Importing Our First Motorcycle

1994 Honda PC800 Pacific Coast

We decided that the PC800 Pacific Coast was what we needed so I searched the internet and we found a very low mileage Pacific Coast (6700 miles) in Englewood Co. a suburb of Denver Co. at a reasonable price. After communicating with the owner Tony I was able to set up a viewing.

I’m very fortunate to be a pilot for a company that has an office in Denver that is visited quite often so on the next trip I arrange to have Tony come out to the airport and see the airplane while my friend who was on the trip looked over the bike for me.

After just a few minutes my friend Dwayne called and said that all he could find was a small scratch on the top of the front fender, I said that’s it and he started to laugh saying it was like new so I asked if he would give Tony the deposit I sent and get a deposit receipt.

Tony had already told me that he was willing to keep the bike in the garage until we could get down with the rest of the money and a trailer to haul it home. I had no experience riding so I was a little nervous thinking about riding it home to Calgary from Denver and had never done an import of a vehicle so I figured that trailering was the answer.

After numerous emails to Tony regarding the possibility of the bike fitting in the back of a van a date was set for pickup. We were so pleased with the bike and all the help from Tony. He provided step by step photos and instructions on how to remove the windscreen along with measurements that confirmed it would indeed fit into the back of the van.

Once we knew it would fit in the van we found steel ramps on sale that would ease the loading process and straps to tie it down.

During the winter I found an article on trailering a PC800 and the equipment to use. They suggested a wheel chock and a handle bar strap. Reviews stated that the best motorcycle wheel chock a Condor and the best handle bar strap a Canyon Dancer would ensure no damage during transporting. Two weeks later my wife and I were on our way with a borrowed van from my father along with loading ramps, tie down straps, a Condor bike wheel chock, and Canyon Dancer handle bar strap.

Upon arriving in Englewood Co we found the seller Tony had the windshield removed and was ready to help load the bike into the van. After quickly setting up the ramps we rolled the bike in the van. We had to lean it over quite a bit to get it through the back door but once it stood straight up and rolled right into the wheel chock.

The Condor wheel chock worked so well we could have hauled it home without the straps. The Canyon Dancer strap made sure it didn’t tip at all, they are an excellent designed strap.

While searching for PC800 related items online I learned that there was a windscreen manufacture just outside of Denver in Pine Co. by the name of Clearview Shields. I made a call from the hotel to confirm they had PC800 windscreens in stock and got directions to the Clearview Shop. After loading the bike we drove out to Pine Co to visit the Clearview Shields, a small shop in a small town producing a very good product at a fair price.

I managed to find a discounted tinted shield with a vent at a very good price. Along with a tour I received instructions on how to remove and install a five position vent as well. Go by the shop and visit some great guys and get a great savings on shipping and enjoy a really scenic drive in the mountains of Colorado

The PC800 did not have a backrest so I ordered one online and had it shipped free to the office in Buffalo Wy where we would overnight and visit with a friend.

Prior to leaving the hotel in Denver we had faxed the required export papers to U.S. Customs. The border crossing we use is in Sweetgrass, Montana and they have a checklist sheet they like to use to make sure all the paperwork is submitted.

You must have a Clear Title in the name of the seller who is also providing the Bill of Sale and the checklist with the seller and importer (buyer) information filled out completely. Fax it all and give a follow-up call to make sure everything was received okay.

Call again to make sure it has been cleared (72 hours advance notice is required) then show up at US Customs to provide the original Title and possible inspection. Once our Title was stamped export we went to Canada Customs and paid the GST on the purchase amount.

Due to being more than 15 years old no import inspection was required but they still fill out the same forms for Alberta Registry. A possible inspection of the VIN sticker may take place. ( I took a photo in and they didn’t bother going out).

After getting the bike home I had to search around for somewhere to have the tires changed, have an out of province inspection done and get it insured and licensed.

It appears that almost all service shops want to work on newer bikes and have so much work that older bikes can be ignored. I paid a shop in Airdrie AB over four hundred dollars to supply and have two tires changed. Then I paid another shop $120.00 for an inspection which I had to wait all day for. Seems like the bike shops in Calgary are doing just fine.

The whole process was a little concerning but once we did it we became aware that if everything is provided it’s no big deal.