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[redge]

I've narrowed my options for a new bike to the new Ducati Scrambler, a Moto Guzzi V7 and a Zero.

If I buy a Zero, I may want to ship it by air between North America and Europe. Would the batteries be an issue for air transport?  If so, would it make a difference whether the batteries were integral to the bike (e.g. Zero S) or modular (i.e. Zero FX)?

Thanks

[peter]

redge, when Zero shipped me out a new battery, it was transported as hazardous materials. Batteries would quite likely be an issue for air transport. More to the point - why would you be transporting a new vehicle by air like that?

What are you after in a motorcycle? And where are you? Are you close to a Zero dealership in a country where Zero has a track record of staying in operation?

You could get the Guzzi or the Duck and have a lot of money left over, compared with the Zero. And both will likely prove a lot easier to get repaired than the Zero - if you're unlucky with any of them, and things go wrong.

hth
peter

[redge]

Hi Peter,

I'm in New York City. I'm raising the question because I spend substantial amounts of time in Europe. I'm aware of the fact that batteries are classified as hazardous materials, hence the question about what would be involved in shipping a Zero bike (more specifically, its batteries) by air between the two continents. Of course, I'm aware of the fact that I could ship by sea. But air would be very convenient, and a good deal faster.

[peter]

For the price of an SR you could probably buy 2 Scramblers, one for Europe & one for home...
Peter

[redge]

For the price of an SR you could probably buy 2 Scramblers, one for Europe & one for home...
Peter

Hi again Peter,

The new Ducati Scrambler, which I hope to check out at the NY Motorcycle Show the weekend of December 12, is US$10,000. As indicated above, when it comes to Zeros, I am interested in an S or FX. In any event, my decision will not be just about money. If it was, I'd buy a Honda.

Secondly, it is not possible for a U.S. or Canadian resident to buy and register/license a bike in Europe, any more than it is possible for a European resident to buy and register/license a vehicle in the U.S. or Canada. Which is why a bike that I beneficially own (i.e. paid for and insure) in Italy is not in my name.

I'd really appreciate views on the question that I asked.

Thanks

[peter]

redge

My apologies if you found my answer inappropriately off topic or flippant.

My experience getting a battery shipped to me - which had to come by ground - suggests to me that you will likely have trouble shipping a Zero by air across the Atlantic.

Peter

[redge]

Hi again Peter,

I asked the question because I am aware of the fact that there are issues about shipping batteries of this kind by air.

I would appreciate comments on whether it is possible and, if so, how. It would surprise me if Zero, and other companies that ship large batteries, ship all of their batteries cross-Atlantic by sea.

So my question is, how is it done? Can it be done on passenger planes? Or just cargo planes? Or neither?

To go back to my original question, if I want to ship a Zero by air between North America and Europe, how do I ship the battery, and does it matter whether the bike has an integral or modular battery?

[mikeisted]

Hi redge,

Zero would need to ship out a new battery for my bike if I took that option.  I'll see if I can find out how they would intend to do that and let you know.  May take a week or so.

[mikeisted]

Peter,

May I ask why you had to have a new battery?  I ask because mine has apparently failed after 3500 miles and I'm told I need a new one.

[redge]

Hi redge,

Zero would need to ship out a new battery for my bike if I took that option.  I'll see if I can find out how they would intend to do that and let you know.  May take a week or so.

Thanks Mike, that would go a long way toward answering my question.

[GNU]

Regde,
Did you know that you could buy 1500 full size elephants in India for the same price as shipping an SR to the moon? 

Jokes aside,
Here are the IMDG regulations that I think you have to take into account:
http://www.tadiranbatteries.de/pdf/TransportRegulationsEng.pdf

If you're willing to consider shipping by sea as an alternative option and your battery was assembled before Jan1 2014 you may even be able to sneak around the hazard regulation (section 2.9.4 of Appendix C)

[Mike Werner]

For the price of an SR you could probably buy 2 Scramblers, one for Europe & one for home...
Peter

Secondly, it is not possible for a U.S. or Canadian resident to buy and register/license a bike in Europe, any more than it is possible for a European resident to buy and register/license a vehicle in the U.S. or Canada. Which is why a bike that I beneficially own (i.e. paid for and insure) in Italy is not in my name.

Sorry, but that's partial right (or wrong). You can buy and register a bike in Europe as US/Canadian citizen. But only as a tax free vehicle... here in France, it's called a TT plate. You buy the vehicle tax free (saves some 20-25%) and you are allowed to ride/drive it for one year. Insurance is no problem. Then after a year, you need to import it. But.... many leasing and car companies will do that for you, and buy back the vehicle. The import is no longer of a new one, but a second hand one, so much cheaper. You end up not paying anything, or even making some money.

Many non-Europeans do this for their holidays. I think the brake-even point is around 2 months. After that, you're a winner. Check with some of the leasing companies for tax free vehicles.

[redge]

Hi Mike Werner,

Even the French car manufacturers call this a tourism lease rather than a purchase. The "registration" is temporary (hence the TT or Transit Temporaire plates ),the maximum lease period, except for students, is 175 days, and of course the maximum stay in Schengen countries (e.g. France) is 90 days. If one decides to purchase the car at the end of the lease, it is indeed a requirement to be a resident of France to register the vehicle there. People who are interested in this scheme should work out for themselves whether the economics are as attractive as you think.

There is an alternate scheme (BMW is an example) under which a car is bought in the U.S. from a U.S. dealer for delivery in Germany. BMW in Germany provides temporary registration, and the car, which meets U.S. emission requirements, must be exported to the U.S. at the end of the stay.

Sorry if I neglected to mention these "exceptions" to my statement that it is not possible for a Canadian or American who is not a resident of Europe to buy and register a vehicle in Europe.

There's a reason why the bike that I paid for and ride in Italy is registered to a resident of Italy.

Cheers

[redge]

Here are the IMDG regulations that I think you have to take into account:
http://www.tadiranbatteries.de/pdf/TransportRegulationsEng.pdf


If you're willing to consider shipping by sea as an alternative option and your battery was assembled before Jan1 2014 you may even be able to sneak around the hazard regulation (section 2.9.4 of Appendix C)

Makes for light reading

[kingcharles]

Buy the FX without batteries
Ship to the EU
Buy the batteries in the EU
Problem solved