Moving to UK. Motorcycle strategy advice needed

Plans are in motion to send me to the UK for a 2 year stint at our High
Wycombe office. Details should be finalized next week, but it looks
like I'll be arriving in August.

I'm trying to decide what to do about my motorcycles. I have a '99
Triumph Daytona, that I love... but it's hardly a bike built for 2. My
wife is coming along, so I expect to be doing a lot of sport touring
through Europe.

The Daytona needs new tires, and a little TLC for the start of this
season. I'm wondering if I should trade it in now for a newer sport
touring bike, and then ship it to England at the end of summer. Work
will pick up the tab for shipping so...

Is the higher-end used/new market cheaper in the UK or here?
Is it a royal pain to register a bike in the UK?
Is it a royal pain to get insurance in the UK?
(32, married, no accidents, 1 ticket in the last 5 years. Rider since
age 16.)

Anything else I should consider?

BTW: Here happens to be the US (specifically Pittsburgh, PA.)

--Mark
http://mark.denovich.com
Dod#1559

 

A functioning sig-sep.

Beers when you get here - there's plenty of folks local to HW <spit>
that will take you out (for your own sake).

 

I did 2-up to the south of France on a T595 Daytona, it just depends how
much you want to stuff in soft panniers, tank back and the pillion's
rucksack.

We drive [1] on the proper side of the road

[1] and ride on any bit of it.

 

<ignorant mode> Would a Merkin bike think our petrol was quite rich?

I assume that you would have to pay import tax on it and register it
with the DVLA and have an MOT carried out</im>

 

BGN wrote

Hard to tell really, most of them seem to fall to bits after only a
couple of thousand bangs.

 

The op was talking about a Daytona. Somehow I think that were he to
bring that over there'd be little problem with our fuel. Probably just a
re-map of the electronic at a Triumph shop.

 

I can't help with your questions, but I can help with High Wycombe - I
lived there for many years until I relocated to the North of England and
the back to High Wycombe and now I've left again, ending up in The
Netherlands.

If there's anything you want to know, feel free to ask, the gmail in
headers is valid without the obvious.


--
Dnc

B1200 - +30bhp ~|~ ZZR1100 - faster when upright
V2300 - flat cap and rug ~|~ A6 2.5TDi V6 Quattro Sport

MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003

 

Tim wrote

There shouldn't be any trouble with any fuel anywhere in the world,
really. As I recall, every bike coming out of Japan since 1977 has been
able to run on the cheap stuff and cars much the same. I have no reason
to suppose it is different for vehicles manufactured in any other
country. There is bound to be an exception or two of course and these
refer to engines from manufacturers who do not have the necessary skills
to compete in today's world and who tend to sell nostalgically badged
tat.

 

Sell it on Ebay, where it's likely to make 50% over its value, and buy a
bike over here - it's a lot cheaper accompanying a bank balance than
paying freight charges.

Dunno, never having been to Transpondia.

Only if it isn't straightforward, and if it isn't, then yes, a Right
Royal Pain.

No, just a king's ransom.

I expect so.

 

I did 18hrs a day for a week (cross-US tour) on my Daytona a few years
ago, but that was solo. My wife rides 2up on the Daytona in constant
fear that she's going to go off the back... I don't mind her holding
on tight, but every bump I hit she ratchets forward. It doesn't take
long before my ability to ever be a parent is in serious jeopardy
(although it may increase my chances to join a boys choir.)

Having some paniers would be nice too.

Mark

 

The import tax is the interesting bit. Is this seperate from the VAT?
I'll be planning on bringing the bike back home with me so I think I
can avoid that.

The devil is in the details.

 

Non ffaq reading newbie wrote

Oh I'll say it is. Details like leaving some attributions in when you
reply to a Usenet post. You just can't believe the extent to which this
is seen as a display of atrociously bad manners, really you can't.
You'll find out though if you continue.

 

wrote:

Please quote some of that which you are replying to - helps with context.

There are two things to consider - VAT (Tax, import tax, it's all the
same thing) and Duty.

Not for 2 years you won't. 6 Months perhaps, although there might be
some specifics that will help you for longer.

*ding* get yourself a large beer and digest this lot:

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channels...ntent&id=HMCE_CL_000282&propertyType=document




--
Dnc

B1200 - +30bhp ~|~ ZZR1100 - faster when upright
V2300 - flat cap and rug ~|~ A6 2.5TDi V6 Quattro Sport

MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003

 

BGN said...

No import tax as far as I'm aware because the bike is being repatriated,
but there will be VAT due on it plus all the legalities of re-
registering it in UK. That's how it used to be when my ex-boss was
buying old Jaguars in USA and shipping them back here.

 

Oh I'll say it is. Details like leaving some attributions in when you

Sorry, it's not being a noob (my first post to rec.moto was back in
'91), it's sad choice of using Google Groups to do my posting. I don't
see the option to quote the previous post (other than doing it
manually.)

 

wrote

So you have no excuse for not knowing the rules then. Shame on you for
the poor example you set to the young.

am sure others will tell you if there is and where to find it.

This is broke as well but I don't think it is your fault but it may be
worthwhile you asking both yourself and Google why you should continue
to work with broken tools.

 

No import tax as long as the vehicle leaves within 6 months, unless
the importer is a student or is on a specific work contract. If either
of those conditions apply, it can stay without being liable for import
duty until the end of the assignment/course of study.

For DVLA type tax, then, if I recall correctly, it isn't liable for
about 6-12 months as long as all home taxes are paid. After that it
has to be re-registered as a UK vehicle and becomes liable to DVLA
taxes, although still exempt from import tax. I think!

The US Embassy down at Grosvenor Square has all manner of useful
leaflets for this kind of thing, so I should imagine there must be
similar at government offices in the USA. Might be worth popping
along to the nearest British Consulate.

 

Ahh - easy enough - don't type into the reply box, instead go to preview
reply, then edit - you'll find all the quoted content sat there.

Replied to your email btw.


--
Dnc

B1200 - +30bhp ~|~ ZZR1100 - faster when upright
V2300 - flat cap and rug ~|~ A6 2.5TDi V6 Quattro Sport

MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003

 

*ding* get yourself a large beer and digest this lot:

Check: 1qt of Edmund Fitzgerald Porter (just got a fresh keg
yesterday.)

"You can claim TI relief on a vehicle temporarily imported for private
use (including any accompanying spare parts, accessories and equipment)
if:...

....You re-export the vehicle from the EC within 6 months, however if
you are a student or someone fulfilling an assignment of a specific
duration (for example a work contract) the vehicle can remain in the EC
for the period of your studies or until the end of your assignment."

Hrrrm. That is promising, but it looks like what that section gives,
other sections take away. Much to study...

 

Unless he writes it off in the UK, in which case he owns Her Majesty
pennies, I assume?