Buying german bike in SA and going to Kenya: carnet&paperwork?

[kjiratsiekoedel]

Hi,

I`m Dutch and about buying a German bike in South Africa. From there we will travel up to Kenya and sell to a British citizen. He will travel back down to South Africa. From there I don`t know what will happen to the bike...

So some questions:
-to enter Kenya I will need a carnet de passage. Is it possible to get a carnet de passage in SA for this bike?
-Or is it only possible t get a carnet from germany?
-can you change the name on the carnet the passage when selling in another country?
-how to change the title in SA and Kenya for this bike?
-can I just get any German insurance for this bike? Or do I have to buy an insurance in each country?

thanx!

[MountainMan]

You won't need a carnet. You can get third party insurance in SA that covers the region up to Kenya.

[kjiratsiekoedel]

Nope, it is compulsory to have a Carnet to enter Kenya: http://www.aa.co.za/upload/images/tr...order_info.pdf

Or did you manage without Cranet (and without troubles?).

[Moto Zulu]

Hi,
I guess it will be much easyer on an south african bike. Friends of mine just been up to Ruanda on south african bikes without carnet and without any problems. And it will be no problem to sell the bike in South Africa after the trip. A german bike without south african logbook is almost impossible to sell !

To register a south african bike for an foreigner ist no problem. You just go to the licence office an apply for a traffic register certificate which they do while you register the bike, you need 2 passport photos and your passport.

If you buy a bike, make sure its in the name of the seller and you have got the logbook (RC1) yellow NCO from (notice change of ownership) and some provinces want to see an certified copy of the owners ID not older than 2 or 3 weeks I think. A sales contract cant harm as well. And the bike must have a valid roadworthy certificate , at the moment its 60 days from the date of the test.

there are lots of bikes on Gumtree Cape Town / Western Cape - South Africa's Largest Free Local Classified Ads Marketplace

cheers

Thomas

[kjiratsiekoedel]

Thanks for the reply! Sounds easy to buy a South African bike...
...only I want to travel two up so want to have a bike with panniers and there are not many on the internet complete enough to travel two up.

Currently interested in this German bike: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-landing-61411

There is this one: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...r-2001-a-58877
...only expensive!

best,

[Moto Zulu]

Hi, the XT is from my opinion not powerfull enough for two up and all the luggage and should have an long range tank. If you are 2 up you will not have the space for a 20 ltr. petrol can. Not sure how the pillion sits at the back between the tow alu boxes? And still no South African logbook ! Hard to sell after the trip.

The BMW looks nice but as a lot of money. But a least she has got the power and the fuel consumption is great. Is this a south african bike ?

More south africa bikes you can find on

Wild Dog Adventure Riding - Index

[m22e]

(posting under another account now)

Just about selling my 17HP 180cc on which we traveled two up through the Andes (up to 5000m altitude). So anything is strong enough for us.

The BMW comes with a SA licence plate. Only indeed expensive.

Thanx for the link, I will look at that site. Also found a complete KLR 650, so I might go for that one.

[kjiratsiekoedel]

(back under my own account again)

I decided togo for a South African bike because this will make the whole transfer much more easy. ...only haven{t found a ike yet with panniers, so still looking!

Thanx for your input!

[gbags]

I've been reading the thread with interest as I'd like to ride Kenya to RSA or the other way.
Can a Brit buy a bike in Kenya, ride it to South Africa and sell it there?
Do I need a Carnet?
Can I pick up visas on route? I'd get Kenya and South Africa before I left UK, where I live.

[kjiratsiekoedel]

I don't think you need any visa's before. I guess you'll get them on the border (but check! May also be cheaper in your country). Don't know if it's possible to buy a motorcycle in Kenya as a foreigner. You'll need some local help. You'll need to transfer the motorcycle on your name of you'll have to make a power of attorney at an attorney.

If you buy a bike in Kenya, you don't need a carnet for Kenya (it's already a kenyan bike). You'll need a carnet to enter SA, the bike needs to be returned to Kenya if you'd like your carnet fee back. And someone has to bring the bike back. Another solution is (not to enter SA and) to sell the bike outside of SA.

Send me an email, I'll give you an emailadress of a Brit living in mombasa: emveka at msn dot com

[BikingMarco]

Originally Posted by kjiratsiekoedel

Nope, it is compulsory to have a Carnet to enter Kenya: http://www.aa.co.za/upload/images/tr...order_info.pdf

Or did you manage without Cranet (and without troubles?).

We entered Kenya on our motorbikes (one registered in Australia, the other one in Germany) in January 2012 without Carnet. No trouble whatsoever. In contrary. You can get a temporary import permit covering all four of the East African countries of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda the first time you cross the border into one of those. We got ours on the Zambia-Tanzania border. And that permit covers the bike in all 4 countries for three months. Instead of a Carnet.

[BikingMarco]

Originally Posted by gbags

I've been reading the thread with interest as I'd like to ride Kenya to RSA or the other way.
Can a Brit buy a bike in Kenya, ride it to South Africa and sell it there?
Do I need a Carnet?
Can I pick up visas on route? I'd get Kenya and South Africa before I left UK, where I live.

Buying a bike is no problem at all. There are either the locally sold chinese bikes which cost around $1000 brand new and will last the distance between Kenya and RSA. After that they won't be worth selling though. Or there are bikes other travellers sell (check out Jungle Junction in Nairobi for example).
I suppose selling the bike after the trip is usually the problem because re-registering a motorbike with a foreign registration means trouble. And most countries are entered using a Temporary Import Permit. And governments take the term 'temporary' very serious.
Visas are no problem whatsoever. Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Swaziland - all give you a visa on arrival at the border. For South Africa and Botswana you shouldn't need a visa at all on a British passport. You don't need a Carnet either although it might make border crossings easier, especially into South Africa and Botswana. We managed last year without carnet. If you have a local bike with an African registration it's probably even less hassle.