Gray
- Market?
Ever
wonder where your friends got their exotic motorcycles that weren't made to be
sold in the USA? Did they ever explain the process they went through to get
that motorcycle imported from another country to them?
The
import of motorcycles manufactured not to be sold in the US is referred to as
the Gray-Market. There are two methods you can employ to import a foreign-made
motorcycle into the US.
This May or May Not Suck
First,
you contact a dealer in a foreign country and ask them to find the motorcycle
you want to import. Next, pray that the language barrier does not hinder your
requested specs and hope you get the motorcycle you want. (Sucks)
This
following method works best and is less of a headache for you. Find a
motorcycle importer who specializes in importing the make and model you want to
buy. (May not suck)
This
eliminates the headache involved in this process of importation. The US
government requires your import to meet specific standards to be allowed into
the US. These standards come from the EPA, DOT, FMVSS, and finally, your local
DMV. There is why you find an importer to locate and import the motorcycle you
want, they do all the work, you pay the bill.
25 Years or Older Rule
Importing
vehicles 25 years or older have a benefit, there are no Customs clearance
restrictions. You are not free and clear yet, your state of residence may
require safety modifications before a license is issued. California mandates
vehicles manufactured after 1975 meet their emissions standards.
Knowing
the year, make, and model of the motorcycle you want to import is not good
enough for the feds.
- You need proof of the date the bike was actually manufactured.
- A label with the date of manufacture on the vehicle from the original manufacturer.
- The first sales invoice.
- A 25 year or older vehicle registration.
- The age of the motorcycle verified by a recognized vehicle historical society in writing.
21 Years Versus 25 years
Bikes
being 21 and 25 years of age or older does have some benefits. The EPA has no
requirements for import inspection on 21-year-old motorcycles or vehicles. The
DOT and FMVSS allow 25-year-old motorcycles or vehicles to enter the U. S.
without complying with their standards.
Why Import?
Riders
who want to import exotic motorcycles are looking for one with a two-stroke engine.
As the US government imposed stricter emissions standards, the two-stroke
engine went the way of the Do-Do bird, extinct.
The US
motorcycle industry chooses to go with the easier to maintain a four-stroke
engine. A two-stroke engine fires on each revolution of the crankshaft making
for a lighter engine. The drawback, oil and fuel must be mixed during
combustion, causing more pollution. Because they are lighter, the two-stroke
motorcycle has a higher power-to-weight ratio.
Meaning,
a 125cc two-stroke engine is equivalent to a 250cc four-stroke engine. You get
one of these two-stroke import motorcycles, and you can show it off while
wearing
Leather Motorcycle Vest.
Where to Look
One
such custom importer is Moto 2 Imports located in Washington DC specializing in
importing Japanese two-stroke motorcycles. They can get you just about any
motorcycle you want as long as it is older than 25 years, 1994 model year.
The
owner, Tim Hope, puts it this way about getting good quality motorcycles for
his clients. “It makes more sense financially to pay a premium when I am
looking for the bike rather than trying to restore something farther
gone," "Rebuilding these bikes is financially futile. You're usually
better off spending more money upfront for a nicer specimen.”
Finally
A
quick look at how to get an import motorcycle with as little hassle as
possible, let the importer do the work. When you look for an importer, do your
research and locate one close to where you live.
As
always got to Wicked Stock and
check out all the gear available on our site and to get Waterproof
Motorcycle Pants for Men.
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let us know the make and model of your import bike.
Content
is originally posted at https://wickedstock.com/blog/exotic-inexpensive-motorcycles-how-to-get-one-for-yourself
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