Getting Transalp or Africa Twin in the US

[african swede]

Brilliant question! Just what I would like to ask too!

chrs
e

[wheeliebin]

Seems there's some pretty strange laws in the US to importing bikes, the topics been brought up a few times on another board.

http://www.transalp.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=79&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[wheeliebin]

Apparently, there is a way to get a TA (or other bike) in the USA. I have researched this the last few years talking to DMVs,US Customs, Honda, etc. Since the TA is not officially imported Honda won't mess with trying (having to comply with safety, emissions, etc. is too costly).
However there are some 'importers' who will get you a TA or other bike... but at a cost. I also found a guy who got me parts (much cheaper) for my Ducati. He seems legit as I checked on him before buying parts (he is in USA a bit also). Here is what he says:
------------------
You have no option but to dissassemble it into its major components.
I ship bikes as parts-shipments only, that way the vin-# dont have to be
noted in the invoice. Just take the engine out, ship it in a crate and then
ship the rolling chassis in another crate. Ship them a week apart and
you won't have any problems. The rolling chassis you declare just as that,
a rolling chassis, no engine. You can ship it under the harmonized-tarif-code for
customs which is 8714.19.00.
The engine you ship the same way, also under that same code.
But that one you have to ship as hazardous goods, so you have
to fill out a shippers declaration and pay an extra charge of around
$ 40-$100 for the hazardous goods part, of course only if you ship
the engine by air. If you ship by sea don't worry. Just call it a spare
engine and that is that.
You won't even have to pay duties, since that code is duty-free!!!!
--------------------

If and when I do this I will also buy a new TA/AT as we don't have to pay the high taxes on it and its cheaper in the long run that buyig a used bike with those taxes built in to the price. I am also looking into perhaps buying one in New Zealand (riding it first for a few weeks as I would want to do in Europe) and shipping it back. I have heard the shipping costs from NZ is not very expensive.