Hello everyone.

I was cheated.

i just bougth and imported a 10 y.o. Honda CB500 bike from Germany. The guy told me that I wouldn't have any problem importing it to Switzerland. I trusted him.

Now, after paying 300chf in the Zollamt in Zürich, in the Strasseverkehrsamt, a unpolite guy told me that I cant use and/or register this bike in Switzerland because this modell was not available here and it hasn't a European vehicule number(registration number or whatever).

Anyone knows if I can do something?? I send some mails to different Swiss Honda dealers and to different strasseverkehrsamt but no answer yet.

Any tip?? Im really disappointed...

Sorry to hear that. The CB500 is a nice bike.

I would contact Honda Germany and Honda Switzerland to get the official word from them.

They even mention COC (certificate of confirmity - I think that's what you need) paperwork on the German Web site.

Hi,
I have my bike here and kept it on UK plates and intend to do so for the first year, before transfering it to Swiss plates. I dont know who told you you cant import your bike. If it had valid German plates and was taxed and insured there, you should be able to transfer to Swiss plates. Whether your bike was imported here or not . Was it a grey import ? the only thing i can think of that would stop you importing it is if it was not manufactured conforming to European norms. What is the registration plate UK or German ? and are the registrations documents german or English ? pm me if you prefer

K

Thanks a lot!!

Maybe as Tomcat sais, I need this COC document. I just asked Hoda Germany. Waiting an answer.

About your comment, Karlnmik, do you have the same bike??

Mine was not with german paltes, but with the TüV still valid(All the documents are in german). As my bike is from 1999 it hasn't this european veycle code(mine start as ZDCPC32), no COC was given to me. And now, I am not sure if I can get one.

I am sure my bike will succed the technical inspection, but even they don't give me the oportunity to do it :S

Also, I allrady got the insurance contract here in Switzerland. Quite strange, isn't it?

DO you have the original registration docs, ?
TUV is just like the MOT, but you should have ownership docs... I have a Yamaha FJR1300. You should have the proof of ownership docs, and you need to check its not an Jap grey market import if it was, it wont conform to European specs. Your insures will insure it based on the chassis number till you get plates.

yes, I have the german farhzeugeschein und Farhzeugebrief. All originals from the TüV. Also the slling contract and the document from the toll after importing it.

And for example, If the TüV allready aproved/recognized some modifications in my bike, Shouldn't the Swiss MOT approve them without any problems??

Did I tolk with the wrong guy at the Strasseverkerhsamt??

I had a similar problem importing (with my household goods) a GSX750F. Admittedly this was 10 years ago, but I doubt it got harder in the meantime. The issue was that the version of the bike in Switzerland was different (less power, different exhaust), didnt know what tyre rating etc. Some phoning with the importer helped. CB500 is a very common bike extensively sold in Europe, sounds like you came across a not very helpful person. Daniel

Yes , I think you have thewrong guy !!!.... if you have german docs, they should be approved for Switzerland. The papers will be issued after testing by the swiss TUV... in the meantime you get a temp swiss plate to ride on

Thanks guys.

So, it seems that the gy in the "helping" desk was not the right one, but... what should I do??


I should wait Honda reply about this COC document? They will provide it for a bike older that 2000?? Can I go to an other Strassenverkerhsamt?? maybe an other Kanton??



Regards!

You must be able to import vehicles that were not originally sold in Switzerland. If not, then how do all these American vehicles end up here?

I think you have to stay in your Kanton (ZH), but you have a choice of offices:

http://www.stva.zh.ch/internet/ds/stva/de/stao.html

Regensdorf, Hinwil and Zürich all have the ability to inspect vehicles.

Or you could join the Swiss Auto Club (TCS), they have their own testing centers.

Yes you do have to stay in your canton ... but you can go to another verkerhsamt...

Seems crazy to me.
1999 I imported my GPZ600R from Canada. It came in with the plates and the only thing I had for paperwork was the expired registration from Canada ...but in MY NAME.

The serial number was easily found, the Canadian registration office stamp was 1 year old, everything was in perfect working order and original, all it took was the local bike shop to cut the front orange parking light wire and add a 5 watt bulb within the headlight and it was ready to go.

Best get the documents from the previous owner and try another garage.

Thanks guys.

I think that the difference to your experiences is that my bike came without plates and it came with the previous owner name. I just had the selling contract... Could this make the difference??


I just got this answer from Honda Switzerland(still waiting the deffinitive from Honda Germany), if any one can tell me what it sais...



"Ihr Motorrad muss, ausser es sei als Umzugsgut verzollt worden, den Schweizer Geräusch- und Abgaswerten von 1999 entsprechen. Das Schweizer Modell hatte, um die Abgaswerte zu erfüllen, ein Pulsair-System eingebaut. Das Motorrad mit der Fahrgestellnummer auf beigelegtem Fahrzeugbrief, hat dies nicht. Es enspricht daher nicht den Abgasvorschriften. Leider können wir Ihnen bei diesem Geschäft nicht weiterhelfen.
Wäre es ein Umzugsgut, könnten wir Ihnen das entsprechende technische Datenblatt zustellen. Abgas- und Geräuschwerte wären in diesem Fall nicht gefragt. (Kondition Umzugsgut: Bei Verzollung muss das Fahrzeug seit mindestens seit 6 Monaten im Ausland auf Ihren Namen und Adresse eingelöst worden sein).
mit freundlichen Grüssen, H.Heusser "

Basically it tells you that it has to be converted to swiss exhaust norms, that were introduced in 1999. The swiss model of this bike was built with a pulsair system which your bike doesnt have, and therefore doesnt conform to the swiss norm for exhaust emmisions, and they cant help you any further. They also mention that to conform to swiss law this bike must have been in your ownership and registered in your name for a minimum six months before import .. which is also correct. If anyone wants to correct my bad german, feel free

google translate: may be some crazy text, be aware

Your bike must be, unless it was paid as a removal has been the Swiss noise and emission values of 1999 correspond. The Swiss model had to meet emission levels, a Pulsair system installed. The bike with the chassis number on the vehicle enclosed letter, has not. It therefore does not correspond to the emission regulations. Unfortunately we can not in this business to help you.

It would be a household, could we make the appropriate technical data delivered. Exhaust and noise levels would be appropriate in this case is not needed. (Condition removal: For clearance, the vehicle for at least 6 months abroad in your name and address have been redeemed).

I guess you are out of luck unless you can prove the bike was your personal property for more than six months before moving to Switzerland. Looks like you may be selling it in Germany.

If the translation is close, why not get the exhaust checked or try and find one on ebay (original).
You could also try and "trick" the smog guy by putting in 100 octane fuel for a few fill ups to clean out the system and actually burn cleaner.
But if the supplied document from the Swiss MOT says your model number is not allowed, nothing you change or say will get it in.
Although there are a lot of old cars still buring lead substitute in the fuel, and that is OK...

Thanks again guys for your support, but really bad news.

I didn't got an answer about Honda Germany(what a service!) But it seems that I am not going to be able to use the bike in Switzerland unless I expend 2000chf in an homologation process( the bike price was 1300€).

And I told the seller(the company) to give back the bike and money because he lied me. The first thing I did was asking him if it was possible to import the bike to Switzerland and use it, and his answer was affirmative. Now he said that it was my problem to trust him and not checking the things by my own(ok, great).

So no idea what to do. Try to sell it in Germany??? In mobile.de?? In ebay.de?? (off course telling the true) It seems that I am going to lose almost all the money ...

OOOppppps,

Sad but true, I guess you should have checked this out before the purchase.

I guess you could check with the German authorities and see if there is something they could do. If it wasn't on paper, chances are bad.

Sell it on ebay.de,fr, anyone asking within Switzerland will surely have the same questions and troubles.

Sell it and remember for next time to check that it has been registered within CH.


Even better, sell it to someone in France, they'll ride anything on wheels there, (even without sometimes...sleds)