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Keeping your bike in the US Keeping your bike in the US
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 21 Nov 2008
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Talking Keeping your bike in the US
Does any of you know how long can a foreigne bike be kept in the US, I live in the US but since the choice of bikes seems very poor for my taste I am considering buying one in Europe and since I am French I could tag it there and import it in the US like anyone wanting to travel . Could bea bit expensive and tidius but that will take care of my issue searching for my next bike for a 2 up RTW trip .

Thanks for your help.
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Old 24 Nov 2008
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Originally Posted by HendiKaf View Post
Does any of you know how long can a foreigne bike be kept in the US, I live in the US but since the choice of bikes seems very poor for my taste I am considering buying one in Europe and since I am French I could tag it there and import it in the US like anyone wanting to travel . Could bea bit expensive and tidius but that will take care of my issue searching for my next bike for a 2 up RTW trip .

Thanks for your help.
When I took my XJR over to the USA last year I was granted 12 months temporary import. The docs were not checked when we popped into Canada and then back to the US again, nor am I sure if customs checked them when they were shipped back out.

I suppose you could take a chance, but if you were stopped by the police after 12 months were up, I suspect the bike would be impounded.

Best to import it permanently and pay the tax.
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Old 24 Nov 2008
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importing the bike in the US
I hate to admit it but you maybe right, I was just trying to expend the option for a choice of bike, getting the bike in Europe is easy but doing all the paperwork in the US (EPA....)maybe a pain in the rear.I still have a little time before I need to make a choice on my RTW bike so lets hope that US dollar goes up a bit and they start to import more model in the US.

Thanks
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Old 24 Nov 2008
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Originally Posted by HendiKaf View Post
Does any of you know how long can a foreigne bike be kept in the US, I live in the US but since the choice of bikes seems very poor for my taste I am considering buying one in Europe and since I am French I could tag it there and import it in the US like anyone wanting to travel . Could bea bit expensive and tidius but that will take care of my issue searching for my next bike for a 2 up RTW trip .

Thanks for your help.
Seven years ago when I moved with my bike from the US to Germany, I was told that it's not a problem, but if I want to bring a bike bought in Europe to the US, it's impossible for this kind of personal import. Even it's encouraging to bring the bike on a temporary import which means you would keep your european plate in the duration of that import permit, the problem arises when permit expires and when you try to get the US plate and registration from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Perhaps DMV is the first place to check, even though I know the department is not exactly the most efficient.
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