The UN classifies vehicles by type. I can't remember the exact letters and numbers but a 1-49 cc machine, a sub 125cc and bigger are the limits for bikes and scooters (amongst other bits of definition). However, just about every country has it's own rules, so the UN classifications which are meant only to allow you to design a bike that can be sold to a qualified rider in any UN country become meaningless except as a starting point. The only practical value is to discourage a country that roughly obeys the rules deciding the higher tax rate starts at 124cc the day the local manufacturer launches a 123 to compete with Japanese 125's. You'll find a lot of weird Italian scooter sizes as their governments were fond of this trick, a 175 Lambretta or similar was faster than a 125 Honda but taxed less than a 250 Honda.
As far as import and export go I wouldn't have thought it would make much difference. As you say a local will probably ride a 125, but chances are he gets through because he has local plates and a 125 that looks like it belongs rather than any rule. If a local guy bought a new Tenere the guards would let him through just the same.
Andy
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