M/C registration and New Zealand

[bcuppy]

I will possibly be laid off in Nov/Dec and I am thinking of going to NZ for a few months. Option 1 is to take my Colorado registered M/C to NZ and Option 2 is buy one there, ride it and then ship it back. Now the questions.

On option 1, can you do a full NZ registration on the M/C versus retaining the US registration - easier to blend in locally ? Would I be able to retain the US - Colorado title. What I read, you have to have your title shown to US customs when the bike is exiting the USA to go on a boat. What are the details on that ?

On option 2, how difficult is it to bring in a foreign M/C into the US especially with customs and registering it with a US state. Does a NZ bike get a NZ title or a "MSO" which starts the title paper trail ?

[Dave Milligan]

Originally Posted by bcuppy

On option 1, can you do a full NZ registration on the M/C versus retaining the US registration - easier to blend in locally ?

If taking your USA bike to NZ it will be registered on the USA plate number, thus retaining the USA plate on the bike. You will also need to get a Warrant of Fitness which is an inspection of your bike to determine it's Roadworthiness.
You will also need a Carnet de Passages en Douane for your bike to enter NZ. Makes Temporary Entry very easy.

[Nigel Marx]

to the USA with a NZ rego'ed bike. If it not offically imported into the USA, with all the correct ID codes on parts (DOT I think is the Govt. dept name that covers the regulations there???) that say it complies with USA standards, then you are almost never going to be able to bring it is. There is some allowance for bikes older than a certain age, IIRC. Chris and Erin Ratay ( ULTIMATE JOURNEY -- Around-the-World motorcycle tour ) had to give their NZ-sourced bike to a dealer for display.

It's much easier to bring your bike here, or buy and sell (time waster sometimes). Why do you want to blend in locally? No-one is going to get upset at your US rego plate! You might get someone making a joke about the sissy way you guys play football against rugby here in NZ, at worst! At best you will get lots of people stopping for a chat, and even invites for meals and beds.

I could be completely wrong, of course....


Regards

Nigel in NZ

[kiwiron]

personally i would buy a cheap bike here then sell it at the end save a lot of drama and expense with shipping and carnet stuff,no hassle back home then,give us a yell when you get to chch,ron.