How To Import Motorbike From Japan

Importing a motorcycle from Japan is an enjoyable process. There are many shops that offer to import motorcycles for you, and they can be very helpful. Most of them have at least some experience with Japanese bikes and how to take care of them!

Many people are surprised to find out that it is not too hard to take care of a Japanese bike. Some people even say it is more fun than riding a Harley-Davidson or Buell!

The most important thing you need to know about taking care of a motorcycle is how to oil it. The smartest way is by machine oiling it. You can also use spray oils, but then you have to check which ones are compatible with the bike’s bearings and components.

Find out the price

Before you can start importing a motorbike into the United States, you first need to find out the price in your country. You can do this by going to the manufacturer’s website or speaking with a salesperson at a national motorcycle show or dealership.

Most manufacturers conduct product testing and marketing campaigns to make their bikes competitively priced against imported motorcycles. When looking at the price, keep in mind that you are purchasing a high-quality machine that has been manufactured in your country.

You will also need to pay applicable taxes and fees when completing your import, so be sure to estimate these before you start. It is also wise to have some savings money ready in case of problems during or after import.

Make sure it is in good condition

If your motorcycle is very old, please make sure it is in good condition.

Modern motorcycles have powerful electric motors, sophisticated systems to balance power and safety, and advanced suspension systems. If your motorcycle does not have any of these features, it might not be imported into the United States legally.

If you think your motorbike looks like it is in good condition, you can import it. Theoretically, if your bike looks new, rides perfectly and has no wear or damage to the plastics or components, you can bring it into the United States without a special permit.

However, if your bike has some signs of wear such as tears or cracks in the plastics or components, then there are some things you must do before bringing it into the country to make sure it is legal.

Check that all parts are working correctly

Before you start dissembling and wiring up a new motorbike, make sure all parts are working correctly.

There may be a few cheap replacement parts that do not work with the motorcycle. You can check this by buying some and seeing if they work with the machine!

Some parts such as spark plugs, wires, and starters may be hard to see but are very important. A loose spark plug can potentially cause a poor start or burning smell. A bad starter can result in a dead machine.

Make sure to check that all parts are included in your trip to the store! If some are missing, have them mailed to you before traveling so you can fix them on the trip.

Ask the seller if they will reduce the price

If the price seems too high, try asking the seller if they can reduce the price. This may help with getting a good deal on your bike. Most of the time, they will say no because it is too expensive, but you still can!

If the seller says no, then look for a bike that is cheaper but not cheap. For example, if he says a bike costs $700 but you say $600 because it is cheaper looking, he might be more likely to lower the price because of you.

Ask around about how much money you would need to pay for this bike and use that as your cutoff.

Ask if there are any other discounts available

If you plan to import a motorcycle from Japan, be sure to ask if there are any other discounts or financing offers available. Most finance companies offer a motorcycle as a loan, so this is an extra cost that you should consider.

Some banks do not offer financing for motorcycles, so be aware of this before signing off on the paperwork. Having the ability to borrow the money at a low interest rate can save you some money in the long run, and asking if this is offered may help your application get accepted more quickly.

In order to import a motorcycle, you will need to register it with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This process can be hard or impossible depending on if you have no experience with registering a vehicle or not.

Having enough money to register a motorcycle is important as it can take up to three weeks to receive your VIN number from the DMV.

Get a survey done on the bike

This is a crucial step in importing your motorbike from Japan. It is highly recommended that you get a survey done on your bike to make it easier to deal with other riders and shops.

Many Japanese guys ride their bikes at highway speeds, so it is important that you get accurate terminology down. As this is important for other riders, shop owners, and mechanics, this helps make the transition easier!

Surveys can be done by going to the local bike store or by hiring a professional. Both are great ways to handle this import process. If you do not have professional experience, finding some good basic surveying will work fine.

The important thing here is getting appropriate terminology down for the bike. For example, a throttle-eqiupmented (TQ) style of riding is different than an aggressive style (AS), so there must be an appropriate term for each.

Have the bike insured

If you are thinking of importing a motorbike from Japan, you should make sure it is insured. Theoretically, if it is not insured, then it can be seized by the authorities.

As per the law in Japan, all motorcycles must be insured. This includes personal bikes and motorbikes used for business purposes. The total amount of money that is required to insure a bike is around ¥50,000 (about $520 – £350 at converted rates).

Unfortunately, there are no coverages available for uninsured bikes in Japan. Even though this may seem like a small amount of money, it can prove to be crucial if the bike is damaged or stolen.

In this article, we will discuss ways to import a motorbike from Japan without buying any coverages.

Find out if you need to import vehicle documents or not

If you are riding a motorbike that does not require vehicle documents, you do not need to worry about it being seized or registering it in Japan. However, if you have a motorcycle that needs to be registered or licensed, then you must obtain official documents from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (MOTI).

These include: a title, registration card, insurance card, and motorcycle license. All of these must be submitted to your local government office as proof of ownership.

If you own the motorcycle in Japan but do not have a motorcycle license or title, you can apply for one at your local MOTI office. You can do this only after receiving official recognition from your local government office that you are the owner of the bike.

You will also need to furnish proof of payment for the license and/or insurance coverage.