Import · Japan → USA

Importing a Suzuki GSX-R1000 to the USA: Real Costs

An icon of the open-class era, the GSX-R1000 pairs brutal power with an import bill that stays surprisingly lean.

By Priya Nair, Motorcycle import researcher · 6 min read

The GSX-R1000 is a 1000cc superbike with decades of racing heritage.

Being over 800cc, it qualifies for duty-free entry into the US.

The full cost breakdown

Plug in your own purchase figure — everything below the vehicle scales only modestly with value. All amounts are researched 2026 estimates in USD.

Estimated landed cost — Suzuki GSX-R1000, Japan → USA, 2026
Vehicle (purchase price)	$11,000
Export agent & de-registration	$500
Professional crating	$400
Ocean freight (crated, LCL)	$1,400
Marine insurance (~1.5%)	$165
Motorcycles over 800cc enter the US duty-free	$0
Customs broker & port handling	$410
EPA / DOT entry & compliance paperwork	$150
Inland transport & registration	$750
Estimated all-in landed cost	$14,775

Entry requires EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7, and a US-certified equivalent model or the 21/25-year age exemption can ease compliance.

Is the GSX-R1000 duty-free into the US?+

Yes, its over-800cc engine means it enters the United States duty-free.

Does the US charge VAT on this import?+

No, there is no VAT on motorcycles imported into the United States.