There goes the neighbourhood

[Lamble]

See you all tomorrow, although that will be the day after the day after for me, with all the hours difference.

Put the kettle on.

Oh yes, which dealership is nearest the docks. When the bike arrives I have to get the lights changes, before I can register it, so I need to be able to transport the bike to the dealers, unless I can ride it there as a tourist, only reclaiming my Britishness once at the dealers. Anyway, who would you recommend?

 

[Rushy]

If you need a BMW dealer then southport superbikes would be the one to go to

http://www.southportsuperbikes.co.uk/

If you need a lamp try posting in FS&W first or failing that look at the sponsored links on here for Sherlocks or try Motorworks.

 

[Lamble]

If you need a BMW dealer then southport superbikes would be the one to go to

http://www.southportsuperbikes.co.uk/

If you need a lamp try posting in FS&W first or failing that look at the sponsored links on here for Sherlocks or try Motorworks.

Cheers for that.

 

[bmconvert]

ask for Jim

Another piece of vintage Englishness...ask for Jim at Southport Superbikes " Jim'll fix it for you....Jim'll fix it for you....."

 

[Lamble]

Another piece of vintage Englishness...ask for Jim at Southport Superbikes " Jim'll fix it for you....Jim'll fix it for you....."

Wouldn't that be "Doctor Jim aheehayeahhayeea!?"

 

[Valker]

It'll be interesting to see how my revised perspective on distances, translates to being back in the UK. What I do expect to miss is the mountain wildernesses with the fire roads. They provided some amazing riding opportunities, without farmers running out and shouting "oi, git arf my larnd!'
or the orange cagoolies brigade running wire across tracks in the name of peace and quiet.

Is there much/any off-roading GS style in the area?

However, we do have the credit crunch now, and lots of P----s, "well, at least you can get abottle of milk on a Sunday"

 

[Lamble]

Gizza lift!

And now I walk amongst you, unrecognised.

Unfortunately, "walk" is the key word here.


Back to public transport until the bank sorts out that I exist and let's me have my money.
What's a decent small second hand car these days, model and price?
Anyone flogging anything?
Wouldn't be averse to a smallish van thingy, so I could get the bike in it when it arrives and ship it to the dealers, then use it as a support vehicle when I get all Charlie and Ewan, or move again.

 

[Rushy]

I know you've had a tough time of it BUT on the plus side its a bloody good time to be buying a car and if you've got a big enough deposit there are some really good opportunuties to steal a house on the cheap too.:

On the downside , depending on your occupation, its not the best time to be looking for a job .

Get over to BCA at Belle Vue car auctions tomorrow for the last big sale of the year and bag yourself a bargain. None of the dealers will be buying any stock

Oh , and just remember we drive on the left over here

 

[Lamble]

Oh , and just remember we drive on the left over here

The Taxi pulled out of Lime Street Station and I was sure we were going to die.
I also had a ride on my mate's KTM and turned the wrong way at the end of a cul de sac, coming back up it on the wrong side.

Oooops!

Missed the car auction (thanks for the tip though) and wouldn't have been able to buy anyway, as the bank still doesn't recognise that I exist. 10 working days living on what I have in my pockets and a few dollars that I can exchange. Because I transfered all my money to the UK and closed the US accounts before I left, I don't even have them to fall back on.

Ferry Mucking Christmas!!!

If I can make the Windmill, I'll be the one sitting outside with a cup in my hand and a soggy cardboard sign:

"GS habit to support"

Actually, I think I'm up in Cumbria, so anyone at the Tan Hill pub, look for the above.

 

[Lamble]

Bloody Yanks. So cock sure they are #1 at everything and demeaning about all the other "backward, retard" countries. (quote from a guy I spoke to when I said I was going south of the border).
Well in Panama, despite not speaking Spanish, I managed to get a bike on a plane and shipped to Colombia.
In Colombia, despite them not having the latest carlos fandango computer networked logistics systems, I managed to get a bike shipped to Seattle.

Guess what?
The #1 tossers in the US haven't been able to ship the bike, because no one knows what's involved in moving a bike to the UK. They can handle my socks, pants and a few books, but ooh look a bike, "errr durrr it doesn't fit in a box".

Morons, absolute bloody morons. Probably because it's not a Harley and in convenient bits, or, because they though Europe was just a myth and we all have horses and wear armour.

 

[Womble]

Bloody Yanks. So cock sure they are #1 at everything and demeaning about all the other "backward, retard" countries. (quote from a guy I spoke to when I said I was going south of the border).

Probably because it's not a Harley and in convenient bits, or, because they though Europe was just a myth and we all have horses and wear armour.

A mate of mine went to the U.S and had the following conversation with an American teenager, while over in the US...

Teenager: You speak very good English - where did you learn it?
Mate: I come from the UK, I've been speaking it all my life.
Teenager: Did you learn it in school?
Mate: We did spend a lot of time studying it in school.
Teenager: But your English is SO good!

[Mate begins to twig what's going on]

Mate: Have you ever made the connection between "ENGLAND" and "ENGLISH"?
Teenager: Gee, ain't that the darndest thing I heard all week!

Welcome back Lamble - I hope the bike arrives soon

 

[Lamble]

Latest on the bike arrival.

Now looks like March, with the bike being shipped to Port of London rather than Liverpool. I'll need to collect the bike (can't ride it) get it back to Liverpool area. Drop it at a dealers for the US-UK conversion bit, then it gets confusing legally. It needs an MOT. I'm allowed one ride to and from the MOT exam, however it also needs an exam with the US-UK VOS? examiners, unless BMW can supply a certificate of compliance.

If they can't, do I ride to the MOT place first, or will that be illegal without having the compliance exam done first, or can I ride to the compliance exam first before going to the MOT, or will riding to the compliance test centre use up my single ride allowance.

I'm going to get nicked aren't I?

Now in S. America I'd have given a guy a few notes and in an hour this would all have been sorted. Here I've spent longer than that and more money just hanging on the phone for an oik to then pass me to another department and back onto hold, before cutting the line off. And we are the civilised country. No wonder they have time to learn the tango, the rumba and get down the beach with the senoritas, they aren't bogged down with all this pseudo important regulatory twaddle.

Of course every additional step comes with a fee attached naturally.

 

[Lamble]

Well the bike is in the UK. It's just that it arrived a week ago at the port of london and now no one can find it!

When found, it's being sent to Mildenhall (no I don't know why either).

I know some of you have kindly offered to help collect the bike, but I'll have it shipped up to Liverpool.

Where I may need a hand is getting it to a garage to change the lights and provide the official letter saying the bike complies with Euro standards, then to a MOT Centre, then back.

Here's the process as far as I understand it:

Bike needs to be amended to euro spec, in this case that should only involve lights being realigned. I know I can do it on the adventure, but I can produce the official documentation. The bike then needs an MOT. Once I have these, I can apply for a set of plates, get it insured once I have it registered and then I'm back riding.

 

[What Speed Limit]

Just a small note...You mat need to insure it before they will give you the registration number, I know that's the case over here...You can insure it firstly on the serial number of the bike then inform your insurers after of the reg number...it may be worth ringing/emailing DVLA to be sure before you send any paperwork....over here it's all done through the post office...

 

[Tarka]

The bike then needs an MOT. Once I have these, I can apply for a set of plates, get it insured once I have it registered and then I'm back riding.

If you got the Vehicle Import pack from the DVLA that I mentioned back on 15th December you`d know exactly what you need to do.

You have to be insured and in possession of a valid MOT in order to get it registered.

You can get insured on the chassis number for 30 days.

Get the pack if you haven`t got it....contact the DVLA or your nearest LVLO.

 

[Lamble]

Well the bike's been in the UK since the 16th March. It seems that UK customs are challenging US customs for the number one spot in bureaucratic red tape.

I need a green form to be filled in by them so my shippers can release the bike. Since the 16th!

What are they using to fill it in, crayolla crayons?

Anyway I've asked the shippers to bring the bike to L'pool, so a big thanks to those who offered vans and trailers, but I've spent so much on this I may as well throw more money at it.

I'll still need to get the bike through the registering hoops once it gets here, so I reckon, by the time the next snow falls I'll be ready for the road!!!

 

[quarryman]

Welcome to the 'pool! I have a mate who works for BM in Southport who might be able to do the fixes you need. Can PM you his number. Whereabouts in Liverpool are you?

 

[Lamble]

Mossley Hill. Unfortunately my bike's not here though. Week three in customs awaiting clearance. I think they must be using it for a trip over the Easter break, a customs officers ride out.

Thanks for the offer, any help is more than welcome.

 

[gzpainter]

First of all welcome to Liverpool...It will nice all the riders from Liverpool area to meet somewhere for a coffee,beer or whatever and get known each other..(I am new in Liverpool..)..

Secondly...It seems that after ALL the trouble that you pass , it would better to sell your bike back at the US and buy a new one here...I think that at the end you would spend less money...

hope soon have your bike...

 

[quarryman]

I like the idea of a Liverpool meet up one day soon. Maybe we meet down at the pier head one day or something? then have a bimble up to Southport and around? - would be good to meet some of the usual suspects from on here (and was gutted to miss this years egg run)!