[duffysjim]

Hi to all.
I have never "chatted" before so if I screw it up, advise and be patient.

Here's my situation. I'm stationed with the US Army in Germany.
I bought a 2000 HD RoadKing Classic from a Dutch dealership so the scoot has European specs. Now I hear that I have to import the thing and it may cost about $2000. That's big bucks.

Anybody got an idea as to how to fix this? I have seen that the US model has a EPA decal on the left down tube of the frame. Mine does not.

Please give me some ideas. I wrote to HD and they were no help.

Thanks
Jim

 

[Guest]

Consider selling it before you leave Germany and buy a US bike when you get home.

 

[duffysjim]

Man, is it that tough? I sold my scooter way back then when my kids were small. It took me many a year to get another. I afraid that if I sell it, some crap will arise and I'll be walking again but you're right, it is an option.
Jim

 

[Habanero Kid]

Man, is it that tough? I sold my scooter way back then when my kids were small. It took me many a year to get another. I afraid that if I sell it, some crap will arise and I'll be walking again but you're right, it is an option.

schite man, there will ALWAY be reasons NOT to get a bike !!!
I just went throught this with the wife. I got my bike !!!

Sell the thing, open a separate account earmarked for a Guvmnt Approved
scooter. When you come back take that $$$$ and get a scoot. The wife
shouldn't have a problem with that, right

 

[HIPPO]

If the bike is stock, the HDI bikes as delivered in Europe are manufactured to tighter emission standards then the domestic ones and quite similar to the CA bikes. I know this for a fact as far as bikes delivered in Germany and Switzerland, and it's hard to imagine they would make a special version for the Dutch market.

There is a company that transports the bikes under contract to the military and I would imagine that the military sales people would have some answers for you.
If the bike is stock the only thing I'm aware of is that you may have to replace the speedo with one that reads in MPH, and some very minor rewiring for some lites to comply with DOT (just moving some connectors). Keep digging, start with military sales, all you need is to find some dude that knows how to shuffle the papers.

The 2K price might be close though, depending on what it includes. Air freight is almost $800.00 (civilian via Lufthansa), add the cost of the speedo and a little labor, possibly crating that some co's may require (LH did not require this as little as 2 years ago), draining and refilling fuel, etc. Some let you do all this stuff yourself.

Good Luck.

 

[FXDeanX]

Jim,
I'm not sure I fully understand the problem. Is the 2K for shipping or to bring it to US specs? Because if it's the former, I was under the impression that the military ships your stuff for free, am I right? Now if it's the latter, it should fall into the grey market area and not be subject to new vehecle specs if it's used which I'm assuming it is. Bear in mind that my knowledge may be, like me, faulty and outdated. In any case, good luck and welcome aboard.

Dean

 

[HIPPO]

Might look into the possibility of getting the MSO for the bike back if you surrender the title, depends on local laws and might not fly in the more organized countries, but it is possible in some places.

 

[duffysjim]

Hey All.
Thanks for the info. The 2K is for the conversion of a "gray" market bike. There is a importer in Milwaukee with whom I spoke and she told me I have to ship it to them and they convert it and get all the paper work in order. I pick it up from them and register it. If it was US specs, I could ship it free with the Army.
Thak bike is soo friggin' cool, I just hate to sell it but that may be the best way.
Jim

 

[Guest]

Sounds like you may just have been asking the wrong people. An HDI-spec Harley is not a 'grey market' bike! As the other folks said, check with the military shippers at your end.

 

[duffysjim]

Tom
Please give me more information on your comment.

If I don't have to sell it, I won't. The scoot's that great.
Jim

 

[JimmyK]

Well they are bikes that are independently imported from overseas (often from Japan or USA), not through official importers. This often involves dealers having contacts overseas and shipping bikes over in containers.

That is not the case with yours. Fro what you are saying you purchased from a Harley Dealership. The bike was built by Harley and transported ( exported ) to Europe. No big deal.

Now you are in need of having the US Army transport it along with you back to The States.

My bet is with the title, you should be able to surrender the plates and register it here. If it needs some sort of EPA approval ( California ) you STILL should be able to register it as a used bike with greater than 7500 miles on it.

Ask The Army to ship your stuff back. This is NOT a grey market bike.

 

[duffysjim]

Thanks.
Jim

 

[duffysjim]

That would be so cool to take it home. I love the crap out of the bike and really do not want to sell it. It has nothing to do with the wife. She rides whenever she can. I'm just afraid that if I ship it and someone gets a wild hair up his or her ass that I'll have to convert it and go through all kinds of crap. That's the only concern I have. You all have been great. Thanks for your help.
Jim

 

[Guest]

Yeah, what Jimmy said ...