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[StraydogEOMFD]

I should be moving there in early 2019.  Currently considering trading my FXS for an SR or DSR but I don't know what the riding situation is nearby and can't seem to find the right combination of search terms in google to find out.

[turbotortuga]

I live in Naples, Italy. I have never been to Aviano, but I have been to Vicenza. Italy has some of the best riding there is to be had, but it might not be advantageous to buy a Zero to ship there for one simple reason. Zero dealer support. Italian motorcycle mechanics are great with normal mechanical motorcycle stuff, but if anything electrical goes awry or malfunctions during your tour, I am not sure if you will end up with an expensive boat anchor until you can get it back to the states.

For reference, I have a Brammo Empulse R that I purchased for cash last year. I imported it here with the understanding that I would be on my own for the service and maintenance of the electrical components. Which is not unlike the current stateside situation with Polaris at the helm.

[StraydogEOMFD]

That is indeed a concern for me.  It would seem that the 2016+ models are much better for reliability concerns.  I already have an FXS but I feel like it wouldn't have the range to ride there?  I will be bringing my Versys 650 so I'll have a gas backup if I do run into long term problems either way.  Thankfully, I don't have to pay to ship my stuff and get about an 11k lb allowance.

Would you happen to know where I could find information on off road riding in Italy?  I'm sorta torn between an SR and DSR.

[turbotortuga]

I do not know if you are military or not, regardless, per SOFA regulations, you can only register 3 vehicles per tour (to include motorcycles, offroad or not). So unless you are not bringing a POV, I would choose only 1 motorcycle to bring in your HHG. Since the roads are so terrible here, I would lean toward the DSR for the suspension and comfort. But to be honest, I would only buy a used 2016+ that I could get very cheap as you will have no warranty support and Zero will most likely not help you if things went south with your bike. Read some of the European guys on here's woes and issues with support.

   You already have an FXS, so is it reliable and in good condition? Everything is pretty close together here so maybe just bring it and call it a day.

[StraydogEOD]

Correct, I can only register 3 vehicles for my tour there.  I realize this would max it out from the start, is there a reason for concern for that?  I have been keeping that thought on my radar but haven't really considered it much of an issue mostly because I don't know why it would be?  I am open to advice and reasons why of course!  With the money I get from selling my truck and Miata I had planned to pick up a VW GTI through MAS as transportation.

I was planning on 2016+ for sure if I go SR/DSR.  Being pretty ignorant of the surrounding area, not having other guys I know there already that ride, and knowing that the majority of the guys live a considerable distance from the base were the reasons I was thinking of trading the FXS in on something with more range. 

The FXS has been 99% trouble free.  Any issues have been minor at most (button on dash stopped working, replaced quickly and free of charge by my local dealer but didn't preclude the bike from operating fine).

Are there any specific threads for the Euro owners you mentioned? 

Thanks for the replies so far, I'm not at all trying to be dismissive so I hope it doesn't come across that way.  I really do appreciate your input.

[turbotortuga]

     The max 3 vehicles per tour is an issue because Italy has some of the worst drivers in all of Europe and consequently the highest insurance costs. First of all, get a quote from USAA for the vehicles that you plan on bringing. I pay about $1250 per year for my BMW 1 series and my Empulse R with only liability for each. Full coverage would be double that cost and I am in my late 30's with zero accidents or claims ever. If something happened to your car (theft/total loss accident) you would have to petition the Region Commander for an exception to SOFA policy, which more than often is going to be denied, unless you have extreme extenuating circumstances.

     Secondly, per SOFA you are only authorized to import one POV and one motorcycle (in your HHG) import duty/tax free. Any additional vehicles are not exempt and you have to pay 22-35% import duty and tax based upon some arbitrary value the Italian Ministry comes up with. Also, you are right to bring a euro brand (VW) here as you will have much greater access to parts and service from the dealers here vice an American brand with minimal to no support and having to wait weeks for parts from the states.

     Thirdly, if I were in your shoes, I would skip bringing a Zero and just bring the Versys 650 and call it good. I am fairly certain that given the issues that some guys have had with failing chargers and random bullshit from Zeros, without at least some dealer support within driving/trailering distance, you will end up with a bike that may fall out of service. However, you will be still required to pay insurance and taxes on it because of Italian law as it applies to SOFA. Just my two cents. I am completely prepared for this inevitably in regards to my Empulse R, but I picked it up used for a third of the cost new, so I am not too concerned. And since Brammo actually sold these here for a short time, I may still have some mechanic support to draw from here and in the Netherlands.

[StraydogEOMFD]

Finally, some good information that makes sense (all of it so far in this thread).  Nobody there can tell me anything or reasons why but everything you said I understand completely.  Now I think my main course of action is going to be to try to sell my FXS (and not get too beat up on it if possible, I understand it's not going to be pretty but I don't want to give it away either), ship my Versys and pick up a GTI there via MAS. 

As for the GTI, I'm not sure how that works for import as I order it through the company, they deliver it to the duty station and I receive it there.  The way I understand it, that doesn't count against my HHG because I'm not shipping it, VW is.

Really holding out on buying a 2018 just leaves Zero more time to improve and perfect the product for when I get back and do have a good dealer support network.

Thanks again for saving me from myself, this is exactly why I like to seek other perspectives and get information from as many sources as possible.

[turbotortuga]

Correct, purchasing a car through MAS does not affect you HHG as all vehicles entering the country go through the DoD VPC entity. If you wanted access to your Versys sooner and you were not bringing a car, you can ship it as POV vice in your HHG. My car took around 45 days from the East Coast, my HHG is still in route at 45 days but it cannot be delivered until you find an economy residence (if unaccompanied) whenever it does arrive. Regardless, if you order a car through MAS, it may be a quick delivery or it may take some months to be built and shipped from Germany. Contact the MAS representative from Aviano to inquire about delivery times and availability.

     You will need a car asap when you get here though as everything is not as convenient as in the states and getting around can be a chore without a vehicle. A rental car is an option but it will run you af least 1000€ or more per month. If have to buy a beater until your VW arrives, then that will use up one of your three registrations.

     To be honest, in respect to an actual car, I would skip MAS and just buy a nice used car (automatic) in the states to ship instead (no more than 10K max). Again, Italians are terrible drivers and approx 1 in 3 Americans get in accidents during their tour here. I said accidents, however pretty much everyone gets in random fender benders, end up with random dents that were not there before they parked, or have their side mirrors taken off in traffic by mopeds/motorcycles or the random car/truck driver talking on their mobiles or texting (I have seen moped/motorcycle riders texting while riding...amazingly stupid as it sounds). This is the reason Americans drive beaters here. It is much less stressful when you don't care if a random Italian gets super close to your car in traffic and eventually makes contact or "nudges" you. If you buy a new nice, expensive car and someone hits you in a piece of sh*t Fiat with no insurance, you will be more likely to murder them and end up in the brig versus if you just had a beater instead.

     Also, I say automatic because when you eventually leave, you can sell it easier if it is an automatic as most Italian vehicles are manual. Americans here suck ass at driving manuals in this mountainous terrain, so automatics fetch a higher asking price and are usually worth $1-2K more than the manual equivalent.

[StraydogEOMFD]

Correct, purchasing a car through MAS does not affect you HHG as all vehicles entering the country go through the DoD VPC entity. If you wanted access to your Versys sooner and you were not bringing a car, you can ship it as POV vice in your HHG. My car took around 45 days from the East Coast, my HHG is still in route at 45 days but it cannot be delivered until you find an economy residence (if unaccompanied) whenever it does arrive. Regardless, if you order a car through MAS, it may be a quick delivery or it may take some months to be built and shipped from Germany. Contact the MAS representative from Aviano to inquire about delivery times and availability.

     You will need a car asap when you get here though as everything is not as convenient as in the states and getting around can be a chore without a vehicle. A rental car is an option but it will run you af least 1000€ or more per month. If have to buy a beater until your VW arrives, then that will use up one of your three registrations.

     To be honest, in respect to an actual car, I would skip MAS and just buy a nice used car (automatic) in the states to ship instead (no more than 10K max). Again, Italians are terrible drivers and approx 1 in 3 Americans get in accidents during their tour here. I said accidents, however pretty much everyone gets in random fender benders, end up with random dents that were not there before they parked, or have their side mirrors taken off in traffic by mopeds/motorcycles or the random car/truck driver talking on their mobiles or texting (I have seen moped/motorcycle riders texting while riding...amazingly stupid as it sounds). This is the reason Americans drive beaters here. It is much less stressful when you don't care if a random Italian gets super close to your car in traffic and eventually makes contact or "nudges" you. If you buy a new nice, expensive car and someone hits you in a piece of sh*t Fiat with no insurance, you will be more likely to murder them and end up in the brig versus if you just had a beater instead.

     Also, I say automatic because when you eventually leave, you can sell it easier if it is an automatic as most Italian vehicles are manual. Americans here suck ass at driving manuals in this mountainous terrain, so automatics fetch a higher asking price and are usually worth $1-2K more than the manual equivalent.

More great advice my buddies aren't giving me.  They did mention the Italian drivers suck horribly but the main guy I've been talking to ordered a compact Mercedes anyway.  I'll have to ask him how many dents and dings he has picked up since.  I really wanted to get a cheap, used Subaru Crosstrek and call it good but wasn't sure about service/parts support there?  And of course, I'd rather go manual with that car because that CVT sucks.  I was also eyeing up Foresters but then they are a bit larger which isn't the direction I want to go.  I guess I could also look for a lightly used GTI too.  Waiting on shipping and going through the inspection process were some motivators for MAS of course.  I'm currently near Philadelphia so getting to the eastern ports would be easy so there's that.

[turbotortuga]

I would say a used VW GTI would be your best bet. Small csrs are best here due to the size of Italian roads and parking spaces. Gas also costs about $4 a gallon here atm and your gas coupon allowance is at most 100 gal per month. So if you have to live some distance from base then your monthly fuel costs could be upwards of $400+, which is garbage. I would avoid the Subaru completely as well as any brand not sold or made in Europe. Parts and service may not seem like a big deal because you are used to having great availability in the states, which is the opposite here. If your car goes down for the count in winter and it takes 2-3 weeks to get parts from the states, you will have to rent a car for a ridiculous aount of euro. Riding a motorcycle during the harsh winter in North Italy is a sure way to lose your life, not to mention how uncomfortable it would be.