Buying a bike in BC or in Europe - which is best option?

[bcBiscuit]

I am looking into the feasibility of keeping a bike in Europe for 1-2 years and using it to tour. Buying a used bike in Europe is an option. The question is how do you deal with registration and insurance with no fixed Euro address?

Shipping my bike from BC seems to be the best & easiest option. I’d have the additional cost of shipping, but minimal hassles in registration and insurance. I think I would ship the bike by air to Europe. The bike would be registered in BC and would have a BC plate. I think all I’d need is the green card insurance in Europe and I’d be go to go?

There is a company in Heidelberg called Knopftours which will store your bike for $325/year. For that price they will sore it in a dry warehouse, charge the battery and prep it when you to Germany for a trip. Does anyone know of similar operation in Southern France?

Have I overlooked anything?
Any advise appreciated

[OnkelKarle]

Hi bcBisuit,
we just went through the same problem in Southeast Asia
As far as I know, you have to be a resident and have a address in Germany to register a bike there. Unfortunately What are you planning to do in Europe? Maybe we can figure something out.
If you just need a post address in Germany, let us know, you can maybe use ours.
Cheers Sherrie & Patrick

[Walkabout]

What an appropriate moment to be asking this question!
It has cropped up a few times over the years, more below, but right now you can get a good idea about registering a vehicle in the UK by looking at this thread:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-vehicle-61877

In the forum called Trip Paperwork there are a few sticky threads which deal with green cards and, again, with the issue of registering a vehicle, any vehicle, doesn't matter how many wheels it has, for the UK plates.

Hope this assists and enjoy the read

[Rory799]

Uk reg - not again .

I would have thought that you could buy a bike in the UK for the price of transporting your's from and the back to Canada?
OK I supose it depends on how fussy you are about the bike you want to ride.

Rory

[ta-rider]

Hi,

I have just bought a bike in chile and registered it on someone who lives there because as a tourist i dont have a adress. He got some money and we agreed on i get it back and he will by my bike back for a little less after my trip is finished and nothing bad haped.

I could offer the same thing in germany...someone could by my Honda XL 650 Transalp for 3000 Euro to travel and after the trip i by it back. It could stay registered and inshured on me (all of Europa. Marocco and Tunesia need extra Insurance about US$50). I would take another 500 Euro in case you get speed tickets in swiss etc where its really really really expensive and the owner not the driver is responsable. This will be returned three months after the trip if no speed tickeds arrive.

Storing a bike in Stuttgart and changing/loading the battery for a HUBB Member i could do as well. Just PM me

Greetings, Tobi
www.adventure-travel-experience.de/index.php?report=peru