Norton Imports

phil yates · Jun 18, 2014

Just found out from my import agent, a Commando fitted with a super charger can't be imported into Australia. What utter bullshit. Seems any mods are not acceptable. Makes me wonder about the legality of my imported Fastback with various mods from original. I don't know where the line is drawn and frankly don't care. This is a beautiful country in which to live, but is drowning in bureaucratic bullshit, like the rest of the western world I guess. No wonder the Chinese belt the western world with cheap production.

But there is a way around anything. Anyone going down this track like me, you can get everything done in the USA, then unbolt the super charger and ship it separately. Then bolt it back together when it gets here. You'd think they'd be smart enough to figure that. But we are not dealing with intelligent people when it comes to bureaucracy.

I don't know anyone else with a Drouin Commando in Australia. I'll bet registering it would be absolutely impossible. But I have a way around that too.

You just beat the bastards at their own game!

Phil

Nater_Potater · Jun 18, 2014

phil yates said:
Just found out from my import agent, a Commando fitted with a super charger can't be imported into Australia. What utter bullshit. Seems any mods are not acceptable. Makes me wonder about the legality of my imported Fastback with various mods from original. I don't know where the line is drawn and frankly don't care. This is a beautiful country in which to live, but is drowning in bureaucratic bullshit, like the rest of the western world I guess. No wonder the Chinese belt the western world with cheap production.

But there is a way around anything. Anyone going down this track like me, you can get everything done in the USA, then unbolt the super charger and ship it separately. Then bolt it back together when it gets here. You'd think they'd be smart enough to figure that. But we are not dealing with intelligent people when it comes to bureaucracy.

I don't know anyone else with a Drouin Commando in Australia. I'll bet registering it would be absolutely impossible. But I have a way around that too.

You just beat the bastards at their own game!

Phil

Sure; just register it with the single Mikuni to show them what a slow, threat-less piece of farm implement it truly is, then swap the blower back on once it's home.
Nathan

pete.v · Jun 18, 2014

Just put it on yourself ya lazy bastard.

Hobot · Jun 18, 2014

You likely don't even know what you are saying with the term Australian Govt or its "law" and may not want to know the facts but in case ya do like me....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umVj5XQYAi8

phil yates · Jun 18, 2014

Nater_Potater said:
phil yates said:

Just found out from my import agent, a Commando fitted with a super charger can't be imported into Australia. What utter bullshit. Seems any mods are not acceptable. Makes me wonder about the legality of my imported Fastback with various mods from original. I don't know where the line is drawn and frankly don't care. This is a beautiful country in which to live, but is drowning in bureaucratic bullshit, like the rest of the western world I guess. No wonder the Chinese belt the western world with cheap production.

But there is a way around anything. Anyone going down this track like me, you can get everything done in the USA, then unbolt the super charger and ship it separately. Then bolt it back together when it gets here. You'd think they'd be smart enough to figure that. But we are not dealing with intelligent people when it comes to bureaucracy.

I don't know anyone else with a Drouin Commando in Australia. I'll bet registering it would be absolutely impossible. But I have a way around that too.

You just beat the bastards at their own game!

Phil

Click to expand...

Sure; just register it with the single Mikuni to show them what a slow, threat-less piece of farm implement it truly is, then swap the blower back on once it's home.
Nathan

The blower???
I'm talking two blowers!!

Phil

phil yates · Jun 18, 2014

pete.v said:
Just put it on yourself ya lazy bastard.

I didn't say I wasn't going to pete.
But why would I do that?
That sort of attitude puts people out of jobs.

Phil

ashman · Jun 18, 2014

Phil the last bike show I went to here in Brissy there was a super charged Norton on display, it was ridden to the show, so it was registed, didn't get a chance to talk to the owner but it looked well ridden and by the look of the rear tyre it had done a few burn outs.

There are many ways to import things into Aus that can beat the law makers and customs, I was up at BJs the other day and most of their bikes are none goers and classed as for parts as well a lot of spare Norton engines, he gets most of his bikes from the USA, last year they offered me a 73 850 roadster for $6,000 fresh out of the container, it was all orginal and untouched from new, I was temped but didn't have the money at the time, I don't think it would have taken much to get going, Chris must have been in a good mood that day.

Ashley

phil yates · Jun 18, 2014

hobot said:
You likely don't even know what you are saying with the term Australian Govt or its "law" and may not want to know the facts but in case ya do like me....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umVj5XQYAi8

Unfortunately, that guy told them too much. I wouldn't even tell them there was a super charger on the Commando. The dumb Fs probably wouldn't know the difference. But my import agent can't take that risk for his own business given that he has to sign the paperwork.

Phil

phil yates · Jun 18, 2014

ashman said:
Phil the last bike show I went to here in Brissy there was a super charged Norton on display, it was ridden to the show, so it was registed, didn't get a chance to talk to the owner but it looked well ridden and by the look of the rear tyre it had done a few burn outs.

There are many ways to import things into Aus that can beat the law makers and customs, I was up at BJs the other day and most of their bikes are none goers and classed as for parts as well a lot of spare Norton engines, he gets most of his bikes from the USA, last year they offered me a 73 850 roadster for $6,000 fresh out of the container, it was all orginal and untouched from new, I was temped but didn't have the money at the time, I don't think it would have taken much to get going, Chris must have been in a good mood that day.

Ashley

Simple Ashley. You just bolt a super charger onto an already registered bike. When I got my Fastback registered, the first rego station assholes told me I needed an engineering inspection, weighed on a weigh bridge and no end of crap. I knew it was all crap so went to another station. They noted engine number and frame number, I paid them and was heading for the RTA 10 minutes later.

Okay, so I got jailed for that one, but what do you expect doing it in Queensland?

Phil

ashman · Jun 18, 2014

Phil pretty easy getting things registed in QLD, just a safety inspection then to the MRD, when I rebuilt my Norton I had to change the crank cases, they just looked up my bike on the system because the frame numbers were the same they just changed the engine numbers, I had the old crank case with the orginal numbers with me but they didn't even worry about it, the bike was unregisted for a few years while I did the rebuild.

Ashley

phil yates · Jun 18, 2014

ashman said:
Phil pretty easy getting things registed in QLD, just a safety inspection then to the MRD, when I rebuilt my Norton I had to change the crank cases, they just looked up my bike on the system because the frame numbers were the same they just changed the engine numbers, I had the old crank case with the orginal numbers with me but they didn't even worry about it, the bike was unregisted for a few years while I did the rebuild.

Ashley

Same here Ashley
BUT, my Fastback was imported. Then becomes a totally different story regarding requirements and who you talk to. I phoned the RTA technical dept. The idiot didn't even know what he was talking about. Every requirement he advised, I queried so he changed his mind. Kept disappearing to ask someone "at a higher level" but then would change his mind again. After 45 mins, I gave up. I got the inspection done, took the paperwork plus proof of purchase to the local RTA, paid them a stupid amount for stamp duty (I cheated on that one too), collected my plate and that was it.

BTW, in QLD your safety inspection requires some prick you don't even know to ride the bike. No one, but NO ONE ever ever rides my Commando. I might show them a video of it going down the road but even then I'd be unhappy. So I guess you'll never see a white and maroon plate on any of my Commandos.

maroon? Didn't they get thrashed last night?

Phil

Matt Spencer · Jun 18, 2014

I here your only allowed to Import Honda CB 110 's these days . :twisted:

phil yates · Jun 18, 2014

Matt Spencer said:
I here your only allowed to Import Honda CB 110 's these days . :twisted:

Only if you remove one of the powerful cylinders on it. Then you can push it around the neighbourhood, unregistered!!

Phil

Nortiboy · Jun 18, 2014

phil yates said:
"Commando fitted with a super charger can't be imported into Australia. "

Don't believe that is correct. If you can prove it is a widely available option, then its acceptable. I have an unused late model Drouin that will be fitted next year. It will get registered.

"but is drowning in bureaucratic bullshit. "

You can knock out bureaucratic.

"No wonder the Chinese belt the western world with cheap production."

Its because its government subsidized.

I have imported 3 heavily modified commando's from the USA, including a proddy replica and got them all rego'd easily.

dero · Jun 18, 2014

WOW , Hobot that link hit a nerve , I put it on an Australian Land Rover forum under the general chat , and the whole thread got deleted in about 15 min , not even enough time to watch the video .

phil yates · Jun 18, 2014

Nortiboy said:
phil yates said:

"Commando fitted with a super charger can't be imported into Australia. "

Don't believe that is correct. If you can prove it is a widely available option, then its acceptable. I have an unused late model Drouin that will be fitted next year. It will get registered.

"but is drowning in bureaucratic bullshit. "

You can knock out bureaucratic.

"No wonder the Chinese belt the western world with cheap production."

Its because its government subsidized.

I have imported 3 heavily modified commando's from the USA, including a proddy replica and got them all rego'd easily.

Click to expand...

According to All American Imports who I use and they do a lot of bike and car importing, it wouldn't be accepted. They are the only source of info I have on the matter.

Not sure what you're getting at, check your definition.

Chinese wages are very low, OH&S virtually doesn't exist. Subsidization? Possibly, haven't checked that one.

Difficult rego was an assumption as stated. I haven't tried beyond my Fastback.

Phil

phil yates · Jun 18, 2014

dero said:
WOW , Hobot that link hit a nerve , I put it on an Australian Land Rover forum under the general chat , and the whole thread got deleted in about 15 min , not even enough time to watch the video .

Were they pissed off about it?
Or didn't want to believe it?

Phil

dero · Jun 19, 2014

Don't know , they haven't answered my query over it .

phil yates · Jun 19, 2014

dero said:
Don't know , they haven't answered my query over it .

Could be the forum is run by bureaucrats!!

Phil

dero · Jun 19, 2014

Could be . It sparked a very Quick response .

Norton Imports

Similar threads