Very bizzare question-changing bike details
 

Ok I am the chap that had my bike stolen, its hard to explain my current predicament but hopfully it makes sense to someone and I can get around some crazy laws creating my predicament-

Honda gave me a replacement bike here in UAE, great. Will take 6 months to ride home to Australia. Problem is Oz will not let me import the bike as I have not owned and used it for a period greater than 12 months. And yes I have tried ringing everyone and anyone to get special consideration but to no avail.

Thing is I was just looking at my old bikes rego papers, UK reg, I have owned it for 3.5 years and on there it says 'changes to current vehicle'. My replacement bike is the same as my old, its a 1998 Africa Twin. Can I send in this paper work and get a color change? a engine change? and the biggy a Frame change?? There are spaces on the UK reg Certificate for all these options but how strict is it? how does it work?

Therefore I could ride my new bike to oz with the said changes and ride in no worries. Of course I know its probably not that easy but hopefully somebody out there has had some experience in this.

As it stands right now I cant ride home to Australia, because of their laws, I have lost a little faith in my own country.

Well hope I see a flying pig soon.

Cheers

Robbo

I think the simpler question to ask the authorities would be, can I apply my old reg plate to a new bike, no?

If it was UK reg'ed but you're going to Oz, and if the UK licencing are ok with that, it should not make any difference to the OZ authorities...

Or am I being naive?

import
 

Isn't the rule normally that if you have owned the bike for more than year, while living abroad, you can import it for free? If not then you may need to pay normal import duties? I would think one can always import second hand machines into a country. Its just a matter of cost? Given the age of the bike, I would think the import duties will not be so high because they are based on the new price in '98.
Bottom line; I would think you should be able to import the bike, maybe not for zero tariff but you can always ride the bike home to Oz. But then again Oz may have a completely different set of import rules.

I would be interested to know because I might be in a similar position sometime in the future!


Good luck
Noel

doc's
 

the dvla will change everything no probs. BUT! wont your old registration be registered as stolen!! therefore you'd be riding a stolen bike!

Robbo,

I PM'ed you on a solution. Not something I would suggest in a Public forum!!:innocent:

Kenny

I don't think the Australian authorities check on stolen vehicles from other countries. Besides, you can always say that the bike has been recovered.

Great idea
 

I reckon that is correct and it is certainly worth a go. Bike frames are sold for good money as projects to be renovated, so there is no reason to think that the frame number cannot be changed. The same goes for engines with their numbers and this change is probably much more common for the obvious reason.

Thereafter, bike colours are changed regularly and the DVLA will be well used to that! It may be worth seeing if you can do it online - lots of things are automated nowadays.

I just hope that you have not formally reported it stolen to the UK DVLA.

How does it work?:- you just tell them - don't give any reasons, just inform them of the changes.
The new doc will go to the UK registered address.

As I said in your other thread, if the old frame is usable, use it. It's a big job, but it's legal, no? You can replace any part of your bike, bar the frame.

But, ME to Oz in 6 months? From what I hear you need 3 months just for Indonesia. You now have a reason to travel slowly.

changes
 

just fill in the changes to vehicle bit and post it off. do all 3 changes at once and new log book will go to address where it's registered.(they wont send it anywhere else). i once had a Q-plate escort cabriolet and the insurance was £1000 so i bought an rusty escort out of a farmers field and changed-
colour- white to blue
engine- 1100 to 1600 (with number obviously)
body type- from 3dr hatchback to 2dr cabriolet
they done this without a blink of the eye! and my insurance was then £250/year because i had normal registration!
the only problem i can see for you robbo is that you'll need to send in original document and then you wont have it travelling for a couple of weeks!

positive stuff
 

Hey lads thats some positive feed back. I will check it out. The bike has never been reported stolen only here in Dubai, I have police report, so UK does not know the story. I have the original UK reg papers and will be here in Dubai for another few weeks so can wait. Hell if they would make those changes fantastic that would solve everything, worth a go anyway.

Your right Bedhist maybe I take my time but been on the road 18 months now and kinda looking forward to seeing it out by Xmas thats all, but maybe an option if all else fails, South East Asia is my favourite part of the world.

Thanks guys I will see how all this goes and keep you informed, also yep Ozzie law is tight and I dont mind paying import for it but thats not even possible, the laws are stricked.

Keep the ideas rolling in, there will be a way, always a first for everything.

Cheers

Robbo

You do have the option (if honda will play) of getting them to write you a letter of compliance, if they will you can import it. but will have to pay import as it will no longer be a personal import.
Good luck mate and let us know how you get on.