Clearing a motorcycle through customs in Toronto (CYYZ) can (and probably will be) a PITA.

There are several problems:

1) The customs office is located in the new midfield cargo area, inside the square formed by the 4 runways. Most, but not all of the cargo companies are also in this area. But, about 30% of the cargo warehouses are in the 'old' cargo area to the northeast of runway 15-33. You need a car to get from the midfield to the old cargo area - although it is only about half a mile straight line distance, it is about an 8 mile drive around the airport. The taxi fare is probably about $25 one way.

2) Even if your bike shows up in the midfield cargo area, it can be a long walk (ca. half an hour or more) from the cargo company to the customs building.

3) The Toronto customs officers are legendary for their stupidity when it comes to clearing motorcycles. The last two times I have cleared my Ontario registered, Ontario purchased motorcycle through customs coming back to Canada, they have insisted in inspecting it for Transport Canada safety standards compliance - despite the fact that I showed them my bill of sale from a Toronto dealership located 10 miles from the airport, and despite the fact that the bike has Ontario licence plates on it.

Last time I came through, they called Agriculture Canada to inspect the bike for cow-shit - even though I brought photos of the bike, in the cargo container, showing that it was immaculatly clean. The cargo company manager told the customs girl over the phone that he could "eat off the mudguards", it was that clean, but the girl refused to use common sense and clear it.

Net result: 2 day delay to clear the bike, extra $100 in storage fees, $60 Ag Canada inspection fee to determine it had no cow-shit on it, and about 4 trips back and forth from the north side to the midfield.

You have to appreciate that in Canada, government employees are discouraged from using common sense. Heck, I have imported the bike into third world countries with fewer problems...

PanEuropean