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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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bangbayed
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:20 am Post subject: Shipping a scooter/motorcycle to Korea |
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| In vacation in Bali right now and planning on buying a Vespa here and having it shipped to Korea. Does anyone know about regulations involving having motor vehicles imported? |
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jboney
Joined: 14 May 2008
Location: Northern Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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Is it an old (vintage) Vespa by any chance? Have you done your research?
I suggest an internet search of the term "Vietbodge" or you can always ask a question at the International Scooter BBS-- www.scooterbbs.com .
I hate to burst your bubble, but I have heard too many horror stories about old Vespas and Lambrettas from Southeast Asia that look restored and nice, but end up being complete death traps that put their riders in serious danger. |
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GoldMember
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 1:41 am Post subject: |
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Forget it! I looked into this years ago you'll get raped on the import duties.
Mega mega huge. |
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bangbayed
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:01 am Post subject: |
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Didn't know about the reputation those Viet jobs have. Thanks for the link. I did do some research on the shops around here and this one has a pretty good rep. Been doing this for 10 years. I also had a look around the operations, something most overseas buyers don't get a chance to do. They're pretty good, considering it is Indonesia.
What I need to know is what I need to do before and after this machine makes it to Incheon to prepare for legal road driving. |
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Xuanzang
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang
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| Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:07 am Post subject: |
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http://www.koreabridge.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6049
You have to pay tax of around 25% of the current retail price of the vehicle you are importing. no exceptions. there will also be port duties, registration fees, inspection fees, licences, etc... count on those fees to be around 1,000 USD.
I found this on another forum but I dont know how much it helps you. |
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jboney
Joined: 14 May 2008
Location: Northern Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:46 am Post subject: |
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| bangbayed wrote: |
Didn't know about the reputation those Viet jobs have. Thanks for the link. I did do some research on the shops around here and this one has a pretty good rep. Been doing this for 10 years. I also had a look around the operations, something most overseas buyers don't get a chance to do. They're pretty good, considering it is Indonesia.
What I need to know is what I need to do before and after this machine makes it to Incheon to prepare for legal road driving. |
What model is it? If it's a 70's style P series with the turn signals, they will most likely have to work. If it's an older one without turn signals, it may be possible that it can be "grandfathered in". I don't know anything about driving laws or codes in South Korea, but if it can be "grandfathered in" it can be ridden without modification.
I would still be weary of this shop. Go on the scooterbbs and ask anyone if they have heard of this shop or dealt with them. Do they sell their bikes on Ebay or craigslist? If so, you can probably find someone from the States that knows something about them.
Check the VIN # on it to see if it matches. SE Asian scooter shops are notorious for doing quirky things like mismatching Vespa parts. For example, they'll fit an SS mudguard on a Rally. They'll also put super small engines in larger framed bikes, just to throw something together. Lots of chrome to add the bling bling effect is also very common. A good rule of thumb is the more chrome, the rustier the frame is under the paint. They often have yellow rubber boots on the bottom of the center stands, or funky colored rubber.
If you can check out their shop, try to take a look at the condition of the bikes that they have that are not road ready, not painted, and not for sale....that is what your bike looked like. The thing about 1960's Vespas and Lambrettas in SE Asia is that they were made in the 60's and they have literally been driven since the 60's! In the States or in Europe you find bikes that were bought and then ridden around and then kept in a barn (like my 2 bikes). In Asia, these things were beat to s____.
Watch out for frames that have been welded together! This is common practice for bikes that have been smashed up. The Vespa mono frames are often cut and then welded...look for signs of welding and bondo. If you see bikes in their shop with lots of bondo, you know that your bike has lots of bondo on it too! I have seen bikes with cracked frames, bikes that have fallen apart (that have been bondo'd) and I have seen girls cry for days on end after realizing that their beautiful 2-tone Vespa is a piece of rusted garbage with coke cans used for shims and crumpling cork gear plates made in some guys back yard....
Also be aware that the majority of the replacement parts that they put in there will be of low quality. They usually use local or Indian made bearings, seals, rubbers, and electrics, and they usually s*ck and do not last long.
If you really want one in Korea, you should scout around Korea for one. There's a Vespa Club of South Korea, and at least one vintage scooter shop in Seoul, you can inquire with them about this shop in Indonesia too. Ask them their opinion of it. |
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bangbayed
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 5:40 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, like I said, I looked at those sites to know what to look for. The pre-reconditioned Vespas I saw looked in fair to poor but rideable condition. A bit of rust around the edges, but nothing needing major body remodification. You can basically specify how original you want your kit. Some customers want a lot of modifications done to them, so they do crazy bodywork on them. You can check their website (www.indoscooter.com) and see for yourself. But if you just want one that's basically original but restored, that's easier to do, and pretty much what the shop recommends.
The shop is called AJS Scooter in Bali and they've had some articles written about them and generally have a good rep - they were one of the original shops to do this kind of work. They woman running the shop emphasized to me that they only use original parts and a newly reconditioned motor (Danmotor is the original manufacturer of Vespa engines in Indonesia). The only modification I'll be doing is adding front and rear turn signals (since it's going to be a 60's 150cc model) to make it road legal in Seoul. She also confirmed that yes, the engine and body VINs will indeed match. I looked around the work area of the shop and didn't see any Frankenstein work going on, so I'm pretty confident about the quality.
From the looks of the Vespas I've seen on the road in Java and Bali, most Vespas from the 70s are in pretty good condition, and owners are pretty proud of their scooters as well. Some people go overboard with the modifications, but I don't look at that as very different than what British Mods (no pun intended, lol) did in the 60s.
As for the import tariff, that is a bit of a pain, but I reckon it will still make it cheaper than buying a Vespa in Seoul, at least from the shops I've seen. I remember there's a couple in Hannam-dong, one near Namsan, and little Lambretta (!) shop near Samgakji. They were nice, but prices were a bit much. |
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IamTheFace78
Joined: 16 Jun 2008
Location: Texas...for now...
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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| bangbayed wrote: |
Yeah, like I said, I looked at those sites to know what to look for. The pre-reconditioned Vespas I saw looked in fair to poor but rideable condition. A bit of rust around the edges, but nothing needing major body remodification. You can basically specify how original you want your kit. Some customers want a lot of modifications done to them, so they do crazy bodywork on them. You can check their website (www.indoscooter.com) and see for yourself. But if you just want one that's basically original but restored, that's easier to do, and pretty much what the shop recommends.
The shop is called AJS Scooter in Bali and they've had some articles written about them and generally have a good rep - they were one of the original shops to do this kind of work. They woman running the shop emphasized to me that they only use original parts and a newly reconditioned motor (Danmotor is the original manufacturer of Vespa engines in Indonesia). The only modification I'll be doing is adding front and rear turn signals (since it's going to be a 60's 150cc model) to make it road legal in Seoul. She also confirmed that yes, the engine and body VINs will indeed match. I looked around the work area of the shop and didn't see any Frankenstein work going on, so I'm pretty confident about the quality.
From the looks of the Vespas I've seen on the road in Java and Bali, most Vespas from the 70s are in pretty good condition, and owners are pretty proud of their scooters as well. Some people go overboard with the modifications, but I don't look at that as very different than what British Mods (no pun intended, lol) did in the 60s.
As for the import tariff, that is a bit of a pain, but I reckon it will still make it cheaper than buying a Vespa in Seoul, at least from the shops I've seen. I remember there's a couple in Hannam-dong, one near Namsan, and little Lambretta (!) shop near Samgakji. They were nice, but prices were a bit much. |
Mind if I ask how much you paid for your scooter? Erm...if you did buy one from AJS...
Cheers for the info. |
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Jeff's Cigarettes
Joined: 27 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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| bangbayed wrote: |
| What I need to know is what I need to do before and after this machine makes it to Incheon to prepare for legal road driving. |
Will it arrive in ur luggage?  |
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