Buying gear from Europe

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Does anyone know how much gear one might be able to bring back with them in their suitcase? lol

I go to Italy every year. Stuff from a lot of brands are cheaper there. Because we spend our month in Italy traveling by motorcycle (the missus and I on one bike) we usually just check one backpack each... I always wondered about buying a cheapo suitcase for the return trip home and just loading it with my next slip on, a new riding jacket, whatever...

On my most recent trip to Italy I flew with a suitcase full of bike parts (an engine guard, oil filters, bolt on stuff, etc.) to put on my bike there and no one seemed to mind. I wonder how much I could bring back with me and be okay?
 
You can bring as much as you want, but if you don't want to pay any taxes or duty, then it's $800 if you're away for 48 hours or more. If you're away for a week, that $800 can be shipped, so you don't even need the luggage:

Travellers - Paying duty and taxes

Travellers - Paying duty and taxes
www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
 
adri said:
Does anyone know how much gear one might be able to bring back with them in their suitcase? lol

I go to Italy every year. Stuff from a lot of brands are cheaper there. Because we spend our month in Italy traveling by motorcycle (the missus and I on one bike) we usually just check one backpack each... I always wondered about buying a cheapo suitcase for the return trip home and just loading it with my next slip on, a new riding jacket, whatever...

On my most recent trip to Italy I flew with a suitcase full of bike parts (an engine guard, oil filters, bolt on stuff, etc.) to put on my bike there and no one seemed to mind. I wonder how much I could bring back with me and be okay?
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When we go, we bring a nylon duffel bag each that we picked up at MEC a few years ago. Scrunches up into a tiny pouch, sort of like those K-Way rain jackets from way back, but unfurls to a sizeable bag when needed. We then put our laundry in the duffel bags and stash all the culinary and other treasures in the solid luggage for the return trip.

I suspect if you bought gear there and removed the tags, it would be unlikely a CBSA guard would flag it as a potential import, especially if you wore it during the trip so it didn't look and smell brand new. Still, you takes your chances with that stuff, and you never know...
 
Lightcycle said:
Much better pricing than over here, plus you get (a large portion of) the VAT back when you leave Europe.
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Only if you can show them it's still new and unused.
 
Lightcycle said:
If I was going to Europe for a motorcycle trip, I'd take no gear with me and just spend the first couple of days going nutz at all the moto shops. Especially Italy.

Much better pricing than over here, plus you get (a large portion of) the VAT back when you leave Europe.

It'd be like Christmas-time!
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Any pro tips on buying gear in Portugal? Specifically Lisbon area?
 
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oioioi said:
Any pro tips on buying hear in Portugal? Specifically Lisbon area?
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Not sure about Lisbon specifically, but Europe as a trading block is pretty open. If you know what kind of gear you want and it's European-made, you'll find it in most moto stores. We've shopped in a lot of European cities and although most of the selection are the same, there are some countries that the same gear is priced cheaper than others (UK seems to be particularly expensive), but Spain and Portugal seem to have lower prices generally, so you're in luck!

Nexx is a Portuguese-based company, so their gear might be priced a bit cheaper in Portugal.

Happy hunting!
 
Relax said:
The receipts aren't enough, it has to literally be unused?
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If they ask to see it and it looks used, tags removed, dirty, scuffed then they wont refund VAT. I've applied at the airport in Rome twice for Vat refund.
 
adri said:
Does anyone know how much gear one might be able to bring back with them in their suitcase? lol

I go to Italy every year. Stuff from a lot of brands are cheaper there. Because we spend our month in Italy traveling by motorcycle (the missus and I on one bike) we usually just check one backpack each... I always wondered about buying a cheapo suitcase for the return trip home and just loading it with my next slip on, a new riding jacket, whatever...

On my most recent trip to Italy I flew with a suitcase full of bike parts (an engine guard, oil filters, bolt on stuff, etc.) to put on my bike there and no one seemed to mind. I wonder how much I could bring back with me and be okay?
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Do you take lids? Squeeze and I had one hockey dedicated just for helmets and jackets when we did the fly and ride. Helmets don't pack well. They're so hard to fold.
 
timtune said:
Do you take lids? Squeeze and I had one hockey dedicated just for helmets and jackets when we did the fly and ride. Helmets don't pack well. They're so hard to fold.
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I suppose you could just wear them.
Saves on luggage space.
 
timtune said:
Do you take lids? Squeeze and I had one hockey dedicated just for helmets and jackets when we did the fly and ride. Helmets don't pack well. They're so hard to fold.
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Put my $$$$-helmet in with the luggage so it can get literally tossed by the luggage guys, and have other people's suitcases slammed on top of it? :oops: Dude...

I'm finally at a place where I can buy an expensive helmet... but I'm not at a place where I can treat it that expensive helmet as disposable and not care how banged up it would get in transit lol.

Not to mention, if that piece of luggage with your helmets gets lost, what happens to whatever plans and reservations you made? You need to choose between throwing away those plans, or finding somewhere to buy a cheap helmet to use and then double back to where you started when your good helmet arrives?

Vacations are supposed to be fun! Say no to all that potential mess.

We always fly with our helmets in our carry ons. All you need in your carry on is your passport, helmet, headphones, and a few just in case items (socks, underwear, bathing suit, tooth brush).

IMO, on a motorcycle trip, having your helmet with you is as valuable as having your cell phone. Your helmet may even be more expensive than your cell phone too. I see no reason not to protect it and keep it by your side at all times.
 
adri said:
Put my $$$$-helmet in with the luggage so it can get literally tossed by the luggage guys, and have other people's suitcases slammed on top of it? :oops: Dude...
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You have been proud of my packing. I lined the bag with 1/2" foam.
 
adri said:
Not to mention, if that piece of luggage with your helmets gets lost, what happens to whatever plans and reservations you made? You need to choose between throwing away those plans, or finding somewhere to buy a cheap helmet to use and then double back to where you started when your good helmet arrives?
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We've had luggage lost or delayed quite often.

We've learned that if there's something you need for the ride, make sure you take it on the plane with you as carry-on. Wear the gear if you have to. This is stuff that is expensive and/or a hassle to replace at your destination.

We've boarded the plane dressed in full Adventure gear for a 13-hour flight before. Don't make any "just in case we crash" jokes to the TSA people if they ask about it... they don't seem to have any sense of humour about that chit at all, for some strange reason...?

Bring normal clothes as well, and take your jacket/pants off and stuff them under the seat or find empty overhead compartment (be one of *those* people who line up early and board early).

On the way back home, it's not that critical if stuff arrives late, so you can check-in your gear. We put Apple tags inside the luggage so you can track where it is in the event that it gets lost. Always carry your helmet. Luggage gets tossed around quite regularly by the airport staff.
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