[thegelding]

mmmm...has anybody had a tmax shipped from europe to the states? would it be street legal?

i know this is an expensive option...but i am looking to add a maxi-scoot to my garage and the black max is really the one i want and have found that if you really want something you should go ahead and slurge for it...you will enjoy it more....so....

has anybody done this, how hard is it and do you have to jump through hoops to get it past the DMV?

thanks

g

 

[kmotomusic]

This can't be done and be legal. I don't know all the ins and outs of the law, but a vehicle has to go through a process called homologation. In other words, to be approved to be imported a company has to have a support network for the vehicle. This includes mechanics trained to work on that particular vehicle and a parts network to supply it. This can be a very lengthy process from what I understand. Kymco is supposedly going through that now for their 500cc scooter called the Xciting. Rumor is they might be able to bring it here by July. If I'm wrong about any of this I welcome others to correct me or supply more info which might be helpful to you. The scooter I'd like to see imported is Gilera's Nexus (supposedly the sportiest scooter in the world). Gilera is owned by Piaggio. It doesn't have much storage space, but has a real rear suspension like a motorcycle (independent of the engine and drive train) and adjustable ride height. They just made some improvements to the Nexus, too. Use Google to check out their Website. Again, if I'm wrong about any of this (always a possibility) someone please correct me.

 

[gpsnut2003]

i cant speak for the usa, but you guys must have some sort of scheme like we have here in oz.

we can import a "one off" vehicle from just about any other country we like. the only requirements are that the vehicle must be Right hand drive (in the case of a car) unless the car is more than 30 years old, then LHD is ok. with a bike, this is obviously a non issue.

also, if it's a one off, it doesnt even have top pass our emissons regs.

there are a whole bunch of rules and regs that need to be sorted through, but it's possible. we call these imports "grey imports".

you will need to contact your local DMV to ask them what can be done in the usa. here in oz, if for example i were to go overseas for a holiday, and i buy a vehicle while im away, i can legally bring that vehicle back to oz with me. if i have owned it for more than 3 months (while overseas), they even waive the import duties on it !

so im guessing that there is a way to import something into the usa. im sure you guys have a lot of JDM cars on the road that are not imported by their various manufactures.

please keep us posted as to what you find out.

jason

 

[Rubble]

It's a pipe dream. There are far too many things like EPA emissions testing to go through to make it worthwhile. I could se someone spending maybe ten times what the T-Max costs and months of legal grief to make it street legal in North America. If it was easy to do you would see those things in every city.
Either buy what's available and start riding and having fun or write to Yamaha and tell them how much you want one and wait and hope and pray.... and wait....and wait....and wait...

Dave

 

[thegelding]

well, living here in new mexico, i know i could bring one up from mexico no problem...if they sold them there...but they don't sell them here in the states nor mexico nor canada...

getting them through the dmv here i don't think would be a huge problem...they didn't know what my stella scooter was yet gave me a licence no problem...of course i had a local bill of sale...still, if they sold in mexico i could probably get it through...

another concern would be service...would the locals do service on a tmax?

of course none of this matters if i can't buy one...

just wondering as i thought at least one person here had a tmax and was using it in the states and i wondered how they did it...

will look through the photo gallery as i know i saw one there

g

 

[RonStewart]

The real answer comes from your state and federal government, and depends on the vehicle.

I once imported an SV-650 from the States into Canada, even though it wasn't otherwise available in Canada. All Suzukis that can be imported into the US can be imported into Canada. On the other hand, a Canadian resident cannot bring a Ural into Canada, no way, no how, even though they are imported into the USA.

 

[Red Herring]

The real answer comes from your state and federal government, and depends on the vehicle.

I once imported an SV-650 from the States into Canada, even though it wasn't otherwise available in Canada. All Suzukis that can be imported into the US can be imported into Canada. On the other hand, a Canadian resident cannot bring a Ural into Canada, no way, no how, even though they are imported into the USA.

Thats not quite true.

You can import almost anything into Canada, as long as it is on the Transport Canada approved vehicle list. Otherwise, the vehicle must be 15 years to the day old, or older, then it is importable restricton free.

The States is a whole other ball of wax. There, the vehicle must be 25 years old, or older. Of course, I know people who have managed to "sneak" in non legal vehicles. Depends on who you know. But by in large, not a hope in hell of getting a T-Max in legally.

 

[RonStewart]

Urals are on that list - last time I looked it specifically said no Urals are permitted. Funny about the exemption for 15 year old vehicles - a 16 year old Ural is supposed to be safer and less polluting than a new one? I guess we get the government we deserve, huh?

Anyhoo, the OP is going to need to go to his DMV and/or US Customs to find out the answer to his specific question.

 

[Red Herring]

I don't know why it's 15 years old, and it has nothing to do with safer, and the vehicle will still have to pass a federal safety inspection.

I have imported several vehicles from Japan (no scooters so far ), and have found out all about this issue. I

f you want a Ural, you can have a Ural. It just has to be older than 15 years. Here is a link to the list http://www.riv.ca/english/US_vehicle_admissibility.pdf , and I assume you are talking trucks? So you can quite legally import one from anywhere you can find one, so long as it was manufactured, as of this writing, on or before April 15, 1991.

To import an unknown vehicle (not on the list), and this holds true for the states as well, you might have to surrender the vehicle, or several of them, for safety testing. This can include crash ratings. So be prepared for a large expense, lots of paper work, and many fees if you decide to try and import grey market vehicles. Of course, you could always import a "wrecked" one, for "parts", which is legal, and after the repairs, swap out the vin for another. That of course id illegal.

The only real way into the states is to have a friend in customs. Thats really the only easy way. I know several fellas (2) who managed to get diesel Land Cruisers imported and registered. It is sort of a don't ask, don't tell situation.

I can help with the Ural situation if you like :wink:

 

[thegelding]

mmmm...that pdf said all models of yamahas are legal to be brought in and registered

g

 

[RonStewart]

It says that we can bring Yamahas from the US that were " designed, manufactured and certified by the original manufacturer to meet
all applicable US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards" into Canada...not that we can bring any Yamaha to Canada.

Red, I obviously misremembered. Urals come under "NOTE : ALL OTHER MOTORCYCLE (including moped & scooter) MANUFACTURERS NOT SHOWN ON THIS LIST ARE INADMISSIBLE" and I thought they were mentioned by name. I was just curious when I looked into Urals.

What's a Ural? Russian BMW knock-off. They have been making the same 1940s model with minor improvements (and I mean minor) for decades. You have to really be serious to get these things to run. Lots of them have a sidecar with a powered wheel. A good link for the curious.

 

[Red Herring]

LOL! There is a fellow near me who is selling them brand new. There are several North American dealers now, and the powered sidecar is a hoot! Great if you like 1950's state of the art technology!

 

[RonStewart]

This is turning into a hijack. Oh well, I think the OP's question has been answered.

Yeah, I just saw that Savage Cycle in Sidney is selling them, as is Shail's over here. Odd, then, that we can't import new ones from the US. Not that I'd want to, you understand.

 

[thegelding]

got this reply on another forum:

There is one near me (poster is in Ohio) ....I've seen him/talked to him at a bike night...If I remember right he was military and brought it home when tour of duty was over ...When I see him next time I'll ask if it was a nightmare to title/register

so all we have to do is get our military friends to buy one overseas and bring it back for us....

g

 

[texascycle]

It just saddens me to read this dicussion ... can someone send this to Yamaha and tell them to get the Tmax here where it belongs!

But, for the topic ... I have seen many "illegal" bikes around, mostly two-strokes. Just call it a Majesty Max or something. My FZ1 goes by 3 different names from my title to insurance to registration ... nobody really cares that much about the scoots when it comes to stuff like that. I bought a Vento a couple years ago and it was not on the list ... they just added it and gave me a license plate. Done.

 

[Blexcroid]

What's a Ural? Russian BMW knock-off. They have been making the same 1940s model with minor improvements (and I mean minor) for decades. You have to really be serious to get these things to run.

Urals are the "Yugo" of motorcycles! :lol: