Riding a CJ750 into the US as a foreigner

[euphonius]

OK, here's a request that will challenge the legal eagles in this forum.

Here in Shanghai there's a group of Changjiang 750 owners who are getting more and more ambitious with their travels. Last year they did a big circumnavigation of Southeast Asia, exiting from Yunnan province and transiting Laos, Thailand and maybe Vietnam before re-entering China. Now they want to do North America!

It's my understanding they want to fly their sidecar bikes to Vancouver, tootle around British Columbia a bit, then cross into Washington state for a long, leisurely ride down the Pacific Coast Highway and exit into Mexico, where they'll either sell the CJs or ship them back to Shanghai.

They also have heard of some big summertime sidecar festival somewhere in the US, and are thinking they'd die to include a stop there as part of their trip. I don't know anything about this festival, but assuming it's nowhere near the west coast, this trip will start to look like a circumnavigation of the United States! (These guys have the funds and the time to do this, which tells you a lot about how China is changing. No, it's not your father's People's Republic!)

They understand they'll need tourist visas to enter the United States, but they have no idea what requirements there might be for temporarily importing the CJs. I've googled around and found very little, though this site seems to indicate it's legal even if the bikes don't meet US emissions standards as long as the import is temporary (less than one year). Here are the relevant paragraphs from that site:

Free Entry
NONRESIDENTS may import a vehicle duty-free for personal use up to one (1) year if the vehicle is imported in conjunction with the owner's arrival. Vehicles imported under this provision that do not conform to U.S. safety and emission standards must be exported within one year and may not be sold in the U.S. There is no exemption or extension of the export requirements.

Cars Imported for Other Purposes
Nonresidents may import an automobile or motorcycle and its usual equipment free of duty for a temporary stay to take part in races or other specific purposes. However, prior written approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required and such approval is granted only to those racing vehicles that EPA deems not capable of safe or practical use on streets and highways. If the contests are for other than money purposes, the vehicle may be admitted for 90 days without formal entry or bond if the Customs officer is satisfied as to the importer's identity and good faith. The vehicle becomes subject to forfeiture if it is not exported or if a bond is not given within 90 days of its importation. Prior written approval must be obtained from DOT. A vehicle may be temporarily imported for testing, demonstration, or racing purposes. A vehicle may be permanently imported for show or display. Written approval from DOT is required and should be obtained before the vehicle is exported from the foreign country to the U.S. Information on how to import a vehicle under show or display is available at DOT’s NHTSA Vehicle Importation Regulations website. A vehicle permanently imported for show and display must comply with all U.S. emission requirements as well, and in general must be imported through an EPA-authorized ICI for modification and testing. EPA will not allow the vehicle to be released to its owner until ICI work is complete.

(Do these paragraphs contradict each other?)

I'd be most grateful anyone has any ideas about how to confirm what's actually legal and appropriate.

Oh, and if anyone knows about the sidecar festival, my pals would love to know about that too!

thanks!