Fast forward to August 2013 when my Sporty arrived safe and sound in a shipping container. But then it took two more weeks for the customs clearance certificate to arrive. Meanwhile I started checking out potential motorcycle shops to help me with the TÜV approval. A dealership was found, alas their TÜV representative seems to be a hardliner who doesn't accept any of the paperwork I had presented.
Not satisfied with the outcome I took it up to talk to the TÜV myself to get a better picture on the situation, as I suspected that it might be one specific guy and not the organization as such that is opposed to accepting my documentation as is.
A very friendly and competent gentleman from TÜV gave me a ring a few hours after I had put in my request and confirmed that the documentation is o.k. as long as originals (which I have) and a data sheet for the motorcycle are provided. He also referred me to a guy in the licensing office, who I had a chat with after. He was also happy with the documentation and told me that they need to do a background check on the VIN, in case the bike was stolen. Once vehicle clearance has been provided, I will get the go ahead to have the necessary modifications done for the TÜV approval. Hopefully by early next week I will know more.
And bonus, I got a recommendation from the office for a local custom shop (30 odd klicks away) which can likely help me through the ordeal of getting Rover street-legal. I talked to the owner of this shop, and he was quite confident to get it done, as he had been involved in importing American iron many times before. Now finally I can see some light at the end of the tunnel.
A very friendly and competent gentleman from TÜV gave me a ring a few hours after I had put in my request and confirmed that the documentation is o.k. as long as originals (which I have) and a data sheet for the motorcycle are provided. He also referred me to a guy in the licensing office, who I had a chat with after. He was also happy with the documentation and told me that they need to do a background check on the VIN, in case the bike was stolen. Once vehicle clearance has been provided, I will get the go ahead to have the necessary modifications done for the TÜV approval. Hopefully by early next week I will know more.
And bonus, I got a recommendation from the office for a local custom shop (30 odd klicks away) which can likely help me through the ordeal of getting Rover street-legal. I talked to the owner of this shop, and he was quite confident to get it done, as he had been involved in importing American iron many times before. Now finally I can see some light at the end of the tunnel.
***
Noch keine Neuigkeiten zum Thema Sportster Zulassung
Im Sommer 2012 hatte ich mir noch keine Gedanken über einen Rückzug nach Deutschland gemacht und besprach mit einer Harley Custom Werkstatt die Umrüstung meiner Sportster im Street-Tracker oder Scrambler Stil. Die erforderliche Summe wurde gespart und zum Winter hin sollten diese (meistens) Anschraubteile dann besorgt und angebaut werden. Mit dem Umzug hatte sich diese Sache dann erst einmal erledigt. Mitte August 2013 kam nun unser Umzugsgut an und ich hatte meine Sporty wieder. Da saß sie nun in der Ecke der Garage, denn es vergingen noch weitere zwei Wochen bis ich die Zollpapiere endlich hatte.
Inzwischen war eine Werkstatt gefunden, die nicht nur die erforderlichen TÜV relevanten Umbauten erledigen konnte, sondern mir auch noch einige meiner lang gehegten Zusatzwünsche erfüllen sollte. Die technische Seite war offensichtlich kein Problem und ich habe bereits ein entsprechendes Angebot erhalten. Nur was nützt das, wenn der TÜV Mann meine Dokumente nicht anerkennt? Es werden Papiere gefordert, die so in Kanada und schon gar nicht in der Provinz British Columbia existieren.
Also habe ich mich gestern mal mit einer anderen Zweigstelle in Verbindung gesetzt, um der Sache auf den Grund zu gehen und wurde sehr freundlich beraten. Meine Papier wurden überprüft und für gültig befunden. Jetzt muss noch über die Polizei ein Nachforschungsantrag gestellt werden, für den Fall dass das Fahrzeug gestohlen sein sollte. Auch hat man mir seitens der Behörde einen lokalen Mechaniker empfohlen, der sich auf amerikanische Maschinen spezialisiert hat. Ein erstes Gespräch hat statt gefunden und stimmt mich äußerst positiv, dass ich meine Sporty doch noch auf die Straße bekommen werde.
Inzwischen war eine Werkstatt gefunden, die nicht nur die erforderlichen TÜV relevanten Umbauten erledigen konnte, sondern mir auch noch einige meiner lang gehegten Zusatzwünsche erfüllen sollte. Die technische Seite war offensichtlich kein Problem und ich habe bereits ein entsprechendes Angebot erhalten. Nur was nützt das, wenn der TÜV Mann meine Dokumente nicht anerkennt? Es werden Papiere gefordert, die so in Kanada und schon gar nicht in der Provinz British Columbia existieren.
Also habe ich mich gestern mal mit einer anderen Zweigstelle in Verbindung gesetzt, um der Sache auf den Grund zu gehen und wurde sehr freundlich beraten. Meine Papier wurden überprüft und für gültig befunden. Jetzt muss noch über die Polizei ein Nachforschungsantrag gestellt werden, für den Fall dass das Fahrzeug gestohlen sein sollte. Auch hat man mir seitens der Behörde einen lokalen Mechaniker empfohlen, der sich auf amerikanische Maschinen spezialisiert hat. Ein erstes Gespräch hat statt gefunden und stimmt mich äußerst positiv, dass ich meine Sporty doch noch auf die Straße bekommen werde.
Good idea to bypass the idiot, probably drives on the left lane at the speed limit to do his own enforcement of the law.....here's hoping Rover is street-legal soon. Better yet, you've found a local shop and denied the obstacle further business, not that it seems he wanted it anyways.
ReplyDeleteWith those guys it is usually a method to camouflage the fact that they don't know how to handle such a case. Thankfully I have the option of choosing the subsidiary best suitable for me needs.
DeleteHappy to hear that there is some movement. I wouldn't have expected there to be so many problems and would be distressed to learn that it was being left to individuals within the government agency to interpret things as they wish. For something this common I'd expect some well established procedures.
ReplyDeleteI think it is rather lack of experience with importing a vehicle from Canada that might lead to a different interpretation. Some might think it should be the same procedure as importing from the US and ignore the fact that Canada is actually another country...
DeleteWhy is it one person has to be such a hard-ass about some things when other people can be reasonable? Glad you finally talked to someone that okayed the documentation.
ReplyDeleteHopefully it won't take too long before you can have Rover back on the road for good. Until then keep teasing us with photos of Alonzo.
Well, it could also have been that this representative had a bad day, or previous bad history with the dealership. I just hope that the other shop will make it happen. It would be a pity if I had to sell Rover because I can't ride it legally. On the other hand, I have Alonzo to keep me company. So it's not all bad.
DeleteAwesome! Are their street standards more stringent than Canadian? If you had to sell Rover what market would you be looking at because wouldn't anyone buying him be under the same street legal provisions? Sonja it sounds so convoluted trying to get your bikes all happy and rolling on the asphalt. I sure hope you don't have to sell him! Enjoy Alonzo.
ReplyDeleteWell, Dar. Not more stringent but certainly different. There are noise levels and environmental specs to obey, as well as some EU related stuff to follow. I could easily sell my bike to England or France where they won't have the issues as I have it in Germany. But we'll see, maybe all will be well.
DeleteYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! bravo sonja! sometimes we just have to do it ourselves... ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, hopefully it works. Some don't like it if we take things in our own hands....
DeleteSonja, that's really good news. Maybe, just maybe, some of the 'necessary' modifications will be ones you really like.
ReplyDeleteWhen my US Vespa LX150 went through the Quebec version of the TÜV, it took a few hours and all I got what a cheap sticker plastered under the saddle.
David, our Vespa also was easy compared to the Harley. Maybe because Vespa had built to European Standards and not modified it too much, while the Harley is built to American standards (except for the Odometer that is in km), and that for unbeknownst reasons doesn't seem good enough...
Delete... great picture by the way. Proves once and for all that Vespas are faster than Harleys. Well done. The proof was elusive.
ReplyDeleteThanks, no doubt about that ;-)
DeleteI would have just taken the first guy at his word .. well done for going to someone else. It's all looking very positive .. cant wait to see the pics of Rover running round the vineyards :D
ReplyDeleteBrenda, im not giving up that easily ;-)
DeleteGreat news! Wish the best for you and ... ? What's his name? :-)
ReplyDeleteDanke Heike! The bike's name is Rover (zu Deutsch: Vagabund, Wanderer)
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