importing my bike into the U.S.

So, as some of you my know, I am currently living abroad and have been busy overhauling my 77 z650 b1. Now, being the stupid indecisive person that I am, I've decided that I want to come home and bring my bike with me. I know its probably a waste of money considering how expensive it is to ship a motorcycle, but I have become very attached to it. I wont leave it behind.

I've heard that it's a pain in the ass bringing a motor vehicle into the states, but I am determined. I've read that motorcycles built before december of 1977 are exempt from emissions and EPA testing, so it might a little bit easier for me, but not sure.

Does anyone have any experience or know anyone who has brought a motorcycle into the U.S. from a foreign country???

I was going to ship a bike to Australia and i found out you can ship it by air cheaper than by boat.

Instead i sold it to a guy here from Australia.

Google the question up and i'm sure you can find out.

There is just a couple of customs forms.


Here is one read. There are several more. Roy


www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-shipping-transport/

You may want to read this.
www.whybike.com/blog/index.php?p=117
You may find out that it may be cheaper to just build another bike here in the US.

This would also be a good read.
www.sddc.army.mil/sddc/Content/Pub/13892/dbcn13892.pdf

The price quote i got to Australia was $750.00.

The exemption is from 1985 and not 1977. It is 25 years or older for vehicles. The real restrictions for what they are start for bikes over 700ccs.

If you are in the military, you may try to get the bike on a US Navy ship coming this way. That is what I did with my three bikes. They took them to San Diego free of charge than I shipped them the rest of the way by truck to Chicago. You must just make sure that there is NO gas in the bike, and there is someone there who can pick them up.

Does this mean no Harley Davidson of Japan T-shirts. Come on and hook a brother up.


My Harley friends will hate it which is why I want it if this makes any since

Check this thread out. If anyone knows about moving bikes around the world, it would be RTWDoug and he posts on this thread it won't be a problem for a pre-78:

www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=537309

It should not be a problem for anything 1985 or older. This takes care of virtually any bike which has been covered on this web sight and which is interesting to us here.

WPBill wrote:

Check this thread out. If anyone knows about moving bikes around the world, it would be RTWDoug and he posts on this thread it won't be a problem for a pre-78:

www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=537309

Cool link! Particularly if you go to the Bulgarian site. Thanks.

i tried bringing back a bunch of korean bar girls with me in the early 80s,but found out it was cheaper easier to find em here already on base! :woohoo: