Wishing to import my Bullet (2001 AVL 350) to US

hmishra83 · 16th July 2009, 07:39

Hey Fellow Team-BHPians,

I think this is the best forum to seek the right answers. Here is my query -
When I turned 18, I was gifted a bike - RE Machismo A350. I have taken good care of it and loved it because of not just the emotional value but the sheer value of this machine. I loved riding it. 'Loved' because, its been a year since I haven't seen it.

I an in US (NY,NJ) right now and am gonna be based here for some time to come. Without anyone back in India to ride it, my bike is getting wasted and it hurts me here. I have seen more than a couple of Bullets in NYC and know that they have an official dealer network here too. The next thing for me is to get my bike here and roll...

I can sort the shipping, packing, etc. from India. I want some help from you guys about the registration and any other formalities that you guys can think of which may make the process painful ENOUGH for me to drop my plans. I can do the paperwork, visit the offices, etc. Is there anyone out there who may have done or attempted to do something similar in the past. This is almost like a reverse brain drain

Any help would be sincerely appreciated. I hope I can ride my bike and keep its glory alive in this part of the world for some years to come!

dinar · 16th July 2009, 10:14

First off, check the US, customs and DOT websites, this will give you a rough idea of what is needed to get a used vehicle in US and registration formalities.
I think the bike does not comply to the emission norms there, and hence you will not be able to take it there, or find some imported of bullets [if any] to get it to specs. they will do it for you.
Another option is taking it as a classic bike or replica [the import norms are eased off for this type of import].
Thats about it.

MumBiker · 16th July 2009, 10:17

You can refer to this. Royal Enfield | Private imports

Also see : Importing Vehicles and Engines | US EPA & U.S. Residents Importing and Exporting Vehicles - CBP.gov

Hopefully you can find someone who has done this very recently for a one on one input.

Better than a thousand hollow sounds, is one sound that brings peace!!!
--The Thump

Happy Thumping !!

kuttapan · 16th July 2009, 16:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by hmishra83

Hey Fellow Team-BHPians,

I think this is the best forum to seek the right answers. Here is my query -
When I turned 18, I was gifted a bike - RE Machismo A350. I have taken good care of it and loved it because of not just the emotional value but the sheer value of this machine. I loved riding it. 'Loved' because, its been a year since I haven't seen it.

Sincere advise - Forget about this idea. The Indian bike is a lot different from what is exported to US and will not make it out of customs. Only the classic bikes(they have a cut-off year: Before 1970 or so) are exempt for meeting their regulations and your bike stands a good chance of being impounded and crushed, if it does not pass their import norms.

Ask a close friend or an uncle to take care of the Bullet while you are away. If you are going to take a long long time and have no one to take care of the bike, mothball the bike and store it in a crate(assuming you do not want to sell at any cost).

hmishra83 · 16th July 2009, 19:58

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Ill go through the links provided and see what I wanna do next.

Mpower · 16th July 2009, 21:50

Bullets are sold in the USA. You can go in for either new or used depending on your budget.

OT: Couple of days ago I was watching TV and there was a ad for some face cream and there was a guy shown sitting on a Bullett.

prasadee · 17th July 2009, 02:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Bullets are sold in the USA. You can go in for either new or used depending on your budget.

OT: Couple of days ago I was watching TV and there was a ad for some face cream and there was a guy shown sitting on a Bullett.

If you check cycle trader you will be able to get a used one that is legal in your state. For a state like Calif. you will need the bike to be emission compliant. AFAIK, Enfield ships it to an intermediate location to have these modifications made. You can be sure you will not have issues getting it registered.

If you are married to your bike (absolutely need your bike, sentimental attachment, etc) then you can continue on your path.
-Prasad

Nitin · 17th July 2009, 04:11

I agree with Prasadee. If you really want to go through the process, then by all means there should be a way out to get things done. I can understand the passion for your bike, so I say go for it!
Good luck, and keep us posted!

COUGAR · 17th July 2009, 09:09

You will not be allowed to import the Indian made bike because the Indian RE does not conform to certain stipulations: lke in the use of asbestos based items in the brakes for eg.

it would be better if you sold off your current ride and bought a new Enfield in the US. The machines RE sells in the US are quite diff from the stuff you get here: better brakes, Pirelli tubless tyres etc etc. And not all that expensive either.

hmishra83 · 18th July 2009, 00:46

Thanks for the suggestion sguys. But, as someone mentioned, I am married to my bike
I may still buy one here, maybe something different.
Prasadee - Any more details that you may have about the intermediate location and can share, would be
really appreciated. Thanks!

gt_mustang · 19th July 2009, 18:34

i do want to add this

y a bullet ONLY when u can drive all the other bikes in the world there
get urslef another bike and if u are still unhappy think about the bull

hmishra83 · 19th July 2009, 18:51

@gt - the reason behind even considering all of this is because of the bonding that I have with my old bike...its more thinking from the heart than the head. if i was being as rational as I can be, I wouldn't have started this thread

Sawyer · 19th July 2009, 18:59

I would even say that it is impossible to do this now. It will never get past US customs. Check with Kevin Mahoney at www.enfieldmotorcycles.com for any more input.

hmishra83 · 19th July 2009, 20:54

:( I think ill just preserve the bike in the best possible manner I can!
By the way, that link didn't work?!?!

deepclutch · 19th July 2009, 21:03

Carnette De Passage ?What say?

16th July 2009, 07:39	#1
hmishra83 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York City & New Delhi Posts: 222 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	Wishing to import my Bullet (2001 AVL 350) to US Hey Fellow Team-BHPians, I think this is the best forum to seek the right answers. Here is my query - When I turned 18, I was gifted a bike - RE Machismo A350. I have taken good care of it and loved it because of not just the emotional value but the sheer value of this machine. I loved riding it. 'Loved' because, its been a year since I haven't seen it. I an in US (NY,NJ) right now and am gonna be based here for some time to come. Without anyone back in India to ride it, my bike is getting wasted and it hurts me here. I have seen more than a couple of Bullets in NYC and know that they have an official dealer network here too. The next thing for me is to get my bike here and roll... I can sort the shipping, packing, etc. from India. I want some help from you guys about the registration and any other formalities that you guys can think of which may make the process painful ENOUGH for me to drop my plans. I can do the paperwork, visit the offices, etc. Is there anyone out there who may have done or attempted to do something similar in the past. This is almost like a reverse brain drain Any help would be sincerely appreciated. I hope I can ride my bike and keep its glory alive in this part of the world for some years to come!
	() Thanks

16th July 2009, 10:14	#2
dinar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: goa Posts: 1,066 Thanked: 57 Times	First off, check the US, customs and DOT websites, this will give you a rough idea of what is needed to get a used vehicle in US and registration formalities. I think the bike does not comply to the emission norms there, and hence you will not be able to take it there, or find some imported of bullets [if any] to get it to specs. they will do it for you. Another option is taking it as a classic bike or replica [the import norms are eased off for this type of import]. Thats about it.
	() Thanks

16th July 2009, 10:17	#3
MumBiker BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 89 Thanked: 12 Times View My Garage	You can refer to this. Royal Enfield \| Private imports Also see : Importing Vehicles and Engines \| US EPA & U.S. Residents Importing and Exporting Vehicles - CBP.gov Hopefully you can find someone who has done this very recently for a one on one input. Better than a thousand hollow sounds, is one sound that brings peace!!! --The Thump Happy Thumping !!
	() Thanks

16th July 2009, 19:58	#5
hmishra83 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York City & New Delhi Posts: 222 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	Thanks for the suggestions guys. Ill go through the links provided and see what I wanna do next.
	() Thanks

16th July 2009, 21:50	#6
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	Bullets are sold in the USA. You can go in for either new or used depending on your budget. OT: Couple of days ago I was watching TV and there was a ad for some face cream and there was a guy shown sitting on a Bullett.
	() Thanks

17th July 2009, 04:11	#8
Nitin Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,294 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	I agree with Prasadee. If you really want to go through the process, then by all means there should be a way out to get things done. I can understand the passion for your bike, so I say go for it! Good luck, and keep us posted!
	() Thanks

17th July 2009, 09:09	#9
COUGAR BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 548 Thanked: 94 Times View My Garage	You will not be allowed to import the Indian made bike because the Indian RE does not conform to certain stipulations: lke in the use of asbestos based items in the brakes for eg. it would be better if you sold off your current ride and bought a new Enfield in the US. The machines RE sells in the US are quite diff from the stuff you get here: better brakes, Pirelli tubless tyres etc etc. And not all that expensive either.
	() Thanks

18th July 2009, 00:46	#10
hmishra83 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York City & New Delhi Posts: 222 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	Thanks for the suggestion sguys. But, as someone mentioned, I am married to my bike I may still buy one here, maybe something different. Prasadee - Any more details that you may have about the intermediate location and can share, would be really appreciated. Thanks!
	() Thanks

19th July 2009, 18:34	#11
gt_mustang BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: hyd Posts: 247 Thanked: 5 Times	i do want to add this y a bullet ONLY when u can drive all the other bikes in the world there get urslef another bike and if u are still unhappy think about the bull
	() Thanks

19th July 2009, 18:51	#12
hmishra83 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York City & New Delhi Posts: 222 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	@gt - the reason behind even considering all of this is because of the bonding that I have with my old bike...its more thinking from the heart than the head. if i was being as rational as I can be, I wouldn't have started this thread
	() Thanks

19th July 2009, 18:59	#13
Sawyer Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 2,677 Thanked: 1,786 Times	I would even say that it is impossible to do this now. It will never get past US customs. Check with Kevin Mahoney at www.enfieldmotorcycles.com for any more input. Last edited by Sawyer : 19th July 2009 at 19:01. Reason: typo
	() Thanks

19th July 2009, 20:54	#14
hmishra83 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York City & New Delhi Posts: 222 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	:( I think ill just preserve the bike in the best possible manner I can! By the way, that link didn't work?!?!
	() Thanks

19th July 2009, 21:03	#15
deepclutch Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Muvattupuzha Posts: 1,165 Thanked: 162 Times	Carnette De Passage ?What say?
	() Thanks