buying an import

[northernmonke...]

I'm having a look at a bike, which is quite obviously an import judging by the mileage being in KM's

Is there any disadvantages or anything I should be wary of? Surely they're all much the same as a UK spec bike?

It's a Thundercat by the way, registered 2000 but I gather this may not be the date of manufactor?

I'm sooooo confuzzled! Wanna make sure i get the right bike for my first one!

[D O G]

I had an import for my first bike, no issues with it. I think you may have to declare it to the insurance co, but I was never asked.

It's a bit different to car imports, clearly there is no rh/lh drive issues with a bike, and Jap cars generally have very poor security on them, so the insurance co cares about that.

I wouldn't be put off tbh. Thundercat eh, I quite fancy one of those myself. How much is it? (Not that I'm in the market at the moment!)

EDIT:

The 1st registered in 2000 won't be the date of manufacture. It will say on the V5 that it is 'Not new at 1st registration', and states it's an import somewhere.

The age of the bike should be linked to its plate. So If it is a 1996 bike, it'll be on a N/P plate, yet the V5 shows its 1st registration is 2000. [Mine was a 1999 bike, on a T plate, 1st registered in 2001]

[northernmonke...]

[D O G]

The Japanese generally look after their bikes better than the UK, and plus there isn't the issue with salt on the roads over there - so it should, theoretically be in better condition than the same age UK bike.

[Dibble]

The number plate should be related to the age not the first registration in this country, if you are going to register it yourself you need a certificate of guarantee of age which Yamaha may give you or there private companies who will help you.

I've owned loads or grey imports (xt550,CRM,Bros,CB1, V50) and the only problem I've ever had was an arsey parts guy at Dobles Honda and a Clueless WPC. You may find tthe odd part is different to UK bikes but Google and E-bay can usually sort it out.

[Kal]

[northernmonke...]

Cheers for your replies guys, put my mind at ease!

It is registered on an X, so I guess it is actually a 2000.

Rang the bloke, going to have a look see tomorrow, so hopefully it'll be every bit as clean and nice as he's saying!

Thanks again everyone, very much appreciated!

[Vinyardo]

Not sure on that particular bike, but on some bikes I think the imports tend not to have carb heaters which can cause a problem in winter.
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--| Current bike: |--
--| Previous bikes: Honda CB500 -- KTM Duke 390 -- Honda CBR1000RR7 Fireblade -- Honda CBR600 FX -- Suzuki Bandit 600 -- Yamaha TTR250 -- Suzuki GN125 |--

[Herbalrick]

[damz]

[D O G]

My main point really was that you sit on the same position on a bike regardless of which side of the road you drive on!

Fair play though, I didn't think you would nee to replace a whole light unit. That would be annoying.

[MonkeyKnuckle]

I have an import from the US.


An MOT place told me they would put tape on the light to get it through the MOT. Whether that's correct procedure or not I don't know.

I do know that it has a headlight control to change it's vertical and horizontal position which might help a teeny bit.
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MKGaming.com
2000 Honda CBR600F - Sold! 2003 Honda CBR600RR - Current!

[Robby]

[Polarbear]

I had an american import goldwing and when I asked the shop about dipped beam they told me the beam just dips down, not to the side so there are no issues with imported wings.I don't know if its the same on any other bikes though.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[MattHirst]

I rode a bandit 400 japanese import as my first big bike and didn't have any problems with it (well, not related to being an import anyway).

I snapped the throttle cable a few weeks after owning it, the local bike dealer even had one in stock, very suprising!

They are generally the same as UK spec bikes, just be careful of headlight alignment and some countries have power limits so you may want to de-restrict it (on older carb'd bikes i think they are restricted via the airbox/washers in the inlet manifolds)
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It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, then it's bloody hilarious!!!

[nasty]

My bike is a parallel import I believe - made for another European country but brought in new on the cheap by a dealer.

No issues with anythign other than the headlight, it kicks up to the right so could dazzle oncoming traffic.

For the last MOT the guy just taped up the light on the side that needed to be covered
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ZX6R F3

[fazzy43]

Hi,

I imported a second and Yamaha SR250 from Barcelona, Spain into the UK and looking to register it.

The limited documentation i have shows it was registered in December of 1997 in Spain but it doesnt give a manufacture date. The model number shows it as a 21L SR250 '91 (VI) which makes me think its a 1991 model however not sure if that indicates when it was manufactured.

I've just got in contact with Yamaha to see if they can advise a manufacture date, so waiting for a response but otherwise, can anyone advise how best to prove when it was made?

Thanks

[Evil Hans]

Ffs.Thanks for making me read a 10 year old thread, prick.
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[1198]

From experience - Check if you need to inform HMRC. They may need to provide a form to allow DVLA to continue. Oh, don’t expect anyone to hurry either!

[1198]

[Evil Hans]

Check the VIN?
https://en.vindecoder.pl/
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[1198]

[fazzy43]

ah the VIN number decoder shows that it was built in 1997, which matches the date on the registration form. So that helps a bit. Thanks.