This is based on my experinces, it should be taken as most other advice, with a grain of salt. If you are going to import a bike for yourself, talk to dealers, brokers, customs. Ask a lot of questions.
STEP 1: Find a Dealer
You go web surfing of course. . .
Look at the Suzuki of Canada website
for dealers. I used Bob's Motorsports in
Chatham, Ontario. Give them a call at (519)354-6377 and tell them
Eric Stratten sent you. I would happily recommend them to anybody,
very good service.
They did a ton of extra work prepping the bike of importing to the
U.S. In addition to Suzuki, Bob also sells Yamaha.
STEP 2: A Broker
Bob recommends using a broker to import the bike properly. He uses Cataract Brokerhouse. Using a broker allows the dealer to not charge you GST and PST sales tax (about 15%). This sales tax can be refunded by submiting the right forms at the border but it can take a long time to get the money back. In my case the brokerage fees came to approximately $111. Cataract Brokerhouse is at (716)773-9207, ask for Susan. The broker prepares all the paperwork for importing the bike and Bob makes sure its all in order before you leave.
STEP 3: Currency Exchange
Bob recommend using NORCAM Currency Exchange in Windsor, ON. They give you the best exchange rate available compared to others. In my case it saved me over $50 compared to what my own bank quoted me the previous day.
STEP 4: Picking Up your Bike
I took the dealer a check in Canadian funds, $4700 with the exchange rate at the time, loaded the bike into my pickup and with papers in hand went back to the border. Go through the commercial exit at the border, pay a $5 sticker fee and proceed to the customs building. The broker's office is in the back side. They clear the bike electronically, then you go up front and see the friendly customs officer. They review the papers and send you on your way if everything is in order. In my case they didn't even go out to look at the bike.
Safety & Emmisions
Besides U.S. Customs you need to make two other agencies happy if importing the bike for street use. Those agencies are the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Safety & Transportation Agency/Department of Transportation (NHSTA/DOT). To show compliance to the required emmissions and safety requirements you need to acquire a letter from the the manufacturer (Suzuki of Canada) which refers specifically to the VIN number of you bike, stating that it meets all applicable emmisions and safety standards, and if not which standards it falls short. Your dealer should be able to arrange for this. My dealer had a faxed copy and Suzuki of Canada mailed the original direct to my house.
The only regulation the SV-S does not meet is the requirement of having a speedometer labled in MPH. The Canadian model SV-S has a speedo lablebed only in kph. You may be required to show proof that this has been changed or will be changed after importation if you are importing it as a street bike.
One area that might deserve investigation is whether a TL-S gauge cluster could be made to work on the SV-S. The housings and connectors appear to be identicle, who knows you might be able to get it to work. This would give you the cleanest factory appearing fix if it could be made to work.
I don't know what would be required to meet this requirement. For instance could you install a bicycle computer that displays MPH to meet the requirement??
STEP 5: Title & Registration
The only other costs that might be involved are your own state tax, title & license fees (for street bikes). Because the bike is from out of the country it may thow up a "VIN Error" flag on the computer at the Sec. of State/DMV. In Michigan they gave me a green form which I had to have a local officer come inspect the VIN on the bike and fill out the form. The officier also ran the VIN through the computer to make sure it wasn't on the Reported Stolen list. Once this was done they were able to file my title application.
Bob's Motorsports - Chatham, Ontario (519)354-6377
Cataract Brokerhouse - (716)773-9207
NORCAM Currency Exchange - (519)252-9108