Importing a USED eMTB from the US

A

AaronJ

Likes Dirt
Hey burners.

I'm exploring my options for bringing a used eMTB in from the US. Yes, there's going to be some pretty high cost penalties in doing that, but it's not a bike I can find here in Australia in the exact version, size, condition. So it's really just a bit of an expensive treat to self!

Plenty of older posts and internet info on importing bikes, however, it all seems to refer to new. But I cant quite find confirming answers to my scenario and I have a heap of maybe 'over thinking' questions I thought others might be able to help with. Plenty of you must have brought used bikes in over the years.

1. Does anyone know the duty/GST implications with buying/importing a 'used' bicycle, be it eMTB/MTB/road/etc?

2. There is a Tariff Concussion on bicycles (i.e. no duty) but I believe is was removed for eMTBs back in 2018. As I'm looking to bring this particular eMTB in with no battery (to avoid the extra cost of a 'dangerous goods', will purchase new here), could it be reasonable to say if was in fact an MTB, not eMTB?

3. Any advice or tricks re how best to do it... Any shipping company recomendations? Worth the insured value risk but recuded taxes by declaring a lower $ value? Any other suggestions/advice for anyone that has done it.
 
dancaseyimages

dancaseyimages

Mountain bike pornographer
Know anyone flying into Aus in the next few months that could potentially bring it in for you? Given its second hand would only be the extra baggage charge.
 
A

AaronJ

Likes Dirt
dancaseyimages said:
Know anyone flying into Aus in the next few months that could potentially bring it in for you? Given its second hand would only be the extra baggage charge.
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I thoguht of that, but no, unfortunately. Unless of course there is a Burner coming home to Melb from Sth Cali that'd like some cashola for their efforts!?
 
fatboyonabike

fatboyonabike

Captain oblivious
see if you can get it listed as non functional , good for parts only..
I had a mate whom used to buy some pretty smoking bikes when he worked in whistler during their winter, once the season was done, he would buy a new bike, get it dirty and strip it down and label as used parts, didnt ever have to pay duty on it!....things may have tightened up, and the Yanks are a different breed from the canucks, but worth a shot.
 
Mattyp

Mattyp

Cows go boing
Cardy George said:
My first question is can you get the battery on the plane? My power tools are OK but only just come under the Wh limit
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The battery definitely wont be allowed on the plane, it will have to be shipped as dangerous goods separately, thats if you can find someone who would even do it.
Im fairly sure one of the big brands, maybe trek were letting you "borrow" a battery overseas if you were travelling with an eeb.
 
Minlak

Minlak

custom titis
I am assuming if you cant get the bike here
mas2 said:
If you just tell us what bike it is I am sure we can help simplify the situation by suggesting and then debating why 10-15 other bikes would be way better value for the money and suit your riding style and location that we know nothing of.
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The real reason for the import is the speed restriction is higher :) - juts helping already :)
 
CHEWY

CHEWY

Eats Squid
mas2 said:
If you just tell us what bike it is I am sure we can help simplify the situation by suggesting and then debating why 10-15 other bikes would be way better value for the money and suit your riding style and location that we know nothing of.
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I don't think he's going to tell us so we might as well start anyway.

Have you looked at a sight? They are dirt cheap right now and are enough bike for 99% of Aussie tracks.
 
Minlak

Minlak

custom titis
CHEWY said:
I don't think he's going to tell us so we might as well start anyway.

Have you looked at a sight? They are dirt cheap right now and are enough bike for 99% of Aussie tracks.
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He isn't telling as its a Sauron and not actually a pedal bike so not meant for trail use - let the conspiracy theories abound I say :)
 
A

AaronJ

Likes Dirt
fatboyonabike said:
see if you can get it listed as non functional , good for parts only..
I had a mate whom used to buy some pretty smoking bikes when he worked in whistler during their winter, once the season was done, he would buy a new bike, get it dirty and strip it down and label as used parts, didnt ever have to pay duty on it!....things may have tightened up, and the Yanks are a different breed from the canucks, but worth a shot.
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Whistler! I did 2 seasons on Blackcomb back in 1989/90 and brought my first MTB back on my flight home. Alas, life 30+ years on will not allow me that freedom ;-)
 
A

AaronJ

Likes Dirt
Definitely not being coy about specifically what bike. However, its irrelevant, as I wasn’t aiming for a conversation about alternatives that might be more cost effective here. I knew there are very sensible alternatives! This purchase wasn't about being cost effective, rather was targeted for a specific bike that I knew would cost me an unreasonable arm and leg... but I just ‘wanted’.

Short version though…. Currently riding at 22 Levo Pro (and with a garage full of non-eMTBs going as far back to the late 80s), but wanted to get a backup bike so when the proving to be ‘finicky’ Levo was in servicing I had a backup and/or to have friends and family come and join me. I want to stay specific to Specialised, love any of the old MTB/eMTB X-frames (MTB/eMTB) so I was trying to find myself a low use, excellent condition, 2018/19 Kenevo in an XL. Over the last couple of months I've only been able to locate one XL for sale in Australia, it was too belted around for my liking and the asking price was sufficiently high that I thought I might start looking at international purchases. There so many to choose from in the US.

Thanks for those with the advice/suggestions. Been looking into it since posting and yes it does seem like it's just not going to be easily done without pushing the budget even further into the stupid realm. I knew there was no practical way to bring it over with the battery (have to factor in AU$1000 batery purchase at this end). Most of the online shipping calculators seem to be putting the total costs somewhere in the US$700-1000 mark. So even if I factor in negotiating a good price based on what they're asking for them in the US, then the circa US$1/AU$1.56 exchange rate, shipping, duties, GST, new battery, the end $$$ just get even sillier than the silly I was willing to pay ;-)

Re GST and duty, best I can work out is both are payable.

I could get the sell price declared lower than actual upon import, but the bigger issue than GST/duty is simply the shipping cost, exchange rate and having to buy a battery.
 
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pink poodle

pink poodle

気が狂っている男
Minlak said:
He isn't telling as its a Sauron and not actually a pedal bike so not meant for trail use - let the conspiracy theories abound I say :)
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Nah the Sauron distributor is here in Lake Macquarie.


Spend a weekend in SoCal and bring it home. It wont be cheaper, but it will be better.
 
dancaseyimages

dancaseyimages

Mountain bike pornographer
AaronJ said:
Definitely not being coy about specifically what bike. However, its irrelevant, as I wasn’t aiming for a conversation about alternatives that might be more cost effective here. I knew there are very sensible alternatives! This purchase wasn't about being cost effective, rather was targeted for a specific bike that I knew would cost me an unreasonable arm and leg... but I just ‘wanted’.

Short version though…. Currently riding at 22 Levo Pro (and with a garage full of non-eMTBs going as far back to the late 80s), but wanted to get a backup bike so when the proving to be ‘finicky’ Levo was in servicing I had a backup and/or to have friends and family come and join me. I want to stay specific to Specialised, love any of the old MTB/eMTB X-frames (MTB/eMTB) so I was trying to find myself a low use, excellent condition, 2018/19 Kenevo in an XL. Over the last couple of months I've only been able to locate one XL for sale in Australia, it was too belted around for my liking and the asking price was sufficiently high that I thought I might start looking at international purchases. There so many to choose from in the US.

Thanks for those with the advice/suggestions. Been looking into it since posting and yes it does seem like it's just not going to be easily done without pushing the budget even further into the stupid realm. I knew there was no practical way to bring it over with the battery (have to factor in AU$1000 batery purchase at this end). Most of the online shipping calculators seem to be putting the total costs somewhere in the US$700-1000 mark. So even if I factor in negotiating a good price based on what they're asking for them in the US, then the circa US$1/AU$1.56 exchange rate, shipping, duties, GST, new battery, the end $$$ just get even sillier than the silly I was willing to pay ;-)

Re GST and duty, best I can work out is both are payable.

I could get the sell price declared lower than actual upon import, but the bigger issue than GST/duty is simply the shipping cost, exchange rate and having to buy a battery.
Click to expand...
I know its a long shot but if its a spec might be worth asking the local shop if they have any sponsored riders. I know Summit in Sydney had a few blokes riding Santa Cruz's and Yetis which were sold on after a season as they kitted up the 'sponsored' rider for the next season. Happens in Canberra to with a few of the school aged riders and they get sold in store after the season. Might nab you something decent as the Summit bikes were all XL or L sizes, Canberra bikes were 'M/L's'
I'm not sure if its a consigment the store sells on or whether its store stock but you think going back through the store would have some guarantee of quality.
 
A

AaronJ

Likes Dirt
dancaseyimages said:
I know its a long shot but if its a spec might be worth asking the local shop if they have any sponsored riders. I know Summit in Sydney had a few blokes riding Santa Cruz's and Yetis which were sold on after a season as they kitted up the 'sponsored' rider for the next season. Happens in Canberra to with a few of the school aged riders and they get sold in store after the season. Might nab you something decent as the Summit bikes were all XL or L sizes, Canberra bikes were 'M/L's'
I'm not sure if its a consigment the store sells on or whether its store stock but you think going back through the store would have some guarantee of quality.
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Yes, great idea, which I also tried. I reached out to every Spec dealer in Vic to see if they had customers with said bike that were looking to sell, also emailed head office and had a mate who knows a Spec sponsored eMTB racer ask, etc. No luck.

The few on sale around the country over the last few months have all been M or L.
 
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