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The 25 year rule

Twostrokerider

Twostrokerider

New member
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Location
Central Coast
Moto(s)
Too many bikes
So some of my favorite 250 two stroke bikes will hit the 25 year mark in 4 years.. I heard that any bike that is 25 years or older falls under the " Antique Motorcycle" category.. No going through EPA, or DOT etc..

So does that mean that my friend in Japan can ship out one of these bikes to me, and it just goes through customs without a hitch? :D
 
Twostrokerider said:
So does that mean that my friend in Japan can ship out one of these bikes to me, and it just goes through customs without a hitch? :D
Click to expand...

Yes. Sort of. You will need an importer to process the paperwork, but after 25 years, importation of gray market vehicles into the U.S. (and even registration in the great state of Kommifornia) is very simple.

I have two Canadian gray market motorcycles, and I approve of this message.
 
For cars at 25 years federal crash standards are waived, emissions standards never go away.

I would assume it is the same for bikes so no, unless you want to pay for certification its never going to be legally imported
 
So serious question on the veradero.. I don't know much about them but it appears none of them are 25 years old so this 25 year rule doesn't apply. One can petition manufacturers to supply documentation stating emissions compliance which can then be used to import and register.. Did your friend do that, or possibly the importer did?
 
I looked into this for cars once, as I remember it, 25 years gets you a pass on federal requirements (crash test etc), but California will still require smog compliance on anything 1973 or newer.
 
auntiebling said:
So serious question on the veradero.. I don't know much about them but it appears none of them are 25 years old so this 25 year rule doesn't apply. One can petition manufacturers to supply documentation stating emissions compliance which can then be used to import and register.. Did your friend do that, or possibly the importer did?
Click to expand...

Excellent question. I have no idea how he did it.
I hypothesize that there is a common engine and exhaust design that makes it fall within EPA compliance ranges, which would be a matter of getting the documents that show the exhaust output.
I'm pretty sure that's how one of the CX650 Eurosports made it into the US before it was 25 years old. The common engine was the CX650, and the Canadian carburetion was jetted below US specifications for the CX650 Custom. Very easy to document.
 
It is interesting that these possibilities exist but heaven forbid you bring a US legal vehicle into CA BEFORE it has 7500,miles on it. Oy

Yes, I am aware there are several nuances to the 7500 mile rule. Allow me my hyperbolous indignation!
 
Sign me up. Put me on the list. Will rent garage.
 
Careful what you put up online. I'm a landrover person in another life and the grey market landrover importers are catching hell this year from the feds. Many not completely legit defenders have been seized and crushed, leaving the folks forking out money to bring them in completely SOL. The completely legit ones are getting a lot of scrutiny too. They were definitely watching the forums. And California smog applies to 1976 and newer model years for cars/trucks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzBFwFos-o0&feature=kp
 
oops double post! Sorry!
 
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