Most national auto clubs arrange an internationally-recognized 'Carnet de Passages en Douane' for home-country registered vehicles taken outside North America and Europe for personal tourist use. The personal tourist vehicle Carnet system is administered by the Swiss-headquartered Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (AIT), www.aitgva.ch. A Carnet document shows Customs officials that the vehicle owner has already posted a bond at least equal to the vehicle import duty of that country, and assures that the vehicle will be re-exported to its country of origin. Some countries require a Carnet; others 'recognize', that is accept a Carnet; others still may neither require nor recognize a Carnet, but have alternative methods/ permit documents (and fees) required to allow a motorcycle to be imported temporarily.

Note that the Carnet system does not apply if you intend to permanently import and re-register a vehicle originally manufactured for sale in a different country. Under those circumstances, most countries impose much stricter and more costly  'type-approval' procedures.  

USA, Canada, Mexico and European countries do not require duty, Customs bond or Carnet to import personally-owned 'tourist' vehicles as long as they are re-exported within liberal timeframes, usually 6-12 months. Most other countries still require a Carnet, or an alternative on-site border crossing or port-of-entry duty/tax payment, even for short stay or transit imports. Although a Carnet can ease Customs clearance in countries that require or recognize it, the Carnet system itself is not without costs.

In North America specifically, the only organization authorized to issue personal tourist vehicle Carnets for Canadian, Mexican, and US-registered bikes, is the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), www.caa.ca/travel/travel-carnet-usa-e.cfm. As of 2007, the CAA charges a non-refundable CD$450 for the Carnet itself, an additional CD$300 (unused balance refundable) deposit for costs, and a minimum CD$5,000 bond on any USA vehicle (Canadian bikes=CD$2500) by bank letter of credit, VISA/MC, certified cheque or money order. The CD$5,000 is refunded when the Carnet document is returned to CAA, 'discharged' by US Customs to show that the bike has been returned home. You get the bond money back, but without interest. There is also a lengthy application procedure and document. In recent years, fewer than a dozen North American bikes annually have used personal tourist vehicle Carnets, in part because the procedure is itself costly and time consuming. A Carnet usually makes sense [only] if you are taking the bike on a lengthy trip that includes a number of different countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, Australia & New Zealand.

For bikes taken specifically only to Australia or New Zealand, 'tourist' vehicle entry procedures are relatively straightforward and not time consuming; it is usually easier and less costly to apply directly for Australian or New Zealand Customs clearance, and pay their vehicle import taxes (OZ = 26.4%; NZ = 12.5%, refundable when the bike is re-exported/shipped home), rather than apply for a Carnet from the CAA, if the bike is being taken only to those countries.

To import your bike temporarily into Australia, you must also obtain in advance a 'Vehicle Import Approval' from the Australian DOTRS, Vehicle Safety Standards Branch, GPO Box 594, Canberra ACT 2602, +61/2 6274 7444, fax +61/2 6274 6013;   ; brochure & application downloadable fromwww.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/importing_vehicles/index.aspx See also Australian Customs Service, www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4371, and their Guide to the Importation of Privately Owned Motor Vehicles or Motor Cycles, a pdf file brochure downloadable at that website.        

Details on importing your bike temporarily into New Zealand are available from the NZ Automobile Assoc, International Motoring Services, 99 Albert St, Auckland NZ, +64/9 966 8800, fax +64/9 966 8891,  ,www.aa.co.nz/motoring/tips/travelling/temporarilyimporting/Pages/default.aspx;  from the NZ Customs Service, ,www.customs.govt.nz/travellers/Motor+Vehicles/Tourist+Vehicles.htm; and from the NZ LTSA,, www.ltsa.govt.nz/importing/index.html, and www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/35.html  

Detailed Carnet information and applications for North American registered bikes: Canadian Automobile Association, Att: Suzanne Danis, 1145 Hunt Club Road, Suite 200, Ottawa, Canada K1V OY3, tel 613-247-0117x2025, fax 613-247-0118; . The application is explained & downloadable from CAA's website: www.caa.ca/travel/travel-carnet-usa-e.cfm

European or other-registered bike owners outside NoAm should contact their respective national auto clubs for Carnet information and applications. A worldwide list of national auto clubs providing Carnets is available on AIT's website, www.aitgva.ch. Although North American-registered vehicle owners must obtain Carnets from the CAA, additional Carnet detail is available on the websites of the UK's RAC, Royal Automobile Club,
www.rac.co.uk/web/know-how/going-on-a-journey/driving-abroad/carnet-de-passages.htm 
and Germany's ADAC auto club (in English),
www.adac.de/ReiseService/tourset_reisefuehrer/tipps/Carnet_de_Passage/Carnet_e.asp

Remember: a Carnet is not required to take a bike into USA, Canada, Mexico or European countries for personal tourist use, regardless of its country of origin/registry.