Custom Bike to NZ

[schuffi]

Hi All!

I am Dirk from Berlin, Germany, and am planning to move to NZ first on a visitor's visa and then get a resident permit by marrying my girlfriend.
I have a custom bike (first registration 2007) with a TP engine and want to send the bike to Auckland.

I am able to manage all paper and procedures for the shipment from Berlin.

What I would like to know is what procedures I have to do in NZ or things that I have to be aware of.

I know that if I send the bike to NZ to myself, the bike will be on a temporary import status. Is it better to send it to my girlfriend and then proceed? Or any other suggestions?

Would appreciate any hints, help and information.

Cheers from Berlin
Dirk

[Beddhist]

Hi Dirk,

I don't think it's worth shipping a bike over. It's going to cost you a lot of money and there are many custom bikes available here. If you don't have permanent residence when you and the bike arrive then you will have to pay 12.5% GST on the current value of the bike as determined by customs and on the cost of shipping.

Check the customs website for details.

I just brought our two bikes in via Malaysia (didn't have a choice, as I want the carnets discharged) and had to wait for a week for customs to do their thing. Didn't have to pay, but then I'm already a resident.

Cheers and welcome to NZ,
Peter.

[schuffi]

Hi Peter,

thanks a lot for your advice. There is just one problem, that is, that I am not able to sell the custom bike at a reasonable value due to the bad financial situation in Germany and Europe.

The bike was built during 2006~7 at a total cost of around NZD 100,000.-. It was first registered in 2007.

I don't know whether is would be economical to sell the bike here for maybe NZD 70,000.- (if I can find a buyer) or to pay the 12.5%GST and the transportation costs (around NZD 1,500.- by sea freight)

Alternative would be to keep the bike in Germany until I have permant residence.

What do you think?

Cheers
Dirk

[YellowDog]

Hey Dirk, I have imported two bikes into NZ and it was an absolute breeze. You just need to make sure the bike has been thoroughly cleaned, especially underneath and in the mud guards. You will also need some kind of certification to state it has been cleaned with when and how it was done.

If it is a custom bike may I suggest that you get a really low valuation in Germany before you get here. It must be based upon something standard so I suggest you go to a dealer for the particular manufacturer and get them to give you a <NZ$20k valuation (or trade in value) so that you save on the GST at this end.

NOW FOR THE REAL PROBLEM: When I came out here in 2006, I rode my UK bike for six months with a UK number plate on it. Noone stopped me as it is quite usual to have foreign tourists. It is also very handy for speed cameras . I decided to register the bike here and I had to go through a compliance inspection. This will be your problem. It will be very difficult and possibly quite expensive for you to get your bike road legal in New Zealand. They thoroughly check your bike to the manufacturers specification (from the VIN number) and then flag up any differences. You will therefore need to have clear documentatiom for every custom modification from the stanrard specification. If you have used standard parts, then you may be OK, but it won't be easy. I suspect that bribery will help.

There is a surprisingly large German community in NZ, so I am sure you will enjoy finding where you can buy food with taste

Good luck.

[Paul in NZ]

Good god man - if you spent a $100,000 on building a bike one would assume it was your dream bike for the rest of your life - apart from pro builders, who else expects to even break even on such a project?? Customising or restoring is not a money maker. Certainly with customs, the more extreme it is the less likely someone else will appreciate your taste.

The other thing is - remember the cultural aspects. Whats cool to a euro biker might not work here so I wouldn't bank on getting top $$. End of the day, if I had that much invested I'd bring the bloody thing with me and find a way to get it on the road. If nothing else, park it in the lounge as a reminder not to do that again!

[MotoKuzzi]

Can you post up some photo's, I don't have the money to buy it but I am curious to see what a $100k bike looks like.
Cheers,
Mark.

[spacemonkey]

I'd recommend putting the bike into storage until you have experienced living in NZ for a while and have permanent residency.

Oh and Welcome to NZ.
Quite a lot of Germans live down here now (mainly in Northland Wellington and the Nelson/Marlborough areas). Just had the German film festival here in Wellington it finished about a week ago.

[YellowDog]

Can you post up some photo's, I don't have the money to buy it but I am curious to see what a $100k bike looks like.
Cheers,
Mark.

Yes, Yes, Yes, we must see some pictures!!!!!

[Paul in NZ]

Can you post up some photo's, I don't have the money to buy it but I am curious to see what a $100k bike looks like.
Cheers,
Mark.

Thats about what the cali has cost you to date isn't it Mark?

No seriously - Hutt boys choppers had a few hideously expensive mile long nightmares but i think they ended up selling them to themselves - last time I went past i noticed some 250cc chopper thingy in the window...

Mind you - I can't criticise, the effort that goes into my old shitters makes no sense at all...

[MotoKuzzi]

Thats about what the cali has cost you to date isn't it Mark? ...

Haha...according to My wife it has, to me it just feels like it
It's not far away now though, hopefully before Xmas got the new shaft and coupler just waiting to win lotto before I get the pinion re-splined. Next thing will be some decent rear shocks, that's if the clutch doesn't go next. Mrs MK has promised to start pillioning with me this yr and enjoy some of that motorcycling camaradarie i keep going on about. It's a softening up process with a view to getting a rocket 3 or Buell Ulysses next.

[Toaster]

Can you post up some photo's, I don't have the money to buy it but I am curious to see what a $100k bike looks like.
Cheers,
Mark.

I thought you'd ask for photos of his girlfriend instead!!

[MotoKuzzi]

Well if he'd spent a 100k on his girlfriend I'd be interested in those photo's too.

[BAD DAD]

Word of warning: Check very carefully with NZ Immigration before planning to marry your girlfreind then expecting residency. Unless you enjoy drama check your fact before coming anywhere near our border. A good freind has been married to a Kiwi for years and has got 3 NZ born kids with her, owns property here, has been legally and gainfully employed previously in NZ and is still having to jump through hoops. Looks like he still has a long way to go yet. Good luck.

[The Pastor]

bring the bike over, we need more customs on the road.

(bear in mind you need a higher ground clearence for NZ roads)

You will have to get the bike vinned in NZ, its not hard but there is a process to it. Expect to spend up to $1000 on getting it NZ compliant (typically its less than 500 and it includes 3 months of tax)

Don't sell it.

[spacemonkey]

Word of warning: Check very carefully with NZ Immigration before planning to marry your girlfreind then expecting residency. Unless you enjoy drama check your fact before coming anywhere near our border. A good freind has been married to a Kiwi for years and has got 3 NZ born kids with her, owns property here, has been legally and gainfully employed previously in NZ and is still having to jump through hoops. Looks like he still has a long way to go yet. Good luck.

It varies a lot depending on which country you are from.
Germans have a pretty easy time of it as NZ signed the Schengen agreement with them.