In 1984 he was also one of two men convicted of New Zealand's biggest robbery at the time when $294,529 was taken from an Armourguard van at the Foodtown supermarket in Birkenhead.
His latest indiscretion came on May 4, 2013, not long after being released from prison.
The court heard how Romanov spent much time planning the hit, which including using various websites to track down the owners of an extremely rare 2008 Ducati Desmosedici.
He used his home computer and one in the Pukekohe public library, police found.
Judge Charles Blackie described the limited-edition vehicle as "a mechanical work of art" owned by only the most ardent motorcycle enthusiasts.
Fewer than 10 had been imported to New Zealand.
Once Romanov found an owner, he researched the rural Waitaoki address - half an hour north of Auckland - to get the layout of the property.
But the premeditation did not end there.
When police raided his house they found detailed diagrams and engineering specifications as well as commercial paint removers they believed Romanov had used to strip the bike.
The 64-year-old's plan was undone after a balaclava was found at the scene of the burglary, which featured his DNA.
Judge Blackie called it an "overwhelming prosecution case".
He rejected the defence case that it was a simple burglary.
"I can't accept this was run of the mill," the judge said. "This was a highly-sophisticated burglary as one might expect of you as you've carried out so many sophisticated crimes in the past."
Romanov declined to be interviewed by probation before sentencing, which Judge Blackie said reflected his lack of contrition.
"Normally people express something by way of remorse, some form of apology but I've heard nothing of that from you," he said.
The judge was also unimpressed with Romanov standing in court with his jacket over his head and demanded he uncover his face.
"I like my privacy," the defendant said.
Romanov's accomplice, who drove him to the Waitoki address, was earlier sentenced to 250 hours community work but Judge Blackie said his role was minor compared to the career criminal.
"When I look it at, it's rather like were the captain of the football team whereas your off-sider was simply the ball boy," he said.
For the protection of the public, Judge Blackie imposed a minimum non-period of three and a half years and was sceptical of Romanov's potential to change.
"In all likelihood - with a history stretching back to the 1970s - this might not be the end of the line," he said.
The Ducati superbike has never been found.
Romanov's history
1984 - Romanov is jailed for nearly 10 years after the country's biggest ever robbery at the time. $294,529 is taken from a security van at a Birkenhead supermarket, while the three security guards are pushed to the ground at gunpoint.
1991 - Jailed for three years for another aggravated robbery.
1996 - Romanov receives a five-year prison term for an armed robbery of the ANZ Bank in Kerikeri, which saw him get away with $69,000. A stand-off with the Armed Offenders Squad ensues before he is finally taken into custody.
1999 - He is sentenced to 16 and a half years for a couple of bank robberies and the infamous theft of an $8 million Tissot masterpiece from the Auckland Art Gallery. He is later nabbed by police at a Waikato address with the painting hidden under a bed after sending them a $500,000 ransom demand.
2015 - Romanov is jailed for seven years after stealing a rare $130,000 Ducati motorbike from a rural address north of Auckland after meticulous research and planning.
