Has anyone imported a bike from usa?

[Natra]

The pound being so strong against the dollar, is it viable to buy a harley in the usa and import it

does anyone know how much the import duties are, and shipping, etc and any other bits that may need to be done.
NMatra, considering a long weekend in the usa

[SalTheWop]

I was in Top Joint the other day, and he was talking about a guy that was importing bikes over, at a cost of approximately £2.500. That price included everything to get it on the road here including SVA?

[BaZa®]

Will always be classed as a 'Grey Import' and cost you more for insurance.

Check with phild what is standard there against what is standard here.

I think you will find a fair bit. Yes as Alf says at Topjoint it may only cost you £2.5k but at what specification?


See these previous threads here:

http://www.harley-davidson-hangout.c...ad.php?t=37317

http://www.harley-davidson-hangout.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37260&highlight=importing+from+us a

http://www.harley-davidson-hangout.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37072&highlight=importing+from+us a

[Rob the Dog]

I tried to do this last year , I wanted a U.S. spec FXD, but unless you know
someone, the U.S dealers I got in touch with were reluctant to get involved because they risk their own allocation being cut- HD dont like it. potentially , one could save money but to be totally legal you need a speedo that shows mph and km and a UK head light, the extra bits and bobs I wanted made it too much hassle for me, but a good friend did it in style, she bought from a US dealer, rode the bike round the states on her own for six months, imported it as owned for that length of time, and from what she said didnt get caught for import duty ! and saved about 3k on a H softy.

[FBB]

Just in the process of doing just that! Points to remember-
Purchase price + cost of shipping + import duty @6%. Add this together then add 17.5% VAT. Cost of registration & SVA or MOT to be added.. Customs clearance charges around £100
Airfreight is around $2000, Sea freight is a little less but takes weeks. Its a good time to buy at the mo as the exchange rate is so good. Pick your model though. I have mine. All will be revealed shortly!!

FBB

[BaZa®]

You sneaky bugger you kept that quiet...LOL

Whatyer getting/ Your Fatbloke is not that old?

[Walenut]

I had a brief look into it a couple of years ago, UK shipping agents didn't want to know so if your doing it independently I should go with a US one.

[the_monster]

I was told recently that the new US spec efi systems run on a different operating system to those in the UK and Europe, so stage 1 etc could be a bigger pain than last year's screamin' eagle fiasco - obviously this wouldn't apply to carbed models

if enough people are interested why not get a container and ship a shop load back ?

[skikool]

If anyone has imported a bike successfully and had a good / bad experience, please post details!

I'm looking for a second hand older bike possibly shovel and there seems to be a better choice out there, obviously!

[Kiwi]

Originally Posted by BaZa ®

Will always be classed as a 'Grey Import' and cost you more for insurance.

Wrong, brought all of my bikes over from NZ, no problems what so ever with insurance