Dax e Homecoming, unpacking, assembly and test ride

[vintagegarage]

Here is my latest "Old and Slow".. sorry about the slow pace.

 

[dmonkey]

An electric avocado! Once you get the Motocompacto battery sorted out, which do you think you'll make more use of?

 

[m in sc]

you imported a dax and chose an electric one? I'd take a gas one in a minute though.

 

[vintagegarage]

An electric avocado! Once you get the Motocompacto battery sorted out, which do you think you'll make more use of?

Easily the Dax e. The acceleration is electrifying and it has suspension and pneumatic tires. Also, it has cruise control and will cruise at 25 mph up and down the small hills we have here. It weighs 130 pounds and my guess is about a 50 mile range, but I will need to test that. The Motocompacto weighs about 42 pounds, and you can take it with you in your car. They are really in two different markets based on weight and usage.

 

[vintagegarage]

you imported a dax and chose an electric one? I'd take a gas one in a minute though.

I hear you, but I'd have big problems trying to title and register a Dax 125 in Florida.

 

[m in sc]

Not really. i know plenty of people with gray market (JDM) bikes in FLA. Look into it, its not that bad.

 

[vintagegarage]

Not really. i know plenty of people with gray market (JDM) bikes in FLA. Look into it, its not that bad.

I hear you again. That works well for them, but not for me. I am a "straight arrow".

 

[m in sc]

? 100% legal. My TZR is a gray market bike, legally tagged and titled in SC. Bikes are easier than cars by a mile but hey, do your thing.

 

[oldskool]

I hear you again. That works well for them, but not for me. I am a "straight arrow".

Looks like another tool in the box. Seems like it would be a nice RVers option to cruise around the park without disturbing the early sleepers late risers. Is this available in the US or didi you have to jump through hoops to get it? /what cost?

 

[Farmer Mike]

I could charge it via solar... and ride for free. But I live too rural for it to be of any real use, but it's cool! Congrats!

 

[dmonkey]

Easily the Dax e. The acceleration is electrifying and it has suspension and pneumatic tires. Also, it has cruise control and will cruise at 25 mph up and down the small hills we have here. It weighs 130 pounds and my guess is about a 50 mile range, but I will need to test that. The Motocompacto weighs about 42 pounds, and you can take it with you in your car. They are really in two different markets based on weight and usage.

Makes sense. It looks like you're in a good location for ebike usage.

? 100% legal. My TZR is a gray market bike, legally tagged and titled in SC. Bikes are easier than cars by a mile but hey, do your thing.

Antique vehicle exemptions make it much easier to import and register 25+ year-old motorcycles. For permanent import, anything that doesn't get the antique exemption and doesn't carry a certification from the manufacturer saying it conforms to US standards, is either a lot of red tape and money or not on the straight and narrow. To clear customs while declared as a non-exempt motorcycle for permanent import, the bike needs to be certified as conforming to US standards. The Thai or Euro market Dax likely don't conform so Honda aren't going to give you a letter saying that they do. That means the vehicle would need to be imported through an independent commercial importer who then modifies the motorcycle to conform and certifies it as such, including emissions testing and certification. Modifications that might need to be made could include the shift pattern, gas recycling system if the Thai market one is missing it (Euro market should have it), and possibly lights, turn signals, or reflectors. Then you're left dealing with your state, and insurance, for a bike that doesn't exist in their systems and isn't an antique, which could go smooth or not. Usually a lot of that depends on getting a more experienced staff member.

 

[m in sc]

We have a plated beta 300 here as well. you were saying? I speak from direct experience, not speculation.

 

[dmonkey]

Apples to oranges as the Beta 300 is sold in the USA as an off-road motorcycle already. That might be 100% legal in your state, but it's different than bringing a bike through customs that the manufacturer has not certified for any type of import into the USA, especially as a highway use vehicle. Being on the straight and narrow would exclude bringing a bike in for off-road use, and then registering it for highway use.

Plenty of ways to make it happen if you're not set on being a "straight arrow".

 

[m in sc]

nope. not for hwy use it isn't. it's a modern 2 stroke. long story short import brokers do this all the time. and it's 100% legal . I had a buddy bring over a gsx1100g back in the 90s from Germany, same thing. military guys do this all the time. there's an exception code, '0', if I remember correctly, and you're good to go. like said, 1ST hand experience and have seen it done many times. is it cheap? nope. but 100 legal.

 

[RustyRodder]

I kinda dig this- Where did you buy from, and what was the total cost? When motocompactos are like 1200 after tax, this is a lot more appealing.

 

[vintagegarage]

Here is the latest "Old and Slow". Three days after I made the video, I reverted the Meter Bracket to return the Meter back to it's original location, and moved the Front Binding Bag forward one bar on the Front Shelf. The explanation is in the description field in the video:

 

[RustyRodder]

I bought it on Alibaba.. cost was $830 for the Dax e, $100 for the long seat/unrestricted controller option, and shipping $650, total about $1,600

Not bad! But wow, alibaba search sucks. Could you go through how you ordered and got the long seat/controller?