could you have not popped into a nearby country to purchase then just reregistered the bike ?
No. All cars/motorcycles has to pay tax.
Even if I went to another country I would still have to pay the tax to register the bike.
In 2008 I imported a -04 M3 from Germany after tax I paid roughly what a brand new M3 cost in Germany. The car was 30.000 euros, the tax was 53.000 euros, making the car cost 83.000 euros.
And30ers.
They do see a lot of Teslas here, that is because they are VAT and import tax free,which make them cost pretty much the same as in other countries. In addition you can charge it for free many places, reserved parking, free tollroads and ferries and you can drive in the bus lane.
And you get a car with performance of a car 2-3 times the cost of a Tesla (BMW M5, MB AMG 63 Audi RS), too bad the Teslas interior quality and materials is on par with a much cheaper car.
The cars in brackets are heavily taxed and cost at least twice as much as in other european countries.
In Germany you can look at the Tesla, or spend roughly the same on a BMW M5. In Norway you can spend 110.000 euros on a Tesla, or 250.000 euros on the M5.
Because of this, in Norway you can buy a Tesla, or a BMW 525d.