At my wits end - 95 R100RT import

[106372]

I am at my wits end -- not that there was that much to begin with. I am still trying to find a way to import my UK 95 R100RT into the US legally. The bike has the US airbox, the Pulsed Air Injection System, normal mufflers, and the low-compression engine (8.45:1), so it is the same spec as the US versions, and would be considered a legal import if it had an EPA sticker on it. It doesn't because it was sold in the UK. The US Customs and Border Protection agency says that the manufacturer's rep in the US must provide a letter saying that the bike met US emissions standards when it was sold in the UK in 1995. But BMW North America say they no longer do this. They say I have to work with an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI). There are nine (only) companies registered with EPA. I got a quote to help me import the bike, and after stopping laughing and telling me I should never do this, they said it would cost between $5000 and up to $20000.

I still love the airhead, and it should be a legal import because it has all the right stuff, but I am totally stuck after trying to work this for the last 2 months.

Has anybody ever succeeded in importing to the US a BMW MC sold outside the US? Does anyone have any suggestion on what I might try that won't cost more than 5 grand?

[Boxerkuh]

I just bought a 92 R100R which came from the UK. The original owner was a US GI who bought the bike new in England while he was stationed there and then brought it back to the States as part of belongings.... When I tried to put plates on it it took about 30 extra minutes, because the VIN number did not match the US records (too view numbers), but my research showed it to be valid number for the UK. Well, they found out that the bike was not stolen (which I told them since I had a NC title), but they did run all the extra checks anyway... so to make a long story short... unless you know a military person that can bring the bike back, I think you are out of luck. You may also want to check with Knopfreisen in Germany. I know that they bring bikes back and forth between Germany and the US at least once a year for Daytona bike week.

I do know that my father imported a car from Germany to the US in 1981 and he had to grease a mechanic to get plates for the car after driving it for one year with German plates on it.

The only other thing that I can think off it to take the bike apart, buy a frame with title here in the States and then put your bike parts back in it... Essentially you will have your bike minus the frame.... That is a lot of work, but it is still your bike and a lot less than $5,000.00

I will follow this thread to see what other options you might have...

[535is]

Have someone who will be studying in the US buy it from you and bring it over as their own. Then have them abandon it with their landlady who is to dispose of it without any paperwork. You buy it and get it titled here based on affidavits that it is not stolen.

At least that's how mine got here ... :usa

[Bombayduck]

Take it apart, ship the parts over here, except the frame, buy a frame here with a title, re-assemble and happy riding!

[BubbaZanetti]

my grandfather, who was a base commander in the air force in the early sixties brought a motorcycle home from japan in the wheel well of a transport plane, but i doubt you're gonna convince BA to let you do that.:laugh

[mikegates]

where is the epa sticker, i'll take it off my 95 rt

[lkchris]

Please, no conspiracies to break laws on the forum.

[shire2000]

You might want to see if you could import to Canada, get it registered here, then import to USA from Canada. Canada is more lenient with imports from Britain than the USA is. I know many people that have imported English bikes of same era to Canada with a minimum of hassle.