K11 Owners Group

[ljjohns]

My daughter and her husband surprised me yesterday when they informed me that they planned to move from Vail CO to Perth Australia: SIL is a hard-rock mining engineer who sees great opportunities to learn from the major mine operations in the region (albeit, as I understand it, the work-sites are "fly-in, fly out).

I had been planning, next summer, to gift her with my '91 K75. That plan will have to be adjusted, but I'd really like her to have it.

What challenges will I/we face in bringing a US bike into Australia?

Thanks
Larry Johnson
El Paso TX
_________________
1993 K1100LT (Washington)
1995 K1100LTSE
1996 K1100LTSE (parts)
2003 K1200LTC
1991 K75RT

[drikko]

OK so firstly, make sure he has a job lined up before he comes over, the mines are a bit nepotistic ie it's who you know not what you know. Having said that there's many job recruitment sites, but avoid any that want money up front, they are scams generally.There's certainly plenty of work especially for engineers so it should be a doddle to get a job up there. The fly in/out jobs are usually the best paying ones but accomodation on the west coast aint cheap!

I recently brought a Laverda over from Cal to OZ, bur being a 1991 model it will be a bit more expensiveas it falls outside the special interest vehicle (old) category.

Costs were about 1300 for pickup and freight, 10% GST for the value of the bike, $200 for compliance and rego examination, Whatever the rego is in WA which I don;t know but it's 2-300 on this side.

As it's a gift there won't be a Bill of Sale, so they will use the street value of it which you will have to determine, fortunately they will take the redbook value which is usually pretty low. Now this is all assuming one is an OZ citizen, I have NO idea if it's even possible if you aren't. You'd have to ask the gumment about that.

Now being a 1991 modrl it doesn't fit the "historic" model age which is currently 1989. Lots of info here:-

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/importing_vehicles/index.aspx

Compliancy shouldn't be a problem, they'll look for unmodified exhaust, and might ping you for the LHD low beam on the headlight although they didn;t care for mine. They didn't care about the MPH on the speedo, and customs will check it closely for any dirt, so clean it thoroughly or they will charge you $100+ to clean it for you.

So to be frank, K75s aren't that expensive here (check prices at www.bikesales.com.au) and they sell easily, might be cheaper to keep it there and buy something here temporarily, that way they have a bike in both countries PM me if you want any info.

BTW the best job site is www.seek.com.au as well as the mining companies, BHP, Rio Tinto, Extrata. QLD and NSW also have large mining opportunities so don't ignore them!
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

[drikko]

BTW I should add that the roads around Perth and the rest of WA are deadly BORING!!! There's about 20,000 kms of roads and only 3 corners, so it's not biking heaven in the least. Everyone I know over there get into dirt bike riding and mostly have GS type bikes as there's 10s of thousands of dirt roads that are actually far more interesting. Surfing/sailing and shark dodging are bigger sports, oh and kangaroo shooting of course, all combined with lashings of cold beer....

East coast, well that's different, it has both, but nothing like the rockies.... Our biggest "mountain" is a whole 7000ft high to give you an idea:) WA's biggest mountin is about 200ft high and they are mining that one,
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

[ljjohns]

Drikko:

That is a very comprehensive response! While for sentimental reasons, I'd like her to have my K75, you raise any number of good points, including the possibility that she might not even enjoy riding in the area (remember that they're up at around 10,000 feet in the Rockies at the moment).

I have a lot of confidence in the wisdom of this couple, and they'll have all the details covered before they make a move. They've been to Australia several times, as Ben likes to compete in hard-rock mining contests; they're exceptionally smart folks and haven't made a wrong move yet.

I'll keep you informed: at the moment, they're just at the start point as they have just recently applied for accelerated work permits/visas. And there's no urgency: Ben makes big bucks as a consultant at the moment and so there's no economic urgency.

Again, thanks for the comprehensive response; I'm sharing it with my daughter.

Larry Johnson
El Paso TX
_________________
1993 K1100LT (Washington)
1995 K1100LTSE
1996 K1100LTSE (parts)
2003 K1200LTC
1991 K75RT