[JB]

http://www.voxan.com/voxan/gamme.asp

well, turns out i'm moving to Paris for a year or so. maybe i'll come back with some Black Magic.

my plan is to get a slick Derbi, Cagiva or Aprilia 125cc (don't need to pass the motorcycle license for anything under 126cc and motorcycle licenses are a pain in the ass over there) that i'll definitely bring back to Maryland. But i was also thinking that i might just get a Voxan and not even title it in France but take it straight to the container. there is a horsepower law there that limits engines to 100hp or so (can you imagine a busa stuck at 106hp?) so the Voxans aren't more powerful but i bet if i talk to the right people i could get 130ish horses..... on the twisties in western MD it would make for quite a unique ride!

here's some info for the infidels:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voxan(motorcycles)

CB650, FauxCatiFT500

 

[cafeteria_racer]

French/American

http://www.engmore.com/home.html

 

[Geeto67]

ok,

from what I remember bikes are not "limited" to 100hp but speed limited. Those 186mph speed limiters are EU compliant. If there is something else in france that says limited to 100hp than I am not aware of it but as far as I know bikes in europe have to be EU compliant which is manditory speed limited.

Also if you are trying to bring a vehicle in that was never sold in the states than all I have to say is good fuckin luck. Chances are you are going to be held up in customs forever and probably never get a new bike in. You have a better shot of getting a used bike registered in your name in than anything off the dealers floor. I am thinking the only way you will get a brandy new one in to the country is if you disassemble it and list it as a collection of motorcycle parts when shipping, but then you will probably have to register it as a custom when you get to the states.

There used to be a way to import used vehicles from overseas but I forget how now, and if it is newer and not us emissions compliant then that avenue may be closed. Vintage stuff is usually emission exempt and can be shipped.

US service men overseas usually can get anything shipped back, you may want to buddy up to any stationed in france or somewhere else in europe. I have seen other bikes shipped back that ought not to have been in the states but were because a ?US serviceman owned them.

 

[jbranson]

Yep, you'll never get a street legal bike back in this country in one piece. Those days are long past.

Race bikes yes. Although probably still much easier as a collection of parts.
JohnnyB

 

[Chikor]

i think it would be easier to get one that is used or get one a use it there and then when you come back it will be much easier to import....

Ride Fast and Take Chances

 

[jbranson]

Be very careful...the typical penalty will be confiscation of the bike. And there is no way at all to currently get a Non-US compliant bike into the uS. It HAS to have the EPA certification stickers etc. that state it complies with US pollution and safety laws. Off road, racing, non-registerable vehicles are easier.
I've seen containers of non-registerable or used vintage machines that make it over here, but your chances of getting a new streetable bike in the uS is slim to none.
Last way people were doing it in the 80's and early 90's was getting them in through Canada...or taking advantage of Canada's different import/pollution laws. Bikes like Aprilia 125's, older Suzuki 500 Gamma two strokes etc.
Believe me, it won't be worth your time and money.
JohnnyB

 

[FR]

I thought this thread was gonna be about some pharmaceutical drugs...


FR

 

[Geeto67]

quote:
I thought this thread was gonna be about some pharmaceutical drugs...


FR

I don't know about you but that voxan cafe racer in orange sp give me better wood than viagra.

Anyway, there are companies that specialize in converting exotic european cars never brought into the states to meet use emissions and safery. I forget the name but there is a real famous one in CT. it might not be bad to talk to one of these people and see if there is a loop hole for importing these kind of bikes. I don't see safety being an issue, just emissions:

The following passenger cars, light-duty trucks, heavy-duty engines and motorcycles are subject to Federal emission standards:

* Gasoline-fueled cars and light-duty trucks originally manufactured after December 31, 1967.

* Diesel-fueled cars originally manufactured after December 31, 1974.

* Diesel-fueled light-duty trucks originally manufactured after December 31, 1975.

* Heavy-duty engines originally manufactured after December 31, 1969.

* Motorcycles with a displacement of more than 49 cubic centimeters originally manufactured after December 31, 1977.

Beginning with the 1974 model year, vehicles that were originally manufactured to meet U.S. emission requirements, if driven outside the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, Taiwan or the Bahama Islands, may be required to have their oxygen sensor and/or catalytic converter replaced. You may import your U.S.-version vehicle under a Customs bond and have any qualified mechanic perform the necessary work. You should contact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) directly for detailed requirements and options before shipping your vehicle.

Nonconforming vehicles must be imported for you by a currently certified Independent Commercial Importer (ICI), a list of which is available from the EPA. This list should be obtained before you decide to import a car. The ICI will be responsible for assuring that your car complies with all U.S. emission requirements. (As of July 1, 1988, EPA no longer has the one-time exemption for vehicles five or more model-years old.) Be aware that EPA will deny entry to certain makes, models, and model years if an ICI is not certified or is unwilling to accept responsibility for the vehicle(s) in question.

After reading more on this there is a "conditional" admission that the DOT and the EPA can grant. I also found out that the dept of agriculture requires the vehicle to be throughly cleaned before import and that the gov't gets 2.4% of the purchase price in duties for motorcycles.

So it is impossible for an individual to import a non epa and dot vehicle even if her were to modify it to conform, however the EPA and DOT recognize independent commercial importers and actually certify them. ICIs can bring in whatever they want (as long as it is not on the US banned list) so long as they can modify the vehicle to meet US standards


this is a good read:

http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/entering_us/7importingyourcar.htm#emission

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/quiktext.htm

here is the EPA's list of ICI's who I suggest you e-mail and ask about the possibility of importing a voxan, these guys would def. know more:

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/icilist.pdf



Edited by - geeto67 on Nov 06 2007 8:31:59 PM

 

[JB]

hey kids, funny how this thread turned out!

so, yeah, since the 80's there has been a 100hp cap in France. some bikes like the busa can get away with 106 because of their displacement and it would be impossible to get it lower.

and i know about importing them vehicles, my family has done it both ways. the reason they have to go through importing companies is that it is a guarantee to comply. before people would just bring something in, pay their local mechanics and all the sudden the car/bike/boat/truck/submarine meets federal requirements. the guy later doesn't want that Lada anymore so he sells it "as is" and the next owner is fucked cause he/she can't get it to go through inspection. that's what they are trying to cut down on. they want these companies to take responsibility for these vehicles. also, there has been a bit of cashmoneyhoney spent by Ferrari and co to crack down on gray market cars which is why some cars aren't "allowed" in the US. i have been advised by a contact that i ought to contact Voxan directly to see if there is any interest from their perspective to get a bike in the states.

more Viagra: http://www.voxan.com/voxan/photos.asp

CB650, FauxCatiFT500

Edited by - jb on Nov 07 2007 09:09:16 AM