Insurance on Imported Bike

[GlynnJ]

I'm interested in a 1997 R1100RT for sale locally. Turns out it was imported into the UK in 2001, though the present owner "wasn't aware". He doesn't have any information about the import.

I called Bikesure, who told me they couldn't insure the bike without knowing the country from which it was imported. I'm not sure why it matters, but maybe it's simply a checkbox question that can be worked around. I can also shop around, but I may get the same question everywhere.

Does anyone know how you might find out the details of where the bike originally came from, and whether it was imported by a company or an individual?

 

[Robbieben]

BMW should be able to tell you via the VIN number.

You could also put the VIN number into the online manual lookup, that will probably also tell you.

 

[wessie]

does a VIN decoder like https://www.mdecoder.com/ tell you the country of first registration?

 

[Wapping]

I’d start with the DVLA. If it came from within the EU, then (depending on when) it might well have had an additional check / certification made at the time.

 

[GlynnJ]

Thanks all. It doesn’t matter any more because I went to view the bike just now and it made a bear’s arse look smooth.

 

[GlynnJ]

I checked the VIN anyway, and it revealed this:

Vehicle Information

Type	Value
VIN	ZD08242
Prod. Date	1997-06-10
Service History	!! CHECK HISTORY !!
Type	R1100RT
Series	259 (259 Series)
Body Type	-
Steering	-
Engine	2-ZYL
Displacement	0
Power	66kw / 90hp
Drive	-
Colour	sinus-blau, Zierl --/--
Upholstery
Check mileage	!! CHECK HISTORY !!

Other Equipment

X0519	Heated Handlebar Grips
X0582	Catalyst, Closed-Loop-Controlled
X0725	Radio Preparation With Speaker
X0748	National Version Germany
X0701	Sinus-Blau, Zierl --/--

So it looks like it was originally for the German market. It has an MPH speedo, so likely changed.

 

[wessie]

Awards self a coconut ...