Buying a motorcycle in Europe??
 

Being a US citizen and having no residency in Belgium or Germany,can I buy a new or used motorcycle in Europe travel for 4-5 months and sell it back?
I know there had been some discussions about this but I want to learn the current situation.
Thanks to everybody for the input.

I'm a Canadian and bought a bike in Italy.

I went to a Mom & Pop dealer and explained to them that I wasn't an EU resident and would that be a problem.

Much head scratching and debating ensued in Italian. I'm not fluent in Italian so, I'm not really sure how they went about it. A large volume dealer probably wouldn't have given me the time of day.

In Italy, where there's a will, there seems to be a way. That might not hold true in northern Europe.

Two other possibilities come to mind. Search the HUBB for "export plates". Contact your nearest BMW dealer to see whether BMW still run the factory delivery scheme: you buy a new BMW through your dealer in the US, travel to Germany to collect it, they register it for you on export plates. At the end of your trip you either keep it and ship it home or try to sell it in Europe.

Good luck!

Sadly the BMW factory delivery scheme is no longer on, and if it was it would be pointless if you were just going to sell it in Europe anyway.

Note that bringing a Euro bike back to the US is more trouble than it's worth.

You should have no trouble buying a bike in Europe and then reselling it after a few months. Lots of ways to do it.

Contact Stefan Knopf - sponsor of this forum - he can probably sort you out easily.

Grant

Thanks for the help everybody.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by doubleplay:
[B]Being a US citizen and having no residency in Belgium or Germany,can I buy a new or used motorcycle in Europe travel for 4-5 months and sell it back?

if you (somebody else) are still looking for a bike (especially an airhead) to buy or rent in central europe, sent me an email.

regards...
-=airhead=-
(http://le-chais.de.vu)

Any Advice?
 

Did this work out for you? I want to do the same thing. I will be over in Europe for atleast 7 months. I want to buy a bike and sell it when I leave.

Chris.

buying in UK for your tour
 

Most EU countries require only an address of residence to send speeding fines and owners documents. As you will need the bikes log book (not a book really, just a sheet of paper). This can take two-three weeks to process and be returned. Crossing borders or being stoped by police, many will want to see the log book and insurance etc : In UK we have MOT certificate for bikes older than 3 years old, this is a test every year for road worthyness. In Germany bikes have to be original with no none-standard parts fitted (engine,exhausts etc).
UK prices seem higher for new bikes, but can be less for used machines. Maybe use an agent here (UK) to secure bike and register it here before you arrive. Buying here easier for you as we speak a similar tongue. Travel through tunnel under the sea for £50 pounds. See London or even better the North of England.

bluto has it right
 

No idea why, but in the uk second hand prices drop much farther faster than in the rest of europe. Personally I would buy a new bike in france (no mot or road tax ), or second hand one in UK. However, if you are interested in a second hand BMW, there is a guy near me who makes his living buying ex gov ( mostly police) bmws, then refurbishingthem for resale.. he does this when he is not doing repairs. At the moment i have been eyballing some of his latest machines, including a 2002 bmw R1150RT-P it is single seat with an armchair of aseat, and is quite a low seat also. no doubt you could either rent or buy with abuy back from him, if that is what you looking for.

Let's try again
 

I too am a US citizen and would like to purchase and register a motorcycle in Europe for touring. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge (not speculation) of this being done in any EU country (I'm flexible). I have a couple of friends that live in Germany that I could use for a mailing address but I would not want the MC registered in their name, too much liability for them.

I am considering purchasing a BMW R1200RT, new if necessary, touring for a few months and then putting the bike into storage for use on future trips across the pond.

Any help appreciated.

Your best bet IS to register the bike in one of your friends' name. Failing that, search these forums for "export plates". The subject has been discussed extensively.

I'm in the same boat. However, I want to do things as legal and fast as possible so I'm looking around for a bike swap.

swapping, renting, buy/sell back..
 

friends from overseas,
if you are planning to come over to germany/europa for a motorcycle tour and look for a motorcylce, on a private base i have a few airheads (ready-to-go) available.
tell me what you plan, i will make you an offer.

Check this thread:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...=export+plates

It isn't a problem to get export plates plus insurance in Germany - max time is for one year. But to keep a vehicle here for future trips would mean to have it registered as a local, meaning you'd need a local address. If you haven't got a friend to register the bike for you, it might prove to be a bit tricky.

Hans

Buying a bike
 

I am in the midst of planning a 3-4 month motorcycle trip through Europe, Russia, and Turkey and maybe North Africa. The biggest hurdle to overcome is the fact that, coming from California I will want to purcahse a bike in europe. It would be the easiest for me based on my route and linguistic abilities to purchase this bike in either italy or spain.

I guess my questions are, how does an american purchase a bike in europe, get all the necessary paper work and insuarnce (specifically to enter russia), and then sell the bike back when he has finished the trip.

As far as bikes go i was looking at Suzuki Bandits (400 & 600), SV650s, GS 500s, Honda CB 500s-600s-750s.

Any advice would be graetly appreciated.

Thanks:thumbup1:

Airhead, i am interested in renting a bike 'privately' while in Germany attending BMW days July 6-8 and then ride Eastern Europe till the end of July,

make me an offer! :clap:

Andrei.

Moto rental
 

[QUOTE=airhead;89105]airhead,
I would like to rent a an airhead (800 cc minimum) for 23 days beginning Aug. 18, 2007. What would the rental cost be?

-=3brick=-

US bike in Germany available at end of August
 

I have a 1998 R1100RT and I will finish touring Europe August 29th. This bike will be cheap for sale or rent.

The bike had a small spill in Sofia 10,000 km ago but has been working well ever since. Some fairing damage, small cosmetic stuff. Doesnt look brand new but thats not necessarily a negative.

It will have about 65,000 miles when I am finished but the bike runs goods and I change fluids on schedule.

Put on a new set of Metzeler ME8800 Marathons in Budapest last week. New fluids in Croatia a few days ago. New brake pads in Rome today.

Its a great bike for touring Europe either 1 or 2 up...

It is currently titled and registered in Texas. Send me a PM.
We can transfer title on my return to the States..

airhead, tell me more...
I'm looking for a bike in Croatia, could you help?

Not sure how relevant this is as this thread is quite old and the question has changed a bit...

I researched buying a bike in Europe and found it to be too bloody expensive. It was cheaper for me to buy my bike in NY, ship it over and if I so desire, ship it back for less than it would have cost here. My bike was used when purchased, but I was comparing it to comparable bikes in Europe.

The other benefit of doing it the way I did, was I bought the bike a few months before I left and had plenty of time to ride and tinker with it to get myself super comfortable with it.

my $0.02

Wile E could well be right, as bikes are cheaper in the US. I'm not sure about other countries, but I suspect you could ship it and then sell in the UK on the way back without losing much at all. People here are reasonably familiar with registering foreign bikes as we get a lot of US and Japanese greys. Otherwise, if the UK is on your route, I still think we have the easiest process for it - and for most of us, the easiest language to deal with.

I need to register a DR 650 I'm purchasing in Europe .

Have any info ?

Cheers, Dan danvelo1973@yahoo.com

buying bike in Germany and getting carnet for it
 

Hi everybody,

From what I read so far, it seems impossible to buy a bike in Germany and get title in my name if I'm not a resident.

While for touring around EU, having bike in a friend's name is sufficient, going outside EU would most likely require all the papers to be in my name.

I understand that having export license plates is probably the best way to go about this, but what about countries that require Carnet? Since having export plate implies that the bike won't be returned to the country of origin, I doubt anybody would be willing to issue a Carnet for it.

So the question is, what would be the best way to get a bike in Germany for a trip to Africa or Middle East? Has anyone done this?

What are the documents, steps involved and approximate cost, if possible at all?

Is there a less painful way to do this starting in some other country in Europe?

Thanks

If anybody needs help buying a bike in Europe, contact me here or at sfadvmoto@gmail.com

I am based in Ireland, bikes here are cheap and I can supply a registration address and storage. I can also get paperwork sorted to get the bike in your name.

G'day mate,
Quick query, from Ireland how hard/much is it to get bike back to England?
I've been to Cork and loved it. Perhaps I will now come again...
Cheers
Tom

Buying a bike in Europe
 

I live in CZ and here the proceedure is very strict and there is no way around it which I think is similar for most European countries.

1. You need a permanent home address or you register it in a friends name and address but then he will be held liable for any road offences and fines.
2. You need a residents permit for that country for registration purposes
3. You will have to go to the police station to re-register bike into your name and address. You will then be given a new number plate(providing all the below has been provided).
4. You will have to get bike insurance again you need a home address
5.You will have to get the bike road tested at an approved test centre (called a STK here)
6. All of the above has to be done at the same time to complete the whole process which will require a lot of form filling(not available in English) and waiting in long ques.
7. There are age restrictions regarding engine size and if restricted or not so find out first.
8. A valid driving licence for that country, USA might be a problem.
9. Might be easier just to rent a bike!!!!!

Good luck:scooter:

It's a ferry ride; not too far, but if the Irish sea is rough then it can feel like an eternity :innocent:
If you look at the menus in this website you can find information about which routes are currently active (ferry companies have a habit of moving the ferry ships onto new routes if the cash flow is suffering).
You can also get quotes for carrying bikes, cars, whatever.
AFerry.com - Book Ferries to France, Ireland, Holland and all European ferry tickets

The UK system is not too different, except for point 2 (but that could be equated to the need for a valid visa for some nationalities) and point 8 (visitors to the UK have managed to purchase vehicles in the UK on the basis of their home country riding/driving licence).
There is a load of information about the UK in particular (and particularly the insurance "catch 22" issue) in the forum "trip paperwork".

German export plates
 

fellow german motorcyclists
I am set to take ownership of my 2013 BMW1200GSA.

my question is how long can you get export plates? the BMW dealership will only give me them for 3 months,i need 6 to 8 to do my africa trip.

My Norwegian friends say a year, but i can not find any info on lenngth of time. the Dealership is holding firm on that 3 months. Can I take it to an license bureau and get it extended to 8 months, before it has expired, like on day of purchase?


(I am buying it thru military sales, it is a US spec bike, I am a US citizen, working here but heading home),by the long way down.

Danke!

As far as I can fin out it is not possible to visit a country buy a bike ride it and then sell it. for the following reasons
1. Your driving licence has to be recognised in the countries you are visiting
2. You need a permanant resident address and residents permit for non EU citizens to enable you to register the bike and then get insurance.
3. The bike will have to be road tested and new number plates issued for the new owner( need an address).
4. Even if you could register the bike selling it is another problem as you have to de-register it and then re-register it in the new owners name so you have to be in country to do that.

The only option is to try and find someone willing to register the bike as the owner for you but then they are liable for all the traffic fines etc.....

Just easier to rent a bike

Buying/selling in the UK
 

This thread is a bit weird - it was dead for years with a few attempts at resurrection and now it seems to have some interest and input - the quote above goes back about 7 years and so far as the UK is concerned it is still relevant. The UK procedures have become even more computer-based (and that will continue) but the procedure here in the UK is outlined above.

There is a fuller thread that covers the intricacies of the UK system for making a UK bike fully legal in here:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ong-term-39472
And there are other sticky threads in "trip paperwork" about aspects such as the all important insurance.

Buying a bike in Ireland is simple, much the same as buying in the States.

Here is the process I recommend.
Search the local internet site, DoneDeal.ie - Ireland's biggest classifieds site for used motorcycles.
Pick out the bike you like and shoot me or anybody else in Ireland an email with the link. I/we can check the bike out and finalize the deal.
What I have done in the past is just pay for the bike and wait for the wire transfer to come through from the new owner or, just wait for the new owner to come with cash.
It takes 2 weeks for the title to be mailed and when this arrives, green card insurance can be obtained.

I have done this for 6 US citizens and one Australian so far without any issues, either purchase or insurance.

This service is free and all I ask is enough to cover my expenses.

Buying a bike in Eire
 

Hi,
I have a lot of friends in Ireland and am considering coming for an extended stay. I want to buy a used BMW motorcycle and travel in Europe.

If I am physically present in Ireland and have cash, how long does it take to complete a purchase and get the necessary documents to cross boarders and travel in Europe?

I'm primarily interested in a late model 1200GS with less than 80,000 miles.

Thanks
Rob

Can't comment for Ireland, but if you come to Croatia, and you're physically present we can provide the service of purchase and changing the ownership in just one day including sorting out the third party liability coverage for the desired amount of time.

So in total, we're one stop shop, providing services of bike finding/negotiating/purchase, docs transfer, green card insurance, bike storage, service, spare parts, transport etc etc.

We're located in Zagreb, from where Alps are 1,5 h ride as well as Adriatic coast 1,5-2 h ride.

Here are our threads on HUBB:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...een-card-93020

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...torcycle-95881

You can also check our services on ADVrider and see our involvement and contribution for Croatia on TET: www.transeurotrail.org

You can also email us: borderinsurance@lobagola.com or mototours@lobagola.com

Cheers
Dooby

Hey I'm having a hard time finding the contact info for Stefan Knopf. Can someone help me with this? Thanks

Nick, Just search Stefan Knopf in the search box at the top of the page and you'll find LOTS of references to him. Should be easy,

good luck, hope it works out well for you!