I'm curious to hear stories on how folks acquired pre-war bikes. Did you work with an importer / exporter, or handle the transaction yourself with a private seller? How did you handle the import on this side, shipping, paper work, etc ..
Cheers,
Lars
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Importing a bike from Europe
-
caker
- Posts: 235
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- Location: Haddonfield, NJ, USA
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Re: Importing a bike from Europe
Hi Lars,
I've purchased dozens of bikes from Europe and imported them to the US. You will need a shipping company, and they and the seller will complete the export papers, and then in the US you need someone to clear it through US Customs for you.
I've successfully cleared it through US Customs myself by visiting the US Customs office (here in Philly) - but it is unusual for them to have an individual do it - and although I am convinced the actual laws involved state that you CAN do it yourself, it's a lot of trouble convincing the agents and I've been turned away before, so I stopped doing it myself - it's not worth the hassle and a good importing company can do it for you for a few hundred bucks.
You will not owe any import taxes on bikes this old. Also they are free from any EPA restrictions being this old.
For shipping you have really two choices: by ship, or by air. By ship takes WEEKS if not longer, and they ask "would you like us to coat it in oil to protect it from the salt air for the voyage?" um, no thank you. I did it by ship the very first time I imported a bike and then never again - always air freight. Air freight is the best -- it leaves on a Tuesday and is at the US airport Wednesday morning for example
but it is not cheap...
If you crate the bike (which is a good idea) it'll be something like $400-500 extra.
So... bike pickup, custom crate, transport to the airport, paperwork, air freight ticket, etc these days will be like $4,000+ in total, or thereabouts. I'd guess by boat is half that?
Clearance through US Customs and the bond and so on will be another $500.
You can then pick it up from the airport yourself, or have the shipping co do the "last mile" delivery - another few hundred.
https://www.knopftours.com/ <-- Stefan Knopf and co are fantastic. I use them for all continental EU stuff. The best!
https://shippio.com/index.php <-- Giles and team are also fantastic. I use them for UK stuff.
https://www.schumachercargo.com/ <-- Based in LA, Warren Barnes and team there are fantastic for easy US Customs clearance and optional delivery to your home.
When you do this, have everyone primed and "on the same page". Once the cargo arrives at the airport you get 2 days before massive storage fees start accruing. You need to get it cleared through US Customs after it arrives and before the fees start happening. It can get stressful!
These are the lessons I've learned from collecting for the past 15 years. My secrets
What are you looking at buying, and from where/whom?
Cheers!
-Chris
I've purchased dozens of bikes from Europe and imported them to the US. You will need a shipping company, and they and the seller will complete the export papers, and then in the US you need someone to clear it through US Customs for you.
I've successfully cleared it through US Customs myself by visiting the US Customs office (here in Philly) - but it is unusual for them to have an individual do it - and although I am convinced the actual laws involved state that you CAN do it yourself, it's a lot of trouble convincing the agents and I've been turned away before, so I stopped doing it myself - it's not worth the hassle and a good importing company can do it for you for a few hundred bucks.
You will not owe any import taxes on bikes this old. Also they are free from any EPA restrictions being this old.
For shipping you have really two choices: by ship, or by air. By ship takes WEEKS if not longer, and they ask "would you like us to coat it in oil to protect it from the salt air for the voyage?" um, no thank you. I did it by ship the very first time I imported a bike and then never again - always air freight. Air freight is the best -- it leaves on a Tuesday and is at the US airport Wednesday morning for example
but it is not cheap...If you crate the bike (which is a good idea) it'll be something like $400-500 extra.
So... bike pickup, custom crate, transport to the airport, paperwork, air freight ticket, etc these days will be like $4,000+ in total, or thereabouts. I'd guess by boat is half that?
Clearance through US Customs and the bond and so on will be another $500.
You can then pick it up from the airport yourself, or have the shipping co do the "last mile" delivery - another few hundred.
https://www.knopftours.com/ <-- Stefan Knopf and co are fantastic. I use them for all continental EU stuff. The best!
https://shippio.com/index.php <-- Giles and team are also fantastic. I use them for UK stuff.
https://www.schumachercargo.com/ <-- Based in LA, Warren Barnes and team there are fantastic for easy US Customs clearance and optional delivery to your home.
When you do this, have everyone primed and "on the same page". Once the cargo arrives at the airport you get 2 days before massive storage fees start accruing. You need to get it cleared through US Customs after it arrives and before the fees start happening. It can get stressful!
These are the lessons I've learned from collecting for the past 15 years. My secrets
What are you looking at buying, and from where/whom?
Cheers!
-Chris
Re: Importing a bike from Europe
Thanks Chris. This is great info. I'm looking for a project r11 or r12, but open to other models. I've been looking on FB Marketplace right now, so it would be through a private seller.
So I'm trying to see how the steps would play out, especially with providing payment to the private seller, while ensuring they actually have possession and own the bike.
Seller and I agree on a price.
Contact Knopf to determine pickup time.
I wire Knopf the cash for bike purchase
Knopf picks up the bike from the seller and hands seller the cash.
Knopf gets it on a plane,
Schumacher clears customs at Boston Airport.
I pick it up at the airport.
Cheers,
Lars
So I'm trying to see how the steps would play out, especially with providing payment to the private seller, while ensuring they actually have possession and own the bike.
Seller and I agree on a price.
Contact Knopf to determine pickup time.
I wire Knopf the cash for bike purchase
Knopf picks up the bike from the seller and hands seller the cash.
Knopf gets it on a plane,
Schumacher clears customs at Boston Airport.
I pick it up at the airport.
Cheers,
Lars
Last edited by larsf on Sun Dec 29, 2024 11:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
-
caker
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:49 pm
- Location: Haddonfield, NJ, USA
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 17 times
Re: Importing a bike from Europe
You're welcome.
With payment, at some point you "need to trust someone". I trust Stefan and his team completely. He will escrow the purchase, but there are restrictions with how much cash he can travel with - contact him and he will let you know.
As far as picking it up from the cargo place at the airport -- be careful, some times they only have 4' tall loading docks and they will absolutely refuse to do any extra "work" beyond what's typical for them. This just happened to me last month - I arrived at "cargo city" with all my paperwork, got the crate released, then they refused to help in any way load it into my truck since it was 2' height difference with the loading dock. I don't blame them, but this was a big problem. Eventually I dispatched local shippers to go grab the crate with a truck with a lift gate and deliver it to me. And naturally, the first time they arrived to pick it up the system said it was already released and they were sent away. A mess and it was stressful as it was Thanksgiving week. I will just have Schumacher pick it up and deliver it from now on...
Good luck,
-Chris
With payment, at some point you "need to trust someone". I trust Stefan and his team completely. He will escrow the purchase, but there are restrictions with how much cash he can travel with - contact him and he will let you know.
As far as picking it up from the cargo place at the airport -- be careful, some times they only have 4' tall loading docks and they will absolutely refuse to do any extra "work" beyond what's typical for them. This just happened to me last month - I arrived at "cargo city" with all my paperwork, got the crate released, then they refused to help in any way load it into my truck since it was 2' height difference with the loading dock. I don't blame them, but this was a big problem. Eventually I dispatched local shippers to go grab the crate with a truck with a lift gate and deliver it to me. And naturally, the first time they arrived to pick it up the system said it was already released and they were sent away. A mess and it was stressful as it was Thanksgiving week. I will just have Schumacher pick it up and deliver it from now on...
Good luck,
-Chris
-
Dover Rider
- Posts: 78
- Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2021 11:52 pm
- Location: Port Townsend WA
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: Importing a bike from Europe
Chris,
Thanks so much for all this valuable information. Experience is always the best teacher and it takes a lot of the uncertainty out of a process like this. Other people have done it but it is good to hear first hand how to get it done. I am looking forward to meeting Stephan and discuss the possibility of a bike in Europe. A little different scenario but always good to know someone you can trust.
Thanks again
Paul
Thanks so much for all this valuable information. Experience is always the best teacher and it takes a lot of the uncertainty out of a process like this. Other people have done it but it is good to hear first hand how to get it done. I am looking forward to meeting Stephan and discuss the possibility of a bike in Europe. A little different scenario but always good to know someone you can trust.
Thanks again
Paul
-
Darryl.Richman
- Posts: 2158
- Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:00 am
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Re: Importing a bike from Europe
I've also used Stefan Knopf to import a couple bikes. He is The Best.
Bike 1: This was in 2007, things have changed since then. Stefan did all the work to fly it to SFO. I drove there in my pickup, talked to the guy at the Air France Cargo counter, he gave me some paperwork and I walked around the corner to fill out a form and pay $12 to the customs people. Then they brought it out on a forklift and put in the bed of my truck. The ease of this was made up by the royal hassle California put me through because I only had a photocopy of the bill of sale, which is not actually a legal document, but I had to obtain the original from the seller before I could register it.
Bike 2: 2 years ago I had Stefan bring another bike for me. He convinced me that shipping it by boat would be better, because he was coming over* and was driving from Orlando to LA to deliver some other bikes. He took care of everything, I didn't have to deal with the government at all. I didn't have a vehicle to bring it back to the Bay Area at the time, so I rode my modern bike down and rented a box truck. It turned out the rental place was around the corner from the motel Stefan was staying at. He was unhappy with a couple of the other people, one was already more than an hour late and hadn't called, the other couldn't come and the bike had to get up to Oregon somehow. I ended up loading my 2 bikes and the bike for Oregon in the back and drove home, and a week later the guy from Oregon came and picked up his bike.
Chris is right about US Customs and EPA. Vehicles before 1972 have no requirements. Good luck with your search!
*Stefan has another gig, he ships German Harleys over to Daytona for bike week. The Germans drop off in December and fly to Orlando at the end of February, pick up their bikes and ride around for a couple weeks, then drop it back with Stefan and fly home. Their bikes show up in Heidelberg in April, just as the weather is getting reasonable in Germany. A lot of Americans will bring a bike to Daytona and then spend the summer riding around Europe. Stefan can store bikes too, so you can ride your bike, store it, then come back next year and ride somewhere else. It's way cheaper than renting and you probably already have your touring bike set up for you.
Bike 1: This was in 2007, things have changed since then. Stefan did all the work to fly it to SFO. I drove there in my pickup, talked to the guy at the Air France Cargo counter, he gave me some paperwork and I walked around the corner to fill out a form and pay $12 to the customs people. Then they brought it out on a forklift and put in the bed of my truck. The ease of this was made up by the royal hassle California put me through because I only had a photocopy of the bill of sale, which is not actually a legal document, but I had to obtain the original from the seller before I could register it.
Bike 2: 2 years ago I had Stefan bring another bike for me. He convinced me that shipping it by boat would be better, because he was coming over* and was driving from Orlando to LA to deliver some other bikes. He took care of everything, I didn't have to deal with the government at all. I didn't have a vehicle to bring it back to the Bay Area at the time, so I rode my modern bike down and rented a box truck. It turned out the rental place was around the corner from the motel Stefan was staying at. He was unhappy with a couple of the other people, one was already more than an hour late and hadn't called, the other couldn't come and the bike had to get up to Oregon somehow. I ended up loading my 2 bikes and the bike for Oregon in the back and drove home, and a week later the guy from Oregon came and picked up his bike.
Chris is right about US Customs and EPA. Vehicles before 1972 have no requirements. Good luck with your search!
*Stefan has another gig, he ships German Harleys over to Daytona for bike week. The Germans drop off in December and fly to Orlando at the end of February, pick up their bikes and ride around for a couple weeks, then drop it back with Stefan and fly home. Their bikes show up in Heidelberg in April, just as the weather is getting reasonable in Germany. A lot of Americans will bring a bike to Daytona and then spend the summer riding around Europe. Stefan can store bikes too, so you can ride your bike, store it, then come back next year and ride somewhere else. It's way cheaper than renting and you probably already have your touring bike set up for you.
--Darryl Richman