Topic: importing 1970s motorcycle into ontario

[el kabong]

i bought a 1979 kz1000 on ebay last week.  the bike is located in chicago and i'm picking it up in a few weeks.

does anyone have any experiece importing an old bike into ontario?

there's a long thread here:

http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28816

which includes this pretty good post:

"This is invaluable. Read it, and RIV and your off to the races. Here's a bit about MY experience.

The bike, 1987 Kawasaki EX500
From: Dude In New Hampshire
Function: Summer road fun (so licensed).

Well - for starters, New Hampshire does not issue titles on vehicles over 15 years old. A Bill of sale and verification of vehicle identification form needs to be provided to me from dude in New hampshire. He faxes them up to (I obtain the originals when I picked up the bike).
*72 business day hours (3 days)* prior to my picking up the bike, I faxed my paperwork down to Lewiston US Customs. Call about 1/2 hour later to verify they got it (they'll ask for the VIN). If they do, and its good and legible... you get to wait.

Drive down, usual questions at the border entering the USA, and off to New hampshire.

Picked up the bike, trailered it back to the border.

NOTE: You can only export a vehicle at:
A. Between 8am and 4pm business days. Another time and they will turn you around. This is mandated by US customs as Canada Customs requires a US Customs seal on your paperwork before letting the bike into Canada. Thus: Plan your trip back to work with this time schedule.
US Customs will ask for your paperwork and bill of sale. The US Customs part takes 5 minutes or so.
B. You can only export vehicles at certain exit/entry points. Lewiston bridge is one of them.
C. The place you sent the paperwork. Dont fax down to lewiston, and try and use Detroit to get back.

Head over the bridge (pay your toll), and stop into Canada Customs. They will ask for your paperwork and ID - check it out, and you get to pay some GST (on bikes over 15 years old - RIV rules don't apply). They will physically inspect the VIN against that of your paperwork.
They will give you some paperwork to boot for your registration of the bike.

Rest of it is run of the mill at the MTO. Just take all your paperwork with you.

I had a bit of a hitch with the no title thing - but I got through without much trouble.

There you go - I hope this helps you in yoru quest for a USA bike.

Nites "

does anyone here have any related comments/experience?  i'd like to do all my homewok in advance.  thx.

edit:  well, i tried to summarize the process myself at the end of that thread (page 5, nov 20/05):

http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28816&start=60

we'll see if there's any feedback.

[seaweb11]

My exprience here in BC.
1st You have to have a bill of sale and a copy of the reg faxed to the US baorder you intend to cross.
Give them at least 5 days and then call to see if it gets the OK. They want to check it against stolen records.
When you come across you stop at the US side and pick up some paper work from them and take that stuff to Canadian boarder guys,

Done!

[el kabong]

thx for your post.  i brought the bike into canada yesterday.  i posted my experience on the GTA link above.  if anyone is interested in buying a 1970s sohc from the USA, the import process is real simple.

[smashme33]

thx for your post.  i brought the bike into canada yesterday.  i posted my experience on the GTA link above.  if anyone is interested in buying a 1970s sohc from the USA, the import process is real simple.

 Yes, although it can be simple with the proper paperwork, the website with Canadian Customs vehicle importing information makes it look like a nightmare!