Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, had a UK number plate.


In a mountain homestay, we spoke with some of them, 2 American lads. They flew to London and bought an old banger. They told us many participants of this rally just do that.


so it seems the UK is very easy to buy a car fro non residents... I would imagine it is the same with a bike.


Maybe check out the Mongol Rally pages for tips.

My son is getting married in Greese this summer and I was thinkiing of buying a bike in the UK for about 1000 pounds and riding around Europe getting to Greece in August. I'd be interested if there is anything I need to know as well. I'm a US citizen

You say you have dual nationality, but do you actually hold a valid in date French Passport?. Do you have a Canadian or European driving licence? or both.
Do you have a registered address in France where you can prove residency ( ie supply a ''facture EDF ou Orange'' with your name and address on it). If you have a valid French passport/permit de conduire, and a provable residential address, then it's easy to buy a bike here, if you haven't it's a nightmare.( it's the residential address that's important). As suggested in other postings you might be able to get something in the U.K., but again, you will have to be able to provide an address where you can be contacted in order to be able to register any bike you buy in your name. Insurance companies will not ( generally speaking) insure any vehicle which is not registered to the insurer.

There are companies ( people) who do sell and buy back schemes. A good company I know in France has been doing this for sometime. You tell them what you want, they find it, you buy it and register it using their French residential accommodation address, you use it, and at the end of the period they buy it back from you at a pre agreed price. Have a word with Laurent, He's bilingual French /English. Voyagiste à moto & location moto et scooter

Good luck.

Yep, both passports.
 

Hi Pongo,

Indeed, I do have both French and Canadian passports that are current/valid. France and Alberta do have a reciprocal agreement for driver licensing (does not currently include motorcycles, unfortunately), but the French embassy's site says I have a full year in which to drive on my fully-recognised Alberta license.

As you've pointed out, it's the residential address that's the issue. Because I will be leaving my job with no significant ties in my current location (unless they feel like giving my a one-year Leave of Absence :P ), I will probably lease the cheapest apartment I can find for a short time (or contact my distant relatives about staying with them?), while finding a bike and applying for visas, and this should solve the address issue.

That's great, I'll look into it! However, seeing as I have no designated timelines, and will have a comfortable savings cushion, I might stick around in France or look for work elsewhere in Europe, so perhaps I'll want to keep the bike in the long term. Still, I'll look into this option a bit further.

Cheers!

Hi there

I am Canadian and French, living in Montreal for 48 years. I travelled to France two years in a row with a Canadian passport in 2014 and 2106. Twice I purchased an Africa Twin, and twice had them registered to my name, using my Canadian passport. It was very easy.

All you need is a French address and a host that declares you live there (hébergeant). "Lives there" doesn't necessarelly mean on a permanent basis. At least nothing pinpoints to that in the forms I filled. He will have to supply a bill from EDF/GDF proving the address (very common in France). Cost to register a bike to your name shall be around 60 Euros. if the bike has the old style yellow licence plate, you will need to upgrade to the newstyle white licence plate for around 10 Euros.

To insure your bike, you may need a proof of insurance and driving history if you don't want to pay like a first year rider.

The whole process is very easy.

BTW Both bikes did North Africa and are now in Montreal. Cost of shipping was around $800.00cad each time ;-)

BTW YOu can ride/drive outside of Canada with your Canadian driving licence for a whole year by having a "permis international" done in Alberta. CAA does it. Cost is $25.00cad

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psgzustnsk.jpg