Hi all,

an off-subject subject. Now that I spend a lot of my time in France, I'm thinking of registering my British CBR1000FM in France so looking for anyone who has recent experience of that - but it's a little more complicated. Until 2016 the maximum legally allowed power output for a bike in France was around 105bhp and anything above that had to be officially "limited" and registered as such by a recognised dealer {yes, really}. I could do that but I'm very reluctant to start playing around with the power of an engine that was intended to be operated with it's design power profile. Since 2016 the law limiting the power output has now been lifted and bikes of any size are permitted provided they have ABS. My 1991 CBR1000F does NOT have ABS - that came in 1993 I think - Grrrr! A dealer in France has suggested trying to insure the bike in France whilst keeping it registered in England as it could qualify as a "classic vehicle" and thereby get around these rather perverse rules. Has anyone (by chance) heard of anything like this. The alternative of returning to UK from the South of France every year for an MoT and UK road tax feels pretty unattractive. Just a chance posting......

 

Interesting problem, good luck.

 

I know it's not of interest to many people on this forum but it's pretty key to me. Turns out that even bikes built before the power limit was lifted (2016) and which exceed that power can only be registered if they have ABS. ABS came in on the 1993 models for the CBR1000F and mine is 1991! Sometimes techy problems seem trivial compared to when the law gets in the way!?#

 

Hi , there's not alot I can help you with either, never came across this with a mate who's moved over there with his bike, sorry.

 

Quote: ABS came in on the 1993 models

No it didn`t, the MK3(93 on) models got linked braking, nothing like ABS.
Good luck with your rego problems, South of France sound fancy....and nice

 

agree with jarvid,
these bikes do not have ABS.
its a linked system.
keep your bike registered as is.
but i would ask some locals for more info?
search french classifieds for 1000cc bikes?
see what comes up!
for info.

 

Update or those of you who viewed/replied to this thread. I asked my existing car insurance company about the situation and eventually they have insured the bike in France as a "moto de collection" (classic bike) whilst keeping it registered in UK. It avoids all this power limitation/ABS argument and gets me road legal. Personally, I had no idea a vehicle could be registered in one country and be insured in another, but I believe it's only because it's over 20 years old that it works. Interesting for anyone else wanting to use their bike in another country for a while but not wanting to change the registration.

 

Interesting fix! You can't do that here.

Here in New York state, I wouldn't be able to register or insure it other than NY state.
I don't know of any state where you can register or insure outside your own state.