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Planning RTW on an old bike
Good mornin fellow travelers,
I'm planning an RTW in 2021 or 2. I'll probably be on the road for two years. I'd like to take my old trusty 1990 Yamaha XT600E as I know it very well and can fix it with beer cans and chewing gum. However, last year I changed out it's complete, worn-out engine for a 1993 3TB engine with 7000 miles on it. My question is, am I going to have problems now that the frame doesn't match the engine VIN during shipping, border crossings, ect? Or is the frame VIN the only one that matters? Alternatively I'll just get a newer DR650 and call it a day. Thanks for the help! Best, Micah |
Hi Micah and welcome,
You don't say where you are from and whether or not there is a problem getting the registration document changed, you just fill in the relevant section and send it off to the DVLA in the UK. It is important that numbers match the registration document, some places just check the vin, some don't look at all but a few check engine number as well and if it is wrong can cause a big issue. I like the idea of travelling on a bike that you know and like, I still use a couple of old BMW airheads with nearly 400,000 miles between them so would say if you are happy with the bike and confident in being able to repair it that's the one to take. |
Good info.
I live in California and I'll be going to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, down to Ushuaia, shipping the bike to Africa, up to Scandinavia, and across Eurasia to Mongolia, SE Asia, Australia and back to America. At least that's the abbreviated version. Given the scope it could really wrench my plans if certain border crossings are prone to check. Say if Egypt were to check on exit and presume I left half my bike in their country. |
Egypt is one of the places that is more likely to check on entry, they did mine and would make it an issue. If you can get the registration document changed I would, as long as your replacement engine is from a US registered bike it should be on the DMV database and I would guess that they have a process for doing that.
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Two things from my limited experience :
1. You can bypass Egypt and go Saudi to Sudan. 2. In my https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bddfcd257c.jpg circuit of Africa below, I don't recall any check on engine number (except when applying to central Customs to import it to Namibia, which would only apply if you were going to leave it for more than 6 months) https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bddfcd257c.jpg Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
I was warned Iran would check engine numbers - but they didn't! (And if you are a US citizen I doubt you will be able to go there anyway...).
Good luck with your planning [emoji3][emoji1696] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
The aggro of changing it is sure to be faaaaaaaarrrrr less than if someone does check.
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VIN Checks into Colombia, South America - older motorcycle
I agree with Grant, PITA up front but better than door being closed when exiting USA or entering Colombia, SA.
FWIW, twice into Bogota, Colombia from USA (by air cargo out of Miami), both times using 1983 Honda GL650s, and both times VINs were checked by Colombia Customs official while with an air cargo airline representative. Last time, December 2016, VINs (engine and frame) were also checked against the USA title by USA Customs officials before they would allow the motorcycle to move from the Customs warehouse to the air cargo carrier. |
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Most likely noone will bother to even look at the VIN and if they do they would look at frame number. It would take a very determined and very pissed agent to catch something like that and considering that not every mfg even puts VIN # on engine it is not likely. In worse case they will turn you back and you would have to use alternative crossing. Disclaimer: at your own risk. |
Definitely make sure your documentation is perfect. One less thing to worry about at borders. You know what they say, better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it...
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