Import Of High Powered Motor Bikes

[Hoonigan]

  On 8/6/2014 at 12:30 PM, The Don said:

Hoonigan, if you are bringing it with you, just put it in your bloddy case and walk through customs as you own the place.

The guys only hassle you if you bring multiple big bags and look like you are trying to smuggle something. Plus you have personal allowance you can use up for stuff so make sure the original box is open, so you can claim its your property and is for personal use.

Not sure how practical this would be Don. But I am keen to find a bit more on this. The upside is I would be able to find a mint bike over here with little mileage on it, rather than finding one in SL which had been stolen, disassembled, smuggled and reassembled.

[Kavvz]

  On 8/6/2014 at 10:33 AM, Komisiripala said:

I've seen the effect on guys on full motor cycle leathers and protective gear and I'd hate to think of somebody without any of that on.</p></blockquote>

I once had a guy in Kalmunai who did this. His friends brought his left leg in a no limit shopping bag and nonchalantly asked me whether i can sew it back on.

I wanted to beat them with it.

What you didn't sew it back on just because they put it in a 'no limit' bag? Ado! You racist *ucker you.

Edited August 8, 2014 by Kavvz

[Rumesh88]

  On 8/6/2014 at 6:02 PM, knightowl said:

Premium bikes also comes with better rides, disc brakes, anti locks, day time running lights etc. If you do a proper statistical analysis most of the accidents are with indian Hero hondas or scooty pep scoote

Yes . Those anti-lock brakes in bike like CB600 and CBR600 come with ECU controlled combined ABS. Only draw back is that the alloy disk would require frequent replacements particularly under our wet and sandy conditions.

BTW yesterday I went to Kandy through Kurunegala and A10. There were cops on their new Yamaha 600 bike almost at every bend. They were so desperate to find a fault with you that at one point stopped our car and told my friend who was driving "mahathathya ira kapuwa wage dekka"(sir I saw you nearly crossing the line).

[terrabytetango]

I'd get a Harley Sportster 883 and call it a day.

Edited August 8, 2014 by terrabytetango

[The Don]

  On 8/7/2014 at 1:32 PM, Hoonigan said:

Not sure how practical this would be Don. But I am keen to find a bit more on this. The upside is I would be able to find a mint bike over here with little mileage on it, rather than finding one in SL which had been stolen, disassembled, smuggled and reassembled.

I was talking about the helmet

There must be an import restrictions on bikes right, maybe 2 years?

[Hoonigan]

  On 8/8/2014 at 12:31 PM, The Don said:

I was talking about the helmet

There must be an import restrictions on bikes right, maybe 2 years?

Ah I guessed so, but the thread it was posted on threw me off a bit

[fatjoe]

Funny part is for 3Mil+ Bike, they have issued 800 Rupee Helmets. I heard in one of the two accidents of those Police XJ's has killed one cop (pray its not the case) . Not surprised if it was due to head Trauma. Saw blood on the helmet.

Edited August 9, 2014 by fatjoe

[DevakaC]

Hey Guys,

Does anyone know the age limit for bike imports in general?

[Dinukap4]

  On 8/20/2014 at 1:47 PM, DevakaC said:

Hey Guys,

Does anyone know the age limit for bike imports in general?

You mean from what manufacturing years are allowed in to Sri Lanka. I would like to know this aswell, was searching the forum before I opened a new thread.

[chamaj]

  On 8/20/2014 at 1:47 PM, DevakaC said:

Hey Guys,

Does anyone know the age limit for bike imports in general?

It should be 3 years or less from the date of manufacture.......

[chamaj]

And for information of u ppl....High powered motor cycles stil need the clearence from the ministry of defence.

[Chooti Putha]

  On 8/6/2014 at 4:29 AM, Ripper said:

dont think there's any connection between engine displacement and probability of accidents.

one can easily ride like an idiot on a moped, crash and get killed too.

If at all, i would guess most people who go for a higher displacement bike would be having more experience and riding skills than the guy who's forced to use commuter level bike.

But i suppose when larger displacement bikes get caught in mishaps they tend to attract more attention.

Also the existing 250cc level bikes can quite comfortably reach over 160kmh

Totally agreed with this. any bike can be dangerous. But it is best to have ridden some lower capacity bikes before a person decides to go for a HC bike. If a parent wants to buy a kid a bike its best if they can start with something small so that the person will learn the basics properly. Same with cars we see alot of teens getting there hands on fast cars ending up in walls & trees with them.

[Chooti Putha]

Also people like Master don & My self have been owning & riding HC bikes for ages now. Do you see any of us dead?

[Watchman]

  On 11/19/2014 at 12:28 PM, Chooti Putha said:

Also people like Master don & My self have been owning & riding HC bikes for ages now. Do you see any of us dead?

Riding discipline is a concept completely alien to our riding schools and even testers. I dont know about how it is now, but when I was getting my driving license, the only skill you needed was to do a '8' and ride a chally behind the instructor's van (which he's also assessing).

Then you see choo kollas riding HC bikes in cargo shorts and flip flops being all 'pora' like it's their father's road, you can see where all the bad rep for HC bikes comes from.

[Davy]

  On 11/20/2014 at 2:29 AM, Watchman said:

Riding discipline is a concept completely alien to our riding schools and even testers. I dont know about how it is now, but when I was getting my driving license, the only skill you needed was to do a '8' and ride a chally behind the instructor's van (which he's also assessing).

Then you see choo kollas riding HC bikes in cargo shorts and flip flops being all 'pora' like it's their father's road, you can see where all the bad rep for HC bikes comes from.

I believe It's just the "8" now. Sigh...

[Chooti Putha]

  On 11/20/2014 at 2:29 AM, Watchman said:

Riding discipline is a concept completely alien to our riding schools and even testers. I dont know about how it is now, but when I was getting my driving license, the only skill you needed was to do a '8' and ride a chally behind the instructor's van (which he's also assessing).

Then you see choo kollas riding HC bikes in cargo shorts and flip flops being all 'pora' like it's their father's road, you can see where all the bad rep for HC bikes comes from.

Ya thats how i got my license too sadly that was the only thing they check in SL before issuing it.

[MasterDon]

  On 11/19/2014 at 12:28 PM, Chooti Putha said:

Also people like Master don & My self have been owning & riding HC bikes for ages now. Do you see any of us dead?

  On 11/20/2014 at 2:29 AM, Watchman said:

Riding discipline is a concept completely alien to our riding schools and even testers. I dont know about how it is now, but when I was getting my driving license, the only skill you needed was to do a '8' and ride a chally behind the instructor's van (which he's also assessing).

Then you see choo kollas riding HC bikes in cargo shorts and flip flops being all 'pora' like it's their father's road, you can see where all the bad rep for HC bikes comes from.

Agree with Chooti P and Watchman.The discipline has gone from the riders...Back then at the height of my riding days we only had a handful off bikes over 500cc and even less over 1000cc.And we risked a lot by just taking those bikes out.Firstly if you got caught the bikes would be confiscated and probably end up in jail.The bikes themselves were hard to get down.Then there were no spares and no one to maintain the so most of us repaired our own bikes.I was just out of school and had no money either.And already having lost one son I was not gonna put my parents through that pain again...So all of those factors combined made us respect the machines and their limits and in turn that made us better riders.

Ofcourse all of us started off with small bikes like the TZRs and in my case a 50cc Cub and then graduated to the big boys.Nowadays putha paases the test and rich daddy buys him a R1Ducati,CBR etc etc.The motorcycle licence test is definitely not enough for riding any thing over 250 let alone 1000.Both kids who bought my bikes crashed them within six months but thankfully both were repaired and are still roadworthy.

phew..okay rant over!

Edited November 20, 2014 by MasterDon

[Watchman]

Though a bit frustrated by it, I really do admire the licensing structure in Singapore. Slow day at work, so lemme give a quick summary.

Theory Lessons:

1- 4 theory lessons. It's not just theory on how to ride, every class start and ends with CCTV footage of gruesome accidents caused because people didnt follow what was in the lesson.

2- assessment by driving school

3- Traffic Police Theory Test (RMV equivalent) 95% pass mark.

Practical Lessons;

Lesson 1a: pre-ride check, starting bike, picking up a dropped bike.

Lesson 1b: Clutch release and brake control. Traveling on Gear 1 and 2

Lesson 1c: Starting and stopping smothly and going upto G3,4,5.

Lesson 2: Lane change (n blind spor check)

Lesson 3: Junctions

Lesson 4: Stopping up a incline n moving off

Lesson 4: S course (the "8" as we clal it and its timed)

Lesson 5: Balancing on a narrow plank n zig-zac through traffic cones (also times)

Lesson 6: Emergency Stop (on a wet surface)

Lesson 7: Evaluation

Lesson 8: Road test (first time you ride out of the riding school, still escorted by instructors)

Lesson 9: U turn

Each 90 minute 'lesson' is also a test. If the instructor is not satisfied that you've mastered the lesson, you have to repeat it. I failed the E-brake twice, not cos i didn't stop in time, but once because i didn't have correct 'body posture' and once because my stopping was too abrupt.

The Traffic Police (RMV equivalent) Test:

These tests are held as batches with testers standing at the various points of the test track. Each mistake such as a wobble, failure to signal or check a blind spot, incorrect lane change, failure to stop at a stop sign etc carry demerit points, and the points are tallied at the end to see if you're below the fail mark. And things like the bike/foot touching a kurb is an immediate failure. Same goes for keeping your right foot on the ground or stopping in a junction box. In a single session only about 20-30% pass. And i've seen people who were attempting their 6th TP test.

And all of the above takes about 6 months minimum. And after all this too, you can ride bikes only upto 200cc. You wait/ride another year, and do some more similar (not as many) classes to get a license upto 400cc, and then another year and some more tests later you can ride any bike.

The good thing is that any impatient rich kid wont end up on a R1. A rider who comes out of this system has a much greater level of discipline and riding maturity, than a idiot who can do a "8" and thinks himself to be Rossi.

[YALA]

  On 11/21/2014 at 2:15 AM, Watchman said:

Though a bit frustrated by it, I really do admire the licensing structure in Singapore. Slow day at work, so lemme give a quick summary.

Theory Lessons:

1- 4 theory lessons. It's not just theory on how to ride, every class start and ends with CCTV footage of gruesome accidents caused because people didnt follow what was in the lesson.

2- assessment by driving school

3- Traffic Police Theory Test (RMV equivalent) 95% pass mark.

Practical Lessons;

Lesson 1a: pre-ride check, starting bike, picking up a dropped bike.

Lesson 1b: Clutch release and brake control. Traveling on Gear 1 and 2

Lesson 1c: Starting and stopping smothly and going upto G3,4,5.

Lesson 2: Lane change (n blind spor check)

Lesson 3: Junctions

Lesson 4: Stopping up a incline n moving off

Lesson 4: S course (the "8" as we clal it and its timed)

Lesson 5: Balancing on a narrow plank n zig-zac through traffic cones (also times)

Lesson 6: Emergency Stop (on a wet surface)

Lesson 7: Evaluation

Lesson 8: Road test (first time you ride out of the riding school, still escorted by instructors)

Lesson 9: U turn

Each 90 minute 'lesson' is also a test. If the instructor is not satisfied that you've mastered the lesson, you have to repeat it. I failed the E-brake twice, not cos i didn't stop in time, but once because i didn't have correct 'body posture' and once because my stopping was too abrupt.

The Traffic Police (RMV equivalent) Test:

These tests are held as batches with testers standing at the various points of the test track. Each mistake such as a wobble, failure to signal or check a blind spot, incorrect lane change, failure to stop at a stop sign etc carry demerit points, and the points are tallied at the end to see if you're below the fail mark. And things like the bike/foot touching a kurb is an immediate failure. Same goes for keeping your right foot on the ground or stopping in a junction box. In a single session only about 20-30% pass. And i've seen people who were attempting their 6th TP test.

And all of the above takes about 6 months minimum. And after all this too, you can ride bikes only upto 200cc. You wait/ride another year, and do some more similar (not as many) classes to get a license upto 400cc, and then another year and some more tests later you can ride any bike.

The good thing is that any impatient rich kid wont end up on a R1. A rider who comes out of this system has a much greater level of discipline and riding maturity, than a idiot who can do a "8" and thinks himself to be Rossi.

Sounds alot like grand theft auto license school which is more comprehensive than the local test we have even on a game. i mentioned it before they need to have the licensing program broken down where a noob cant go riding off on a 929 per say. stick to the 250cc after a certain time period upgrade to 600 and maybe then depending on riding history and the practical test move upto the open class.

[Ruslan]

  On 11/21/2014 at 5:23 AM, YALA said:

Sounds alot like grand theft auto license school which is more comprehensive than the local test we have even on a game. i mentioned it before they need to have the licensing program broken down where a noob cant go riding off on a 929 per say. stick to the 250cc after a certain time period upgrade to 600 and maybe then depending on riding history and the practical test move upto the open class.

Our RMV / DMV buggers could learn a thing or two from this! but then again, Government with no National Policies!..

Edited November 21, 2014 by Ruslan

[waka]

I am curious after Patali Champika Ranawaka incident about using high-capacity bikes in normal roads. Some people say these bikes allowed only for racing purposes and illegal to use them on normal roads but I saw some super bikes in Colombo roads. Someone please clarify this matter?

[Hoonigan]

  On 3/4/2016 at 9:54 AM, waka said:

I am curious after Patali Champika Ranawaka incident about using high-capacity bikes in normal roads. Some people say these bikes allowed only for racing purposes and illegal to use them on normal roads but I saw some super bikes in Colombo roads. Someone please clarify this matter?

It's hardly a secret. From a while back, larger capacity bikes were registered as 250cc. I believe there was a way to register a bike with the correct capacity with a specific authorisation from the defense ministry.

A couple of years back, there was a period within which it was allowed to register bikes under 1000cc legally. But it wasn't very clear if this was actually the case or not.

So the bikes you see on the roads are a combination of the above. Some would be legal, most will be illegal.

Back then, people could talk themselves out of trouble arguing that the bike is actually 250cc. But now, traffic police do spot checks with the RMV and verify facts.

What the good minister is doing is using this loophole to weasel his way out of the accident he caused. There was talk of the 250cc limit being lifted during the last regime and there was talk of the same being talked over recently as well. Will have to wait and see what gives.

[Watchman]

To give a brief summary as I know (others are welcome to add on or correct me)..

There has always been provisions to bring HC bikes, but at one point the MoD/police realized hey criminals can use a fast bike to get away from a crime scene, hence they said from XXX day onwards no more HC (250+) bikes are allowed into the country with the exception of those brought due racing/sport use (meaning cannot be used on public roads).. which meant they didn't need a RMV/DMT registration. So those who did bring in HC bikes had brought them down illegally. So that means they had no import papers and no registration; thus running on number-plates issued to other bikes.

Around 2013, the MoD said that they no longer had an objection to HC bikes being used on public roads (with some rider registration rules applied i think); and so people were allowed to import => pay tax =>register => ride on public roads.

A number of bikes HC bikes have since been imported, registered and been on the road since. The issue now is mostly for the bikes that were illegally imported prior to 2013. As they no proper import paperwork, they are illegal. And just like a cut/bud car it is an illegal vehicle irrespective of being a HC bike.

but as stories go,the KTM 990 was a legally imported bike. The video on the daily mirror FB page showed the bike with no number plate.. but maybe it was just removed.