I am now on to refurbishing the main stand on the '91 K100 16v. On Saturday I dismantled the lot and found that I need two new bushes and two new screws. Priced them up on Motorworks and Motobins but thought that as I wanted them soonest I would price them up at the local (French) BMW dealer. This is what I found:
Price for these bits from the UK £17.40 inc tax
Price from BMW dealer €18.06 inc tax
As the £ is at about €1.17 at the moment, the bits are much cheaper from the dealer. It turns out that the dealer will have to order and I will have to wait a week for them, but the same will be said for the Motorworks/Motobins parts and I would also have to pay for postage and packing which seems to be very expensive from the UK to France (from these companies anyway).
I also ordered a pair of new handlebar grips while I was there as they were also cheaper.

Just wondered what the rate of VAT was on motorbike parts in France.
Does it come under Transport or "renovation and improvement work" so 7%
Or do you get shafted like us with the full 20%   (19.6)

Full 19.6%. But we don't get shafted like you because we have no tax disc or MOT on bikes. Why do you think that I moved here?

bikerboy wrote:. Why do you think that I moved here?

Oh just for the motorcycling.. Why else... It had nothing to do with the fine wines, good weather, great countryside. etc etc need I go on

Oh and the French of course   LOL

You may not believe it, but it was just for the biking. I had the chance to retire at 46 and the wife and I bought a pair of R1100S's to try out the long empty roads, great weather and car drivers who will almost drive on the pavement to let a bike pass.
The wine does help, but only when the bikes are in bed for the night.

You had a chance to retire at age 46???
I hate stories like that.

brickrider wrote:You had a chance to retire at age 46???
I hate stories like that.

And a wife with an R1100s

Not anymore, she has an F800ST now. She used to have a Honda Blackbird with loads of horsepower, but now thinks that the R1100S was a much better machine. My wife is the one who drags me to bike shops and loves to buy stuff. Now that she cannot get to the BMF at Peterbro' anymore she will have to make do with the 20+ pairs of bike gloves that she still has - and some women collect handbags!