Importing from the US

[Montynut]

I am currently looking at a bike in The US. I know this issue has been discussed several hundred times but please be gentle on me

I have never been involved in getting a bike into the country so any help or recomendations would be appreciated

The bike is located in Appleton wi (I assume that is Appleton Wisconsin?) which is bang in the centre of the US.

Any ideas or recomendations?

[jimg1au]

if you are in vic speak to paul he imported some to melb.if in sydney pm me

[HVA61]

Call Rob in at Shoreline motorcycles QLD , very good operator

Rob can handle the deal door to door and his price is more than reasonable

[Hardo]

Greg you should speak to Brad Anderson (HEAVEN member).
He has done this many times and would definitely be able to help you out in some way I am sure.

 

[paul]

just a guess
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-Montesa-Cappra-250-VB-250VB-73M-Motocross-Vintage-Stock-WOW-Akront-Petty-MX-/320948203435?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item4aba00efab

[firko]

I've been bringing bikes in from the USA for well over 10 years using three importers spread over three states. I've also had great reports about Robin at Shoreline in Queensland but I've personally only used him in a small (but trouble free) way to bring in a motor. The one I'm currently using is based in Sydney and is the best by a country mile. He's the same shipper that Jim and Jonesy use and none of us have a bad thing to say about his service. PM me (or Jim) for his details.

The first "problem" I can see with your import Montynut is the bikes location in Wisconsin. For it to be loaded into a container on the West Coast (either Long Beach or Oakland) it'll have to be internally shipped 2000 miles, not a cheap operation. There are a few different companies that specialise in shipping bikes but I don't have their details at hand right now, Jim or another forum member may. FedEx and UPS are also alternatives but I think the smaller specialist shippers are much cheaper. An ad seeking transport from Wisconsin to California on Marks Swapmeet might also be worth a try.

[jimg1au]

if you buy this you better get a title and also let the seller know you are getting it picked up to go to the west coast.i got a complete roller from east coast to west coast it cost 600.00 to get it there.also you will need to get a permit from the comm/govt applying for its import.
the best way is in parts frame then the rest packed in boxes no duty or govt import crap
jim

[firko]

Yep, Jim's correct, It's going to be a hell of a lot easier if the bike has title (a certificate of registration/ownership that every vehicle in the USA starts life with but often goes missing. It's very hard to get the bike out of the USA without one) . You'll also need an import permit from the Department of Infrastructure http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/imports/ that's not as difficult as it might seem and the application can be downloaded off the website and only costs $20.

The other alternative is to have the bike dismantled (remove engine and possibly wheels and box them separately) and fit the lot to a steel or plastic pallet* or steel bike packing case that new bikes come in. If you do it this way the title and import permit aren't needed. It all seems like a whole lot of rooting around but if your seller is willing to do it for you (after bribing him with $100!) it's pretty easy.

The big lesson to save money though is to try and purchase your bike from a location west of the Rocky Mountains as it saves shitloads on internal shipping. I've heard of punters who have bought bikes for what seemed to be a bargain in far off Butte Plugge, Idaho who then found they had to pay twice what they originally paid to get the bike to the west coast docks, even before factoring in the costs from the USA to Australia. It turns a bargain into an overpriced lemon pretty bloody quickly.

*wooden pallets must conform with international regulation ISPM15 to prevent the international spread of fungus, disease or bugs.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISPM_15. This is important as you'll be knocked back at the departure point if the pallet or packing case isn't certified.
 

[HL500]

What avenues to people in West Aussie have?

John

[Gippslander]

Have dealt with two importers:

Robin at Shoreline in Brissy -- all went well and no title needed -- he got special documents done and identification/statement from the seller that satisfied the US customs people, the only cost that was a bit more than I expected was the freight Brissy to Melb (was out of Robin's control), but as said all professionally done.

For the second bike I tried Darren Cheney at First Mile Imports in Melbourne, 0488 188 827, he sorted transport from Florida to California for less than Brissy to Melbourne and overall cost was a little better and he did a similar job with the paperwork for the bike not having a title, all went smoothly, and was only about 6 weeks from pressing the button to buy from Mark's Swapmeet to pickup from Darren at Sunbury, he said it usually takes a bit longer and that I got express because he happened to have a container just ready to go.
The best part re Darren was the one phone call and one email only, I paid about 1/3rd upfront and the rest on pickup. Was about $1200 all up from Florida

[jimg1au]

6 weeks???
its a 3 day drive from fl to ca.another 3-5days loading and getting container on boat
4-6 weeks on the water and then 4-5 days customes clearence
very lucky i usualy allow 12 weeks
you should have bought some lotto tickets that week
jim

[jimg1au]

most of the bikes i import cost between 250.00 and 400.00 to import.usa transport on the other hand can be a killer.i quoted 600.00 to get from east coast to west coast it was only 400.00us and 100.00 aus to get from long beach to sydney,over xmas time can blow things out for weeks.
$1200.00 from florida to melb is a steal and the shipper dose all the paperwork might keep him in mind as i wanted to get a bike but had to be pick up only and only bill of sale.it went to fl from seller in ca
thanks
jim

[Gippslander]

OK Jim, your 3 ? marks made me think and check, will try to get it right this time.

Was about a week after I said I would buy until the seller said "got your money come and get it".
About halfway through that first week booked Darren Cheney to do the pickup, all he wanted was Make, Model, Year of Manufacture, Frame Number, photo (got from the ad) and seller's name and address and phone number, he said he had a truck doing a run right down to Florida and could pick my bike up on the way back from Chattanooga (got that wrong).
Recall it was 2-3 days before the seller sent me an email sayin' "they have collected your bike and I signed all the Customs paperwork for the pickup driver".
Almost straight away, recall it was the next day 13 December 2011 I got the invoice for the trip across the US, $400, paid that direct to the US carrier.
On 27 January 2012 got an email from Darren "Hi Michael your Husky has landed, unpack Tuesday, AQUIS on Wednesday, available Thursday".

So yes a bit more that 6 weeks bit still fast enough to prompt a Lotto ticket.

[jimg1au]

all good not saying anything. i know things can get del to depot as the door is closing and there is room it gets put in.i am glad you brought this up as if it was a month earler i would be waiting on a pre 65 triumph dirttracker.so i know now some one to do this for me.every now and then my system fails and the sale goes to someone else.armed with new info i can look for other stuff.
thanks very much gippslander
jim

[Ando]

Greg you should speak to Brad Anderson (HEAVEN member).
He has done this many times and would definitely be able to help you out in some way I am sure.

 

Yes Greg, Darren Cheney is the man! First Mile Motorcycles 0488188827 just makes the task way tooooo easy
 

Cheers
Ando