Riding Dunedin to Akl on used US bike...

**longwayfromhome** · 14th November 2008, 13:33

Hello

The LT comes into Dunedin soon from LA. I am riding it from there to its home in Auckland. Whats the story on rego/WOF etc in this situation? I'll have comprehensive on the bike ($600/yr thru State), will have my NZ full bike licence by then (have had a US one for many years) and the bike will be current on its rego in Cali.

I was hoping to get the WOF/Rego done in Auckland, taking 2-3 days by the scenic route to get there. As the plates will be US plates, what grief can I expect from the filth?

TIA.

**raftn** · 14th November 2008, 13:45

I have absoutly no idae! But you will enjoy the ride!

**Gremlin** · 14th November 2008, 13:49

Originally Posted by longwayfromhome

As the plates will be US plates, what grief can I expect from the filth?

From my reading of your post... your bike simply won't be legal for NZ roads.

Now, unsure if there are temporary things you could apply for (someone else may know), but if that isn't possible, probably the worst you could get is having the bike impounded?

Not an expert tho, so just my take on it.

**longwayfromhome** · 14th November 2008, 13:54

Mmmmm...won't be legal...what is the basis for that? Apart from an argument on the headlight, everything else is OK I believe (emissions, lighting etc etc). I mean yes, its not legal because its not reg'd, got that. Temporary tags/plate, thats an idea. Source?

**Tank** · 14th November 2008, 14:02

Originally Posted by longwayfromhome

Mmmmm...won't be legal...what is the basis for that?

Whats for basis for thinking that it would be legal.

May pay to double check that your insurance is valid on a non-rego, non-wof'ed, non-certified bike on foreign plates also.

Id recommend getting the wof etc done before making the trip - but thats just me.

**Subike** · 14th November 2008, 14:11

Ride it as it is
Just tell the police you took a wrong turn 3000 miles ago and are still trying to find the interstate to get home on

**Gremlin** · 14th November 2008, 15:40

Originally Posted by longwayfromhome

Mmmmm...won't be legal...what is the basis for that? I mean yes, its not legal because its not reg'd, got that.

well... you pretty much filled it out. It doesn't have wof, reg, and it would probably need certifying to get into the country?

Originally Posted by longwayfromhome

Temporary tags/plate, thats an idea. Source?

no idea on source, I wasn't sure if there was some kind of temporary cover, ie, for people travelling the world, I'm sure there is some kind of proviso, but I have no idea myself (I ride wof'd rego'd bikes ya see

)

Tank also has a point... with the bike not even being certified to be on the road, ins may draw the line.

**Voltaire** · 14th November 2008, 16:36

I have imported bikes and taken vehicles overseas previously.
I have met people who brought vehicles here on hoilday and they had to register them here and put NZ plates on, and your might get away with your headlight depending how on to it the VTNZ guy is....I recently had to change my RHD light after 20 years for this reason.
Other countries will let you drive on your country of origin plates but not here.
If you do it in Dunedin and it fails, you could be stuck there for longer than you like.
I have ridden home on Aussie plates but only from the port, Your US insurance might not cover you here anyway.
I drove around the UK on NZ plates with no insurance......depends on your circumstances I suppose. ( I was broke).
You could biketrans it......or just do it and be an outlaw for a few days....yeeehaaa, probably hard on a Beemer.....

**Forest** · 14th November 2008, 17:59

If it has come in on a Carnet then yes you can ride it on your US registration.

If it has come in as an import, then you will need to arrange a VIN + rego & plate + WoF

**longwayfromhome** · 15th November 2008, 04:21

Thanks....I did reread my original question and perhaps its worded ambiguously....I understand bikes need rego/ins/WOF to be ridden in NZ, but is there a legal way to ride to Auckland without having to do all that in Dunedin? The partial answer it seems is yes, if its coming in as a visitor's bike, but no if its being permanently imported.

So, with that proviso....
1. Anyone brought in a recent US bike...are they emissions/braking compliant automatically...I had previously been told they were.
2. If I did risk riding the bike up to Auckland (don't particularly want to bike transport it up), if pulled over, are the cops likely to impound it or just give me a ticket?
3. Just a questions on additional lights on a bike...I have a set of riding lights (Motolights on the front forks, on all the time) plus a set of PIAA's that come on with the high beam (located under the front fairing)...are these liable to cause heart-ache with the inspectors?

Thanks for your help.

**Voltaire** · 15th November 2008, 05:53

Whenever I have been pulled over by cops overseas, I pull out all the documentation I have, be very nice and really act up as a tourist.
Worked everywhere except the former Yugoslavia where I was done for speeding and got a ticket...which oddly the cop wanted in cash......

You should email Experience BMW here in Auck and ask some prices on lights and mention your situation....they should know whats compliant.

**JimO** · 15th November 2008, 06:08

Originally Posted by longwayfromhome

Thanks....I did reread my original question and perhaps its worded ambiguously....I understand bikes need rego/ins/WOF to be ridden in NZ, but is there a legal way to ride to Auckland without having to do all that in Dunedin? The partial answer it seems is yes, if its coming in as a visitor's bike, but no if its being permanently imported.

So, with that proviso....
1. Anyone brought in a recent US bike...are they emissions/braking compliant automatically...I had previously been told they were.
2. If I did risk riding the bike up to Auckland (don't particularly want to bike transport it up), if pulled over, are the cops likely to impound it or just give me a ticket?
3. Just a questions on additional lights on a bike...I have a set of riding lights (Motolights on the front forks, on all the time) plus a set of PIAA's that come on with the high beam (located under the front fairing)...are these liable to cause heart-ache with the inspectors?

Thanks for your help.

see if you can borrow a dealers plate

**longwayfromhome** · 15th November 2008, 07:02

Hey, JimJim

If I have to get it WOF'd in Dunedin, can you recommend a good location. There is another thread on here that is warning to stay away from VTNZ and the like....anything local who is bike experienced and act reasonably?

**Gremlin** · 15th November 2008, 13:03

Originally Posted by longwayfromhome

2. If I did risk riding the bike up to Auckland (don't particularly want to bike transport it up), if pulled over, are the cops likely to impound it or just give me a ticket?

Will vary from cop to cop, you might meet a nice one, but the full extent of the law, he would be able to impound I believe, as it would be classed as not certified for nz roads (unless you do something in this regard)

Originally Posted by longwayfromhome

3. Just a questions on additional lights on a bike...I have a set of riding lights (Motolights on the front forks, on all the time) plus a set of PIAA's that come on with the high beam (located under the front fairing)...are these liable to cause heart-ache with the inspectors?

Law wise, you can have two headlights I believe. However, I know those who run extra headlights. Whether or not they get picked up at wof time, not sure. When riding in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night... yes, they are very handy. Unless you are running sort of running board lights?

**JimO** · 15th November 2008, 13:56

Originally Posted by longwayfromhome

Hey, JimJim

If I have to get it WOF'd in Dunedin, can you recommend a good location. There is another thread on here that is warning to stay away from VTNZ and the like....anything local who is bike experienced and act reasonably?

you could try MCR they do wofs dont know about complianceing, i have used the vtnz outfit here with no worries