UK to US bike differences?

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2009-07-15 9:32 AM

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Subject: UK to US bike differences?

I have my 30th birthday coming up soon and am contemplating a new bike and just wondered if there are any major differences I should be aware of between a bike bought in the US rather than the UK.

The reason I ask is I live in the UK and with the current currency rates, bikes are a lot cheaper in the US for example:

A Quintana Roo Seduza is £2199 ($3616) in the UK but I have found it for $1995 direct from the US. That’s a $1621 saving which is almost 45%!

Now I appreciate this might be an extreme example and the more common brands like Trek and Specialized don’t have as big of a saving but you get my point.

Obviously there would be shipping to consider/taxes but it would still be loads cheaper.

Has anyone in the UK done this? And also are there any differences in the bikes form the UK/US?

2009-07-15 10:01 AM
in reply to: #2286532

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Subject: RE: UK to US bike differences?
Brakes will be reversed if it's a pre-assembled bike so be aware of that before you ride it. There may also be some minor part specs which differ from US to UK.

On a semi-related note...years ago I bought a Cannondale in the US and took it home to the UK - at the time the exchange rate meant I was saving ~600GBP doing it that way. Shipping costs weren't an issue as it counted as a piece of my checked baggage, but I got stopped at customs at LHR and ended up paying (IIRC) 10% import duty, VAT at 17.5%, plus a fine for trying to avoid duty in the first place. I still saved money but not as much as I'd originally counted on.

2009-07-15 10:13 AM
in reply to: #2286660

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Subject: RE: UK to US bike differences?
WelshinPhilly - 2009-07-15 10:01 AM Brakes will be reversed if it's a pre-assembled bike so be aware of that before you ride it. There may also be some minor part specs which differ from US to UK.

On a semi-related note...years ago I bought a Cannondale in the US and took it home to the UK - at the time the exchange rate meant I was saving ~600GBP doing it that way. Shipping costs weren't an issue as it counted as a piece of my checked baggage, but I got stopped at customs at LHR and ended up paying (IIRC) 10% import duty, VAT at 17.5%, plus a fine for trying to avoid duty in the first place. I still saved money but not as much as I'd originally counted on.



why would you get stopped at customs?

i currently reside in US but originally I am from Poland.  if i was going for a race in europe and would travel with my tt why would they charge me all these import duty and tax and other crap. 

its simply my luggage.  equipment for race.  did you declare it as a purchase?  its like alcohol.  "you can only bring 2 lt with you per person" well if I have 3 bottles, i am not exactly going to tell the customs agent, guess what i have 3 bottles, marry-xmas here is 1 for you.


HAVING said this.  buying directly online i am sure is quite different.  i am not sure how it would work and the type of feels you would be charged.  but if its $1500 you bet your @$$ i would do everything in my power to buy from here.


Edited by trix 2009-07-15 10:15 AM
2009-07-15 10:22 AM
in reply to: #2286699

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Subject: RE: UK to US bike differences?
trix - 2009-07-15 11:13 AM

why would you get stopped at customs?

i currently reside in US but originally I am from Poland. if i was going for a race in europe and would travel with my tt why would they charge me all these import duty and tax and other crap.

its simply my luggage. equipment for race. did you declare it as a purchase?


At the time I was living in the UK, visiting the US (I now live in the US).

Not declaring the bike as a purchase was the reason I got dinged with the taxes, fines etc.

The only way I could have avoided paying taxes was if I had proof (receipt from a UK bike shop, baggage claim ticket for the outbound flight) that I had taken the bike to the US from the UK and was bringing it back in.
2009-07-15 11:07 AM
in reply to: #2286738

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Subject: RE: UK to US bike differences?
WelshinPhilly - 2009-07-15 10:22 AM
trix - 2009-07-15 11:13 AM

why would you get stopped at customs?

i currently reside in US but originally I am from Poland. if i was going for a race in europe and would travel with my tt why would they charge me all these import duty and tax and other crap.

its simply my luggage. equipment for race. did you declare it as a purchase?


At the time I was living in the UK, visiting the US (I now live in the US).

Not declaring the bike as a purchase was the reason I got dinged with the taxes, fines etc.

The only way I could have avoided paying taxes was if I had proof (receipt from a UK bike shop, baggage claim ticket for the outbound flight) that I had taken the bike to the US from the UK and was bringing it back in.


hmm so i pretty much have to have my receipt whenever I travel with my bike?  that sounds wierd.  if its the law its the law just sounds wierd.
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