Should I bring my Harley to Singapore?

[jonomo]

I'm moving from S. Korea to Singapore in November... I have a 2009 883R, which I bought less than 6 months ago.. I didn't realize I would be moving to Singapore.. I'm wondering if I should bring my bike with me.. I paid US$10,000 for it.. and I don't think I can recoup it b/c riding season is almost over... I talked to my shipping agent and they told me it would cost about US$2500 to ship it to SG (not including COE)... so I got me a couple of questions...

 

1. is it too hot to ride in SG.. I've been there several times and it's REALLY hot during the summer season, but other wise it seems reasonable.. it can get really hot in Seoul, and I just ride with jeans and t-shirt..

 

2. Is it worth bringing? Shall I just sell and buy one in SG? They seem kinda pricy in SG..

 

3. How easy is it to convert my motorcycle license? I have what is equivalent to a class 2 license in Korea.. so I can ride any engine size without restriction... I've had this license for 3 months now.. It would be lame to take my bike and not be able to ride it....

 

Honestly, I'm thinking of getting a TMAX or something like that... i find scooters to just be more convenient and more usable in hot weather. .. there's nothing like being stuck in traffic with a HOT air cooled harley between your legs..

[jd76]

Hi Jonomo. I will try to answer your questions to the best of my knowledge.

 

1. It's always too hot or too wet to do anything in SG. That doesn't stop people from riding their motorcycles or just getting on with their lives. The days may get up to about 34 to 35 degrees celcius on a really hot afternooon and evenings usually dip to about 26 to 28 degrees celcius. Riders in SG generally ride through all kinds of weather here... but probably less during the monsoon season which is from November to end of Jan / mid-Feb.

 

2. Considering you paid $10K USD and will fork out another $2.5K USD just for shipping... that brings it up to about $16.4K SGD just to get your bike here.. this does not include a) Road Tax b) COE c) Insurance for 12 months and other admin charges needed to register your bike for our roads. Unless you've done extensive customization and mods to your bike to the extent that it's a one-in-a-million trophy of a motorcycle, it is obviously more practical to just sell the bike you have there, and buy a second-hand Sportster over here in SG. Reasonably priced second-hand Sporties are NOT hard to find and can range from 10K SGD to about 15K SGD (or more if there have been extensive customization and if it's a newer model). Besides, you won't have to spend sleepless nights worrying whether or not your bike will get here safely from Korea.

 

3. Foreign licence conversion is only granted for class 2B (Motorcycles no larger than 200cc) and class 3 (Car) qualified driving licences. Learner driving licence may not be converted. You can approach the local licensing authorities (Traffic Police department) here with the necessary documents to prove that the license you obtained in Korea is equivalent to a Class 2 license and they will take it from there. Not sure if you will have to re-sit a Theory test but you can get more info here: http://tinyurl.com/25b264j

 

Excerpt from the Traffic Police website: "Conversion for a higher capacity or open category motorcycle licence is normally NOT granted unless there are documentary proof of training, testing, ownership of bigger motorcycle and insurance policy indicating that you have gone through proper training and testing regime and have had at least one year riding experience on the road."

 

As for your last point, scooters are definitely a more convenient and cost-effective way of getting around a tiny island such as Singapore but what you should have already known is... Harley-Davidson is a way of life. Not a convenience.

 

I hope this was helpful enough and good luck with your move.

Edited October 4, 2010 by jd76

[maxxmadness]

dont bother bringing it to singapore, chances are they will only convert your licence for you to ride up to 200cc, and you can only take a test to be able to ride up to 400cc with at least 1 year of sg riding, then another year before you can take a test to be able to ride motorcycles above 401cc.so logically speaking, you can only ride your 883 legally in sg in about 3 years time .i know it really sounded stewpig,where in some countries 883 is considered a rookie bike..but that the law in sg..it sucks but we still can have fun though..

[kmax]

dont bother bringing it to singapore, chances are they will only convert your licence for you to ride up to 200cc, and you can only take a test to be able to ride up to 400cc with at least 1 year of sg riding, then another year before you can take a test to be able to ride motorcycles above 401cc.so logically speaking, you can only ride your 883 legally in sg in about 3 years time .i know it really sounded stewpig,where in some countries 883 is considered a rookie bike..but that the law in sg..it sucks but we still can have fun though..

 

it's from case-to-case basic, generally.. Singapore authority is stingy in giving away free licence conversion but if you have document proof, which some of my ex-colleagues (Frenchmen) did so, direct conversion to class 2 (unlimited engine cc).

 

unless there are documentary proof of training, testing, ownership of bigger motorcycle and insurance policy indicating that you have gone through proper training and testing regime and have had at least one year riding experience on the road."

 

maxmadmess, i think you are the best to explain about new sportster and tmax price in Singapore as you have both

 

jonomo has to consider the possible loss if he has to sell his newly acquired harley with second hand price in korea, if the loss is too much, bringing in would be good idea as he does not need to spend on over-priced agent's bike again..

 

check out F800GS imported from UK.

 

http://f800gsrider.blogspot.com/2009/04/self-importing-motorbike-from-uk-to.html

[maxxmadness]

it's from case-to-case basic, generally.. Singapore authority is stingy in giving away free licence conversion but if you have document proof, which some of my ex-colleagues (Frenchmen) did so, direct conversion to class 2 (unlimited engine cc).

 

maxmadmess, i think you are the best to explain about new sportster and tmax price in Singapore as you have both

 

so it a case to case basis...but definitely it depends how long you have been riding a class2 in your country of origin..

 

ya i thought i had a tmax covered up somewhere in my garage..

okay got to dust the cobweb off for stand chart soon..

 

tmax price is $18k , 883 is around $20k with present higher COE

[jd76]

I don't know why anyone would buy a Sporty for $20K when they could get a Softail or Dyna for that price. But to each his own I guess.

[maxxmadness]

yup to each his own,

I thought i never go the harley way but i have always luv the look of the sportster with peanut tank and that skinny looking frame, have never bother looking at big twin.

guess this t will sum up everything for me...

 

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f340/maxxmadness/1285510967.jpg

Edited October 4, 2010 by maxxmadness

[kifakw]

've been there several times and it's REALLY hot during the summer season

 

it's summer season all year round for Singapore.

[jd76]

yup to each his own,

I thought i never go the harley way but i have always luv the look of the sportster with peanut tank and that skinny looking frame, have never bother looking at big twin.

guess this t will sum up everything for me...

ahahah.. nice tshirt.

I think Sporties look great too.. wanted to get one a loooooooong time ago.. and keep it really bare-boned just for urban riding... but I still won't pay $20K for one.

I think 12 to 15K is reasonable for a second-hand 883 which is a few years old.

 

Just my opinion though.

[smooth monster]

About license . U hv to sit a local theory test. Once passed if u have a letter from ur country stated u already own class two for more then three years. Spore part will Gv u class 2 straight away.

[bo mai lah]

it's a BIG hassle......

[deckard]

korean chio bu xmm there like harleys anot?

[CSV]

license conversion can convert to class 2 la, but its case by case basis. my friend had it done.

 

basically you have to prove to the authorities you own a bike with more than 400cc, insurance document to prove as well and they will review to see if they will grant you straight to class 2. cross your fingers.

 

and yeah, just get the 2nd hand sportster in sg, much more worth it than shipping here. COE is ridiculous right now.