Buying a bike in Europe, touring on it, shipping it hom

[Brian P]

The bike that you purchase over there must be a Canadian-spec model so that it is legal for import. As you have noted, some manufacturers have a program like this, so that you can buy a Canadian-spec model in europe and ship it home, for exactly the purpose that you describe. Your citizenship doesn't matter. Transport Canada only cares about the declaration of conformity for the vehicle, nothing else. I believe you have to organize things like this through a dealership here.

BMW appears to have such a program, so your best bet is to ask one of their dealers about how to do this.