hi all. i wish i knew about this site a few weeks ago!! any help/info will be greatly appreciated.
i am hopefully going to buy a used 350 bullet tomorrow here in calcutta.yes, i know its not the place to do this, delhi is.
i have one major problem that i totally forgot about until yesterday. i had my intl driver permit stolen, amongst other things, in bangkok a few weeks ago.never needed it in thailand over 2 months and 4000 kms, so it wasnt in my mind to try to get another one. wholly impossible here as it is not valid in the country of origin.not to mention infamous indian red tape! i do have my usa license though.will this be a major obstacle in my purchase?
also, if i fall in love with the beast, i will want to ship it back to the usa as a 'memento' of sorts.after a 6 month ride it will become part of me,i'm sure! every person i talk to in royal enfield usa says its impossible, although some people have done it illegally and got it past customs and registered in their state. has anyone accomplished getting their bike into the usa? a cat conv is available here for about us$60.
and, if anyone knows the cost of shipping to the east coast, specifically florida, how much is it, more or less? the agents here in calcutta are not sure of anything and cant even give me a price!
hopefully, all will work out and if i cant ship it, i will just sell it for whatever i can and get on with things!
re: the idp, is there a photo of one on a website i caould scan and make a copy of here in india. after all, its india and nothing like that is so important, is it?!
thanx in advance and y'all keep the tire side down!

1. Int'l drivers permit unlikely to be of interest, so no worries.

2. It's POSSIBLE to ship it back and register it in the USA - but only in specific circumstances. It has to be over I think 25 years old, then it is exempt. Biut not necessarily easy to do regardless. Otherwise absolutely NOT worth the aggro and mucho dollars.

Search the site (NOT the HUBB) for

Enfield Cat US

and you'll get some info on Cat's shipment of an old Enfield. There is LOTS of Info on Enfields on the site, start searching and reading.

good luck,



------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

thanx grant. at least i know what i am up against. will prob just sell the thing when i am ready to leave.
one guy at royal enfield told me it has been done illegally. but no other details and/or costs were mentioned.
ok, stupid idea. now to get on with it!
thanx again

Easy enough to buy an Enfield in Calcutta.
I managed to buy one within 2 days of arriving, just ask around the various bike mechanics.
Also check around Sudar St - travellers leaving India might be selling one around there.
I had a homeless man help me out finding & asking aroud the bike mechanics - made things much easier for me & he really appreciated a small finacial gratuity afterwards.
You won't be able to register your bike properly as only Indian residents can but no matter. Just so long as you have the papers will keep police & Nepalese customs officials happy.
Never once showed my IDP to anyone - I wouldn't worry too much esecially if you still have your US license.
happy travels!

__________________
Rich
www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/richardandlisa
www.youtube.com/richparkie

i tried to reply directly to parkie (?) but some prompt came up and asked me for my password and i dont know what this is all about. not computer savvy.
yes, ive narrowed it down to 2 bikes. one being a 1972 in nice condition.
does anyone know if importing an antique, ie older than 25 years, is a do-able proposition? then there is no epa specsw to meet. but what about dot specs?
thanx

Search the "HUBB & Website" for

Cat Syrbe

and you'll get the answers to your question.

Re the pasword - of course - the system has to know who you are, same as when posting a message.

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

I was under the impression that you can not export any classic bike from India i.e. over 25 years old.
You can however take them into Nepal which does not have the same export restrictions....
This was the situation a few years ago, might well have changed by now.

__________________
Rich
www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/richardandlisa
www.youtube.com/richparkie

yes, well i have a few local people looking into it including the seller of the 1972 i want. we'll see. if i cant ship it, i can sell it b4 leaving and take a little loss. no problems. but, i would like to have it.
someone in the hubb said they sent it to boston and had no problems although the price on both ends sounded too much $350 each side. ouch! i'm only paying 450 for the bike and all the necessary (to begin with!!) mechanical necessities.
thanx