Any US folk consider or actually buy a bike in Europe?

I agree I would love to do that too

I think it's possibly a good idea,

Any one thinking of doing it, get in touch I'm more than willing to help you out with whatever you need

I live quite close to Manchester Airport, 30 miles,

Another thought is to "swap-a-bike" program, like when people go on vacation / holiday and they exchange homes. You come visit in the states and take my bike, and I come to the UK or where ever and I take your bike. hhmmm....maybe I should start a business for that if it's never been done before.

The swap thing is a good idea but I'd really like to ride what would turn out to be my bike while on vacation. I hate the idea of borrowing someone else's motorcycle. I take very good care of my possessions and would take equally good care of another person's bike, Ducati or otherwise, but I'd worry too much about it being someone elses and anything that may go wrong with it.

My local dealer insists bringing the bike back into the country would be a nightmare but I doubt she really knows the ins and outs of importing a motorcycle.

NC

I've bought a couple of bikes from the USA and didn't have a problem importing to the UK, I'm sure the reverse procedure would be just the same

ELVISTO said:

I've bought a couple of bikes from the USA and didn't have a problem importing to the UK, I'm sure the reverse procedure would be just the same

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I'm guessing you had to pay import duty though? Is there a specific commodity code/import tariff used? What was the %age charged by Customs?

I looked into taking a bike with me when we were planning to move to the wifes home country (USA). The bike must confirm to DOT and EPA regulations. I believe the EU Scrambler does not

TC3 said:

I looked into taking a bike with me when we were planning to move to the wifes home country (USA). The bike must confirm to DOT and EPA regulations. I believe the EU Scrambler does not

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That sounds right, although only difference seems to be the evap canister. I imagine a Euro bike could easily be conformed for the US, but the paperwork may not be easy, especially on a new (unknown) model. I remember investigating years ago what it would take to bring a Yamaha 500 2-stroke in from Canada; it was too elaborate and costly. And I doubt the EPA and DOT have become more streamlined since the 1980s.

fastwoman said:

That sounds right, although only difference seems to be the evap canister. I imagine a Euro bike could easily be conformed for the US, but the paperwork may not be easy, especially on a new (unknown) model. I remember investigating years ago what it would take to bring a Yamaha 500 2-stroke in from Canada; it was too elaborate and costly. And I doubt the EPA and DOT have become more streamlined since the 1980s.

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Unfortunately you are probably correct. Damn bureaucrats ruin everything. I wonder if in the future I could find a way to ship my bike to Europe to a Ducati dealer as a staging point, ride it around and then return it to the states? Might need to take my packaging crate home with me if I do this . . .

NC

El Toro, If I remember correctly, It cost me £350 import duty and a £150 handling/ delivery charge by DHL, they collected it in the USA (crated up) I do remember the last bike had to be delivered to a business address with a stacker truck, it took 6 weeks to arrive, , and I had to pay vat on all the charges,

ELVISTO was it worth it after all the charges levied?

That looks lovely. Wish I had the skills and patience to do something like that.

But I haven't. I'm cack handed.

Thanks Terry

Best to approach Ducati Italy and see if they can advise you. Bought a couple of cars collected from Mercedes factory in Germany many years ago and they organised purchase and UK registration without problems.

It's the type approval and regional specification that has to be acceptable to the rules where you finally register.

If it's a holiday trip look up bike rental and organised biking holidays with machines supplied. Great way to see a country.

I believe BMW cars do a similar program where you order in your own country, go to the factory and collect your car, and then return it to the same factory for cleanup/servicing & shipping to it's final destination. Maybe they arrange dealer/temporary plates for that purpose, but it would make sense to do it that way if possible because the bike has been produced for it's final destination, then there effectively you are just adding a few weeks side tripping into the exisiting process, so the shipping/import etc to your local dealer should be paid for. The cost of the setup time, plates, insurance & cleanup time at the factory prior to boxing for shipping should be the only additional costs on top of the purchase price. When at your local dealer, the paperwork can proceed as if it had arrived unridden.

It's a cool idea but would require the factory to be onboard. Great little side business.

The US doesn't make this very easy. I've had problems even getting Canadian bikes legally transferred and registered here.

I've had numerous occasions where I wanted to purchase a certain model that was not available state-side, but was thwarted by the "red tape".

Not impossible, but be prepared to jump through hoops.