Triumphrat

Ash73x

I have been considering this option, as there is a larger choice of Bonnevilles there, and possibly cheaper in some cases. I have read up a bit about it and i know i can ride the bike for 6 months in spain before having to import it.

Would just like to know if anyone has went through the experience, as i'm sure it's not very straight forward if spanish legislation is involved

Forchetto

I did, but it was a brand-new unregistered example that came in a crate from dealer Jack lilley.

I ordered it complete with a continental-dipping headlamp, KM/H speedometer and the rip-off £100 certificate of EU compliance (a single sheet of paper...). You'll need these items for registration in Spain either now or later on.

For a new bike you'll need a temporary "Green" registration plate and you can ride around with that for some months. You'll have to apply to the Department of Transport for registration and get the bike inspected by some moron in the ITV vehicle testing station, they tend to justify their jobs by making a big thing of theatrically measuring width of handlebars, markings on the flasher and headlamp lens, that sort of nonsense.

You can point out to them that you have a certificate of compliance to tell them that the bike meets the same standards as if it had been bought in Spain, to no avail...

Eventually you'll get given a permanent registration plate number. It cost a fair bit, I forget how much but in the end it was compensated by the currency exchange difference so it came out cheaper overall.

I wouldn't bother doing it again though.

bonza

what's a continental-dipping headlight?

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2007 B&W T100.
AI & Snorkel gone, Dom Tourers, 40/120/1 shim 3 turns, TTP stage one, Dart screen, Pingel fuel valve, Monza gas cap, Avon Roadriders, Triumph fabric saddle bags sometimes

Odysseus

Hi Ash. I did import my second-had bike to Portugal, not Spain. The details are different to Forchetto's explanation, obviously, but my conclusion is the same as his - I wouldn't do it again. I took the bike back on the ferry to Bilbao and then rode down to Lisbon.

Do you aim to buy new or second-hand? Second-hand bikes are far cheaper in the UK than here (I would guess that second-hand bikes are quite a bit cheaper in Spain than in Portugal, because your bike market is huge in comparison to ours), but the expense of bringing it back coupled with the bureaucracy costs evened out the price over all.

The real pain was the bureaucracy hoops I had to jump through to get the bike registered. It took many months, pointless homologation tests and hanging around in offices for paperwork before it was all done. I lived in Spain so many years ago that I don't have much recollection of the bureaucracy, but I doubt it's much better than ours! The only up side of buying a bike in the UK and bringing it back in my view is the wide choice, as you mention.

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Oddball (Kelly's Heroes): Man, I only ride 'em - I don't know what makes 'em work.

Forchetto

It's that the dipped beam is biased towards the right side of the road. A bike bought for use on British roads dips to the left as that's the side they drive on.

parallelworld

& that will be the correct side then ; )

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per cognoscenti

Ash73x

Thanks for the replies guys.

Not sure if i'm buying second hand or new Odysseus, still saving my dinero. A new bike would be great but if i can save a couple of thousand euro on a good low mileage bike a year or two old i reckon that's my best bet. I can also start my mods with the money saved. In saying that if i did buy one in the UK new i think there's something to do with the VAT that saves money on importation? I'm sure that you know all about that Forchetto.

Well going by what you are saying it sounds like a right headache to do it, so probably worth paying that little bit extra initial cost (although i may get lucky and get a good deal) and waiting to find the right bike. There's loads of T100's for sale in Barcelona and surrounding areas, but not so many mag wheels, which is what i want. Although a few do come up now and again, some at reasonable prices, others at ridiculous prices. Guess i'll just try to be patient and see what turns up in a few months, when i'll have the cash

Choprocker

go on londonbikers.com and contact a bloke called mightlife, he is in barcelona with his bike from the uk so will be able to tell you all.

Ash73x

Thanks Choprocker, will do

Ash73x

Oh dear Choprocker what have you done??? Another addictive biking site with forum for me to indulge in!! I thank you!!

Ps. Sent a message to mightlife, thanks again!