Im looking at buying an Akrapovic ‘can’ from the US of A as the price of the 2nd hand ones over here are the same as what I can get a new one for due to the exchnage rate etc etc.
Anyone know if there any difference in the cans? I know someone who was going to buy an exhaust for his car from America but due to their strict emmissions he would have lost power fitting it as the system was made differently to ours.
Any ideas?
Cheers 
Sounds like you need to speak to London DRZ - Pretty sure he bought himself a set of 'zausts from the states…
ull get stung for and import tax as its over 55 quid which is when the gift trick has a cut off, then it will only save you not alot mate. u can try it but alot dont get away with it no more.
I got stung like that when buying some TL parts from the states.
Ended up saving about £15 but cost so much more in hassle factor
Well the exhaust is $402 plus $76 shipping plus customs tax so Im looking at about £260ish for a new one, on ebay Uk they sell for just over £200 - someone offered me one on here (cant remember who now) for £240 but for the extra couple of quid I’d rather have a new one
Think your sums are a bit out there !
So it’s $478 purchase price, exhange rate is about $2 to the pound, but buying it on a credit card you won’t get that, more like $1.90 - $1.95 so being optomistic that’s £245
Then there’s the import duty, not sure what the rate on bike bits is, but say 5% we’re at £257
Then there’ll be 17.5% VAT on the whole lot (inc shipping charges) - £302
Finally just to add insult to injury, the Post office will charge you another £10-15 for the pleasure of handling the customs paperwork.
Dunno how much they cost new over here, but is it gonna be a big enough saving to be worth while ? especially bearing in mind the hassle you’ll have in the event of any problems with the can, unlikely in the case of Akrapovic stuff, but you never know.
Just done a quick SOTFW & first place I looked at does Gixxer 6 ones for £340 - http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_cat/220
You may find them cheaper if you did a bit of diging around on the net, so for a £20 saving I wouldn’t bother ! 
I’ve tried this (not an Akrapovic, but parts for a Ducati 996 I rebuilt). Frankly unless you have the time and patience to wade through all the crap necessary to get it delivered you’d be better off buying the thing here. Your only going to save something like 5% on the overall purchase price - in the figures were talking thats ~£20 - and for the hassle is missing out on 6 beers at your local this weekend worth it?
Also if you buy it here, and it goes wrong, you’ll have the warranty to fall back on, and failing that the garage that fitted it. You may struggle to get an international warranty buying it via eBay.
Lastly, many dealers just now are doing buy now pay later, so you might be able to get a finance deal on it here and pay for the can over 12-24 months.
Humm ok fair enough, just seems like as usual were getting a bit of a raw deal over here with the cost of things 
We are, but our customs people are getting good at catching people out - if you can get away with not paying the import duty then you will save ~50% of the cost. Thing is fewer and fewer people are getting away with it.
The other option would be to go to the US and bring it back, but I doubt you’d be able to hide it in your suitcase…
yes it was me who offered you the can mate, but as i have said ealier you will get stung i have on the last 6 things have ordered and as some one else said the post office or delivery company will charge you also for dealing with the customs papaer work. 200 quid and you can have my can mate, small scuff near link pipe but nothing else mate, pm me and you can come over to view. cheers
Well I’ve never ordered anything from the states before so not sure where all the costs add up 
Have you got a pic of the Akra mate? If its cool I’ll have it - where abouts are you?
Take my word dude…don’t do it! Its okay buying small items from the USA and such places, but when you are talking about big items like this…what happens if it gets lost in transit?
Also in some cases the Customs officers take the items, instead of doing the paperwork etc, they just simply take the item - thats it game over…and if you contact them, they will tell you that it has been taken as the correct tax was not paid. I’ve seen it happen too many times!
