Want to buy in India and ride back to UK
 

Hi all,

Newbie here. I was born and brought up in India just down the road from where they used to manufacture Jawa motorbikes. Always wanted one as a kid but then moved to UK. I'm going to India at the end of May and want to bring a 250 RoadKing (not the Harley) back to the UK.

Was initially considering just shipping the bike back but then started thinking about actually riding it back and the more I think about it the more I want to do it. I have several questions however which I am hoping you guys could help me with.

1. I am a British citizen can I buy in India? I read conflicting reports
2. Do I need to get a carnet? If so how do I go about it? Am I wrong in thinking I need to have bought the vehicle first?
3. I don't have an awful lot of time to do the journey in. Would 3 weeks be enough do you think? (That is for the actual journey not for purchasing the bike etc.)

There will be lots more questions but if I cannot get past these then the other questions are academic.

Thanks for all your help in advance...

- British citizens can buy in india.
- You need to get a carnet if you dont want to end up paying taxes on every international border you cross. Carnet de Passage - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- You need to have the vehicle before you get a carnet issues.
- 3 weeks is a very short period to ride the bike to UK. I know someone who rode an enfield to Austria in 2 months. Delhi to london is 6721 crowfly kilometers. On land, the distance grows and the terrain changes. The bureaucracy also delays. So the short answer "Nope"
- Not to metion finding a Jawa 250 roadking that works is a generous amount of work in itself.

When you get back?
 

I'd say you also need to do some research about SVA (Single Vehicle Approval) unless you have already. When you bring the bike into the UK as an import you can only ride it to an agreed location (you home for example). Then you have to get a registration document. This requires the bike to be inspected and passed to EU/UK standards. As this bike isn't imported I'm guessing it'll fail at the first go. It could be as simple to fix as swapping the mirrors, chain guard or petrol cap, but if it's a noise or emissions failure it isn't worth starting, you'll be bringing home a garden ornament. Sorry to rain on your parade, but I wouldn't like to think you were adding to the pile of useless Enfields, Urals and Chang Jiangs on E-bay.

Andy

When I get back...
 

Thanks Threewheelbonnie,

I have an e mail from VOSA saying "Vehicles that are over 10 years old can be registered with the DVLA directly. MSVA testing is for vehicles which are less than 10 years old"

I also rang DVLA who confirmed this and sent me a registration pack. They were all very helpful. They even put me in touch with Customs & Excise who told me I would need to pay 8% duty on the purchase price inc. shipping + VAT on the whole lot.

chanderjeet,

Thanks very much for the information. After posting this message I started looking into the distance issue myself. It is even greater as I will be riding from Mysore or Bangalore. I'm looking at around nearly 5000 miles as the crow flies. Perhaps not an idea for a trip with time constraints.

I now have to look and see if I can make the time.

As for getting the Roadking to do the distance...I reckon it'll be a challenge. Nothing ventured...

Good luck you have a great attitude and that will carry you a long way

Sorry I also meant to add I met someone in Goa a few years ago they had driven from Amsterdam it took them two weeks.

Just go for it.:scooter: