A to Z Imports

WHEN WE were first approached by Ozbike to put something together for the magazine, we were just going to do your run-of-the-mill advertising campaign that we put in a multitude of other medias. After reading some articles and talking with the people from Ozbike, we thought this would be the perfect platform to tell it how it is. So, instead of writing a mundane article on when A to Z Imports started and one that resembles a history lesson you would have skipped, we decided to tell Ozbike readers what we do, our opinions, and clear up some preconceived ideas about the industry.

The name pretty much says it all, we import everything from A to Z (excluding anything illegal). We specialise in shipping bikes, cars, boats, campers and 5^th wheels out of the USA. On the smaller scale of things, we ship auto parts and machinery, and on a weirder note, we have shipped BBQs, spas and jewellery stands. Basically, if you want it, we’ll do what we can to get it here.

There’s a lot of crap talked about international shipping companies and everyone either has a friend who has been stung, or knows somebody who doesn’t have to abide by the rules and can’t understand why we won’t import a bike kit if they grind off the frame and engine number. We’re not deluded, some companies will, but these are the same ones in the industry that will also sting you.

A to Z Imports has been in operation for more than 30 years and is still family owned and run. Originating in LA, it now has its main office and workshop in Currumbin on the Gold Coast. The point being, we have been around long enough to know the ins and outs of the industry and have watched cash-grabbing companies fail just as quickly as they appear.

Getting to the bikes, opinions are always going to vary on this topic and depending on who you speak to, we are either the devil and killing retailers, or exactly what the bike industry needs, finally putting pressure on some retailers and giving consumers some options. The fact is, we can import a late model Harley-Davidson from the States, comply it and you can register it anywhere in Australia. We don’t sell the bikes we comply—they are all pre-ordered and purchased for customers. We cater to the diehard rider who didn’t want to pay the inflated prices here.

We’re the first to say we deal with some idiots who think that they have come up with this amazing way to get rich quick. These are the idiots flooding the market. This RAWS (Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme) was not made to be a get rich quick venture for any individual. 

Basically, we are a RAW (Registered Automotive Workshop), and this means we have done a ridiculous amount of paperwork, paid criminal amounts for light tests, done hundreds of noise tests, compiled it all together in an evidence package, and submitted it to the Government. They then decide they want the left rear reflector re-tested and 103 noise tests, so we re-submit, jump through hoops and finally get approved for a Harley. This needs to be done for each model and updated each year. So, to give you an idea, we have to change a multitude of components on an imported bike in order to meet the ADR (Australian Design Rules). A tail light assembly that is sold by a retailer in Australia does not guarantee it can be complied under the RAWS.

We may not agree with the fact that we have to change tyres that have done 20 miles but these are the rules we need to follow in order to fit a compliance plate to your new bike. The fact is, by following the process, you can save thousands. So we follow the rules—there are companies that don’t—and we can guarantee your bike won’t be recalled and exported for being complied illegally by third parties claiming to be RAW.

A to Z Imports is also a RAW for Indian Motorcycles, Dodge Rams, Challenger, Mustangs, Big Dog and Ducati. The workshop not only complies bikes but also does the steering conversions on the mentioned vehicles. Everything is done in-house, from making the moulds and dashes to rewiring and modifying the firewall. This allows us to give our customers a life-time guarantee on their conversion components.

As a hobby we also build bobbers and can customise your ride, so whether you want something vintage and unique or something eye-catching and irrational, we can build it. If you’re after a new truck, we can ship and covert it. If you want a new ride, we will ship and comply. 

Photos by Rod Cole.