OK so here goes. I'm looking into buying a new or very low mileage DR650 in the USA and then importing it and registering it here in the UK, for a 3 month trip starting in April next year.

I read the thread started by Alan Hopkins who succesfully imported one in 2015.

My concerns are : When Alan imported his we were still under Euro 3 emission rules, however as of the end of 2016 we are under Euro 4 emission rules which are stricter. I am wondering if the bike will now be rejected.

But then I also wonder how Alan managed to get the bike through the emission test in 2015 at all when Suzuki stopped selling them almost a decade ago because they didn't pass emissions then.

So I'm a bit confuddled.

I guess I am looking for certainty that I will be able to get it passed before going ahead and buying one, importing it etc etc.

I sent Alan a PM to ask about this but no response yet, I am hoping its because he's out of internet reach somewhere exotic enjoying his DR650!

Any guidance on the importing process, emissions testing, registration etc would be great. I read through the info on the DVLA website which seems fairly straight forward, its just the emissions test that concerns me. Perhaps there are other things I haven't considered that I need to know about before taking the leap?

aren't you guys going out of EU ?

Ha yes we are but that is not for a while yet and I believe the emission rules will remain unchanged. I want to get the bike asap, and have time to prepare and test it thoroughly before I leave end April next year.

Have a look here, UK rules seem fairly relaxed and you might not need it. I looked into it a couple of years ago and it seemed all I needed was an MOT on the chassis number, fill in a few forms with relevant fees and get it inspected.
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/overview

Thanks for the link, I've read right through all the DVLA info, but it won't say whether or not the DR650 will pass, only that it will have to pass an emission test before it can be registered.

What kind of bike did you look to import? It could be that whatever you were trying to import at the time had up to date engine technology and would automatically pass. Problem is with the DR650 and its antiquated carburetors, its omissions are equally antiquated.

I really don't want to find that having bought the bike and shipped it here to find that it won't pass.

Will keep digging until I can find someone in the DVLA to tell me what the deal is!

What about buying DR in USA, then registering it in a USA state as per normal, then with new title and registration in hand, in your name, simply ship it to UK (or EU) as a tourist with USA plates attached.

You can worry about registering it in UK later, after your trip. Meantime, you can leave and travel on the bike with a legal title.

If you can't do it in the UK, then perhaps you could ship it somewhere in EU as tourist vehicle?

As long as you have legal title in your name, you should be able to travel the world, get visas and TVIP's as needed with this title.

Many Americans ship their own bikes to UK or EU as tourists every year. Might be something to look into. ??

As a side note: A friend lived/traveled around EU over 10 years. He had TWO California registered bikes in UK and Germany, stored. He rode them all over UK and EU off and on for YEARS and was never hassled, ever.

NOW ... getting a USA origin bike legally registered is another matter, but looks like you may be able to ride round on USA plates for years without a problem.

But this was over 10 years ago, things may have changed in UK or EU.
Dunno, maybe worth a look.

But the real expert on this is Alan. I assume you've gone back and read the couple threads he had over a year or so ago. I chimed in a few times on those, mostly with DR prep tips.

But he really dug into this and figured it out and looked at several options.
I'm sure he will surface soon and hopefully can help you out.

I hear what you are saying about about having it registered as a USA bike but to me it's a bit of a messy solution, I wonder how that might work with insurance etc. As you say Alan is the man, hopefully I will manage to have a chat with him soon.

But failing all else your plan might be a way forward.....

I looked into this last year for a KLR. Then wrote it off so never did go through with it. I wrote up a bunch of notes on the process. If you pm your address i'll send it over (its a word doc).

The basic position ls that you get single vehicle approval at a test centre but can't ride the bike in the uk until you have this test done and then register the bike with the DVLA.


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I bought a new Honda XR125 from South Africa and had it shipped here but in the end found I could get the registration transfered from the same model bike I had scrapped and still had the V5.
A friend has just registered a Triumph 250 that came in from the US which was fairly easy but that might be due to its age, I'll see him later and ask.

Temporaryescapee - I've just PM'd you my email address, many thanks for the help.

Mark Manley - any info much appreciated.

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.

Temporaryescapee kindly sent me his notes on the importation process and I've read through them and all the links.

The whole deal still hinges on whether or not the DR650 will pass the Euro 4 emissions test.

What I really need is a copy of Alan Hopkins' test result from when he had his DR650 tested in 2015.

If I have that, then I can see if the bike will pass Euro 4 emissions.

Here's hoping Alan gets back on here and is able to help .......

I spoke with Spencer from Bridge Moto in Reading who used to import DR 650's up until a few years ago. He said to comply with UK rules you need to install a small running light into the headlamp, an easy add on.

He mentioned depending on where in the USA you buy the bike the indicators are 'on all the time' (no idea why that would be??) which also means a small rewiring job, not a biggie.

Other than that he used to take the bike down to the testing centre and some DR's passed first time, some didn't.

If it didn't then he would alter the tuning on the carb to get it to pass.

He always managed to get it to pass which is re-assuring.

"Always On" lights have been LAW in most USA states since late 60's. Nothing new. The little pilot light is a Euro only thing ... and even dumber than always on lights.

The Always On law is NOT enforced here really. It was the product of some govt. traffic safety knobs needing to "do something".
Some BS traffic study claimed better visibility for riders with headlights on during day light hours. There is some validity to it actually.

Many cars here also are "Always On". Most bikes are wired to cut out headlight when cranking starter ... but don't believe the DR is wired this way.

I put a headlight switch on mine (easy to do) to shut it off when starting. Only ever used the switch when running Gerbing jacket and heated grips. (100 W total) , so needed extra Watts and in day time, no need for headlight.

I'm betting a 100% standard DR650 could pass the test, unless the parameters have been changed recently. The stock DR runs very very lean, but many owners modify fuel screw (make it richer mixture) to get better running. So, simply screwing IN that fuel screw will LEAN OUT mixture and would hopefully allow DR to squeak by and pass the emissions test.

You could do more to the Carb to pass the test:
Go to leaner position on needle. (move clip UP)
Go to leaner Main jet (only affects at half throttle or more)
Go to leaner Pilot jet (Zero to 1/4 throttle only)
Remove backfire screen, add more free flowing air filter (like Twin Air).
Remove air box side cover or Cut air box top open. (more air=leaner mixture)

Lean out fuel screw by screwing it IN. (as mentioned above)

This last one is the main way to get engine to run lean at idle. But if the test
includes running bike at half or full power then those other steps listed may need to be done. Suffice to say, the DR can run at very very lean settings. It will NOT over heat if moving!

OPTION: you may also be able to run a sort of primitive CAT convertor.

Hi Mollydog,

Thanks for the info!

I must have misunderstood Spencer, I thought he said in some USA states the law is the indicators must always be on (and I assumed start blinking when you indicate left or right). Which I thought was a bit daft when he mentioned it. I must have misheard...

I am all for the main headlight being 'on' all the time. Sweden was the first country to require widespread daytime running lights in 1977. Its a great thing to have, all the better for being seen.

I am now reasonably comfortable I can get the DR to pass the test here in the UK, so am going to contact a few dealers on the west coast USA to see if we can swing a deal. Preferably a new bike or one with less than a 1000 miles on the clock. If I can find one which has had some of the mods already done then all the better.

Had a look at which state is the best to buy in and it looks like Oregon suits me best as there is no sales tax, and Procycle is also in Oregon. And its on the west coast, which is where I want to start from.

So my loose plan is to buy one going into this winter, when I am hoping the dealer will be keen to offer a good deal for old stock.

As I'm no mechanic I would like to get the bigger mods done by a bike shop some where near wherever I buy before picking the bike up in spring next year.

Then spend the summer wandering across the USA to New York before shipping the bike to the UK.

It will be a good way to run the bike in, and test all systems.

Going forward i see a couple of issues :

- I will need a USA address to register the bike to when buying it. Any way around this?

- Any suggestions for a competent mechanic, preferably someone who knows the DR650 to do the mechanical installs and alterations? I'm OK on the simple stuff but don't want to spend more than a day or two spannering when I get there to pick the bike up.

Any suggestions as to where to buy the bike (as always there are good dealers and there are bad dealers..), what to do (or not do!) would be great. When is the 'best' time to buy to secure a good deal? I would imagine somewhere between October and January?

I am slowly but surely reading through all the different mods people are doing and am making a list.

Thanks again for the advice, much appreciated.