Importing a bike from USA into Ireland

dazzerb

Apologies in advance but I know nothing about motorbikes other than once would probably fit nicely into a 40' shipping container with all my other personal items that I am importing to Ireland in June 2010.

Thought about a classic US car but it would take up too much space.

I could buy bike now so I would own it long enough to avoid VRT. I also believe I need to hold onto the bike for a year before selling it in Ireland.

That said what US bike would be something I can buy here now and sell in Ireland in June 2011 for hopefully a nice profit.

What US bikes would easily shift at a good price?

...or is this a hairbrain idea that I am wasting my time with? Time is ticking as if I do something like this I need to make the US purchase in next 2-3 months.

Thanks!

georgeous

How much is a 40' container costing you!?! You must have a lot of stuff!

I very (very!) briefly looked at importing a little while ago, and it seems that 'crating' the bike (so it's on a pallet and structurally going nowhere!) is a big expense in itself at about $600 - but of course look into that further to ensure you know all costs before the bike even touches Ireland.

dazzerb

$5k for a 20' and $7k for a 40' - door to door

20 is just a bit too small and 40 is way too big but there is no middle option. Shipping company prices shipping some stuff separately to the 20' but did not save me much.

So does anyone want a motor bike form USA?

Good point on the creating. Definitely would need to do that.

What were you briefly looking at importing?

georgeous

Wow, $7k isn't as much as I thought. Intersting to know.

I was looking at importing a classic (eBay) but I used to work/most likely will be returning to work in NY so I was just curious as to how much it would cost me if I bought when I go back in case I return to Ireland.

traco

I would check those shipping prices, sent a 40ft to Hong Kong for €1200 including all paperwork a few weeks ago. That included Irish road freight and specialist container trailer as I needed it dropped on teh floor to load it with 14 ton of kit. 2 x 40ft Containers from Costa Rica cost me around 4/5k US if I recall about 2 years ago.

US would be a bit more but those prices seem high. Where in the US are you shipping from, is it smack bang in the middle and do those prices include insurance costs?

seanybiker

ask jafo on biker.ie . He got a zxr1400 from america shipped in to ireland .

Interceptor

You are proposing to bring something in as a personal import with the purpose of selling it second hand to make a profit? The current market for almost-new big bikes is down to single digit monthly sales, I would suggest you compare Yamaha FJR's or other premium Japanes touring bike specifications and prices but I wouldn't encourage you to import it purely as you say to 'make a nice profit'. If you have space, I'd suggest you bring in second hand consumer durables (trans. big boys toys) and sell those instead. Ride-on lawnmower, jetski, scrambler sort of stuff that doesn't require VRT to be paid and which sells in the US at 40% of the price here. The market for that stuff is dropping too though...

'cptr

Idleater

Interceptor wrote: »

The current market for almost-new big bikes is down to single digit monthly sales...

I agree completely with interceptor, there (to my mind) is no second hand (or new for that matter) market in automotive here for anyone wanting to make a "decent profit".

To make it pay for itself, you'd be talking big HD territory as they have generally high resale values, but the market is minuscule and the choice is relatively abundant considering the ease of importing a high spec low mileage UK equivalent on a cost neutral basis.

You'll sell a FJ or GTR at some point, but in the S/H market here I'd be halving the dealer list price to get someone to bite.

Besides, American spec bikes have tons of crappy reflectors all over the place.

Interceptor

I didn't mention HD/Buell because you currently can't give them away. BikeTech in Galway have a whole row of them at knockdown prices and he'll take your cat as a trade-in.

'c

KTRIC

Don't forget that a US import has to have the headlamp or light cluster replaced. On my bike for example it would cost you the guts of a grand to do.

Steffano2002

Basically OP, what they're all saying is "don't bother"! And I tend to agree with them...

Why not look at importing a bike from the US for somebody else? You have space, they'll have a bike to import. You'll make money, they'll save money...

Just a thought...

dazzerb

thanks everyone - I am leaning towards "don't bother" now. Sounds like it is not worth the hassle. I do like the idea if the big boys toys option or a ride on mower. How about vespsas? They are just everywhere in states now but people buy them as toys and grow out of them very quickly so they are so cheap 2nd hand.

You have given me a lot to thing about - it is all about beating the exchange rate issue. If can can buy something for $1 and sell for a EURO it would really help.

Interceptor

You'd fit an awful lot of coke into a 40' container and you'd have no hassle selling it.

If you don't know anything about motorbikes I'd recommend the 'don't bother' option or you will end up like my mate Alan who has a lovely Yamaha Venture Royale rotting in his back yard after bringing it back from the US to find out that he had to wait two years and get an insurance record before he can ride it.

'c

maccarthy_annem

Agree - not worth to bring bike in, but on the rest of your personal effects, it is worth shopping around for prices on the containers...the Ocean carriers rates are down bigtime, and I think you'll do better on the pricing - worth the price of a few phone calls, will leave you with more Euro's to spend on your bike bits here.

Good luck with it,

JohnnyMustang22

Guys,
I happened to stumble across this thread via google. I am looking into importing a bike for my uncle that lives down in Spain. I dont know where you are getting your prices for the containers but last month i gota 40ft door to door from PA, USA to Louth for just under $3k which is just over €2k. I suppose it depends on who you are getting to load it for you both ends.

Ok, I have imported a car once before and avoided the VRT under the transfer of residencency. Is it the same with Bikes?

I know importing from abroad is hassle but I think it is worth it as a nearly new Harley 883 less sales tax is €4,495 in the USA and a friend of mine bought one here in Ireland 4 years ago for €12,000.

My estimated costs to date.

Bike - €4,083
VRT - €1,000
Crating - €450
Shipping - €500
VAT -??
Duty??

Am i missing anything?

Thanks,

Johnny

Cuddlesworth

where are you getting VRT of 1k from?

JohnnyMustang22

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

where are you getting VRT of 1k from?

https://www.ros.ie/VRTEnquiryServlet/showBikeCalculator

Bandit12

I've imported three bikes from the US over the last 8 years and each and every time got the bike after all costs included for between 30 -35% of the dealer prices here. All bikes came from bike dealerships and i'm currently in the process of looking at importing another. At present the value is incredible but would never import a bike to turn a profit.

1100shadow

Hello new to the board and looking for information . i have sourced a 1999 honda shadow in America it would cost me €3400 to purchase. Can any one tell me what vat or duty i would pay on it ? the vrt would be €145 and i can ship it over to Ireland for €800 . My budget is €5k

kdigginz

we in new york send home bikes to ireland. we crate them so that they cannot be damaged. if anybody wants to buy a motorbike from new york let me know

we can send it home in 6 to 10 weeks. the bikes in the usa are alot cleaner. as in better condition. we have imported many bikes and quad bikes.

kerryman10

kdigginz wrote: »

we in new york send home bikes to ireland. we crate them so that they cannot be damaged. if anybody wants to buy a motorbike from new york let me know

we can send it home in 6 to 10 weeks. the bikes in the usa are alot cleaner. as in better condition. we have imported many bikes and quad bikes.

hey kdigginz, i might be interested in a cbr 1000rr...

Tigger

i always import my bikes but there is no market at the momnet

Thinkingaboutit

A bike I'd be interested in, would be almost impossible to find this side of the Atlantic, nothing exotic, but a bike I like, and the costs of like 30% mightn't matter so much.

horse7

Has anyone shipped since this last post.

P.C.

horse7 wrote: »

Has anyone shipped since this last post.

No.

Thread is two years old.

Closed.