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View Full Version : Want to temporarily import my ZX6-R from USA



nerve2
17th February 2007, 10:48
Just picked up an 07 ZX6-R here in America to bring along on my trip to New Zealand (8 months). Best shipping quote is $1100 USD so far, does anyone have a sense of how difficult clearing customs / inspection is going to be? The bike is clean and will probably have less than 1000 miles on it when it makes it's way across the ocean in a few weeks. Do I need a carnet for a bike?

Any shipping companies you guys would recommend? Am I mad for trying to use a sportbike for daily driver in NZ throughout the winter? (Won't stop me, just curious what you guys think. I'll be living in Dunedin, primarly, which sounds like gets a lot of light rain days but usually nothing torrential.

Look forward to riding with you guys!

Thanks,
James

Madness
17th February 2007, 10:55
Welcome to KB.

They sell 07 ZX6r's here too ya know.

Karma
17th February 2007, 11:14
Am I mad for trying to use a sportbike for daily driver in NZ throughout the winter? (Won't stop me, just curious what you guys think. I'll be living in Dunedin, primarly, which sounds like gets a lot of light rain days but usually nothing torrential.

Look forward to riding with you guys!

Thanks,
James

Welcome James.

Can you get snow chains for a ZX6R?

nerve2
17th February 2007, 11:16
Would've bought one there, but I didn't want to deal with permanently importing it back into America, let alone California.

Could get some cables for the rear tire I s'pose. :P Does Dunedin get much snow?

Karma
17th February 2007, 11:17
Does Dunedin get much snow?

do bears shit in the woods?

Disco Dan
17th February 2007, 11:21
do bears shit in the woods?

:rofl: good thing its still summer here then....

Karma
17th February 2007, 11:28
This might give you a clearer idea.

http://www.niwascience.co.nz/ncc/cs/sclimsum_06_3_winter

There are people that ride in the south island, but you gotta factor in it's gonna be fairly chilly, and the availability of a decent latte isn't all that great :D

K6K
17th February 2007, 11:41
Just picked up an 07 ZX6-R here in America to bring along on my trip to New Zealand (8 months). Best shipping quote is $1100 USD so far, does anyone have a sense of how difficult clearing customs / inspection is going to be? The bike is clean and will probably have less than 1000 miles on it when it makes it's way across the ocean in a few weeks. Do I need a carnet for a bike?

Any shipping companies you guys would recommend? Am I mad for trying to use a sportbike for daily driver in NZ throughout the winter? (Won't stop me, just curious what you guys think. I'll be living in Dunedin, primarly, which sounds like gets a lot of light rain days but usually nothing torrential.

Look forward to riding with you guys!

Thanks,
James
You would need a carnet to ride it on NZ roads. Have a look at getting a Carnet through your local auto club (AAA?)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnet_de_Passage
I think you would just have to cover the GST (12.5%), so you would put up a bond for 12.5% of the market value here in NZ - Approx 15k x 12.5% = $1875
Over here you can either stump up the cash, or sign a guarantee or something. Depending on the auto club you maybe able to pay a smaller non refundable amount (say a couple of hundred) as a sort of "insurance".
If you get a carnet you won't have to get it vinned (first time registration for the road). So you would be riding on american plates for the 8 months. Depending on how different your plates look compared to NZ ones, that could be a cop magnet! Especially on a bike. Though you maybe able to play the tourist...."sorry I'm used to miles officer" I wouldn't like to give odds on that working!
Insurance is not required by law in NZ, so I don't think you would have to organize it over there as part of the carnet/import proceedures. I would do some research and see if you can get it cheaper over here.
Good luck.

Meanie
17th February 2007, 11:43
Welcome to kb James you should love riding round NZ but as someone has said you can get the same bike over here, may save you some money and they seem to hold thier value for resale

ajturbo
17th February 2007, 11:47
Just picked up an 07 ZX6-R here in America to bring along on my trip to New Zealand (8 months). Best shipping quote is $1100 USD so far, does anyone have a sense of how difficult clearing customs / inspection is going to be? The bike is clean and will probably have less than 1000 miles on it when it makes it's way across the ocean in a few weeks. Do I need a carnet for a bike?

Any shipping companies you guys would recommend? Am I mad for trying to use a sportbike for daily driver in NZ throughout the winter? (Won't stop me, just curious what you guys think. I'll be living in Dunedin, primarly, which sounds like gets a lot of light rain days but usually nothing torrential.

Look forward to riding with you guys!

Thanks,
James
is that 1100 each way?... that is nearly 4k nz!.. store your bike, buy a second hand shitter from some sheep shangin southlander for 3k.
just before you leave, sell it back to same sheep shagger for 4k... you go home all happy... banjo playing sheep shagger happy to get back ol' shitter...
everyone happy .. you not poorer..

Karma
17th February 2007, 12:02
is that 1100 each way?... that is nearly 4k nz!.. store your bike, buy a second hand shitter from some sheep shangin southlander for 3k.
just before you leave, sell it back to same sheep shagger for 4k... you go home all happy... banjo playing sheep shagger happy to get back ol' shitter...
everyone happy .. you not poorer..

I'll give you 3k for your bike ;)

ajturbo
17th February 2007, 14:37
I'll give you 3k for your bike ;)
wow... that is MORE THAN TWICE what one sold for on trademe LAST WEEK!!!
what to do? call your bluff and sell?
and IF i agree will it stand up in court?? if you pull out?

hahahahahahah

Mully
17th February 2007, 18:27
Jas Jenners (Auckland) do a lot of vehicles ex the States (in particular Long Beach) in containers. I don't remember their US agent's name, but you can visit their kiwi website (www.jasjenners.co.nz) and contact Phil, he's a good guy.

Yes, you will need a Carnet issued in the States. Nothing is payable to Customs in NZ, as this is guaranteed by the Carnet but factor in NZ$100ish for MAF inspection (despite it being a newish bike) and maybe the same for Customs Clearance etc (Phil can quote). Jas can deal with Customs Clearance etc in NZ.

Hope this helps. I work in freight, but my company doesn't touch vehicles. If you need any more info, PM me.

Cheers,
Marcus

nerve2
20th February 2007, 20:58
Thanks for all the replies guys, rode about 400 miles this weekend- want to get break-in out of the way and feel the 16.5k redline! Bike is more compact than it looks, but really sharp and stays planted once you set your line.

Got a better shipping quote, $795 (USD).

I think you guys might have the wrong idea about California. I'm from Northern California (close to the OR border) we get seasons (including snow) and whatnot. Below freezing is not uncommon in the winter, so I'm not a stranger to chilly weather- kind've like it actually.

Going to start filling out the paper work for a carnet and hopefully get the ball rolling on all this. Thanks again!

SPman
21st February 2007, 01:12
You may have to change the headlight to dip the other way?

nerve2
21st February 2007, 04:40
According to the owners manual you can adjust either headlight both vertically and horizontally. I'm not sure if it's enough to make it into the other lane, but I assume so to prevent having to make two sets of parts for Kawi import / export bikes.

NighthawkNZ
21st February 2007, 06:30
What they all said about importing... :scratch: me not know so me not comment

But when yah get here, join us on a couple of organised rides here and there... of if none are on in that time frame PM me and I (depending on work etc) may go for a blat with yah...

South Island has some wicked roads (with real corners), the weather can be 4 seasons in one day NZ in general doesn't have a land mass or close enough to a larger land mass to give it the stable weather pattern, make it more interesting though... :-)

nallac
23rd February 2007, 10:00
For cheaper shipping costs you could always try duane jones .
duanemkj@hotmail.com
He has just quoted me $500usd or less for shipping.thats from cali.

Hawk
23rd February 2007, 10:11
This might give you a clearer idea.

http://www.niwascience.co.nz/ncc/cs/sclimsum_06_3_winter

There are people that ride in the south island, but you gotta factor in it's gonna be fairly chilly, and the availability of a decent latte isn't all that great :D

I suppose you never heard of speights either :laugh:

slopster
24th February 2007, 22:45
Why don't you sell it here when you've finnished with it. You'll probably make enough to buy the 08 one when you go home.