Here is the challenge:

I have a XR600 in kenya with kenyan registration plates (not on my name, as i don't have kenyan residence). I would like to bring the bike to ethiopia and keep it there for a year or two (either ride it through Moyale or ship it) but would rather not pay the 170% taxes.

To make it even more interesting, i have no residence permit in ethiopia, just a 6 months business visa (which i renew regularly). But i could find somebody in Addis on the name of whom i could register it if need be.

any idea what would be the best way to proceed? Options that i have used successfully in other countries include:
- find somebody who is an expat but does not have a vehicle, i.e has not used his duty-free allocation – probably difficult, but who knows, maybe there is a market for such things, in Kenya there is.
- drive the bike shamelessly over the border in Moyale, pretending I’m a tourist and then keep it around Ethiopia with Kenyan numbers – This solution would be complicated as I would have to keep it on the present owner’s name which may get difficult, but in absence of any better solution it may be worth trying;
- there may be somebody who has a similar bike in Ethiopia that he crashed – I could buy the papers;

If anybody understands the rules in Ethiopia and ways to apply them i would very much appreciate some advice.

thanks,
s