Is there any US state that is cheaper to buy motorcycles?
 

Is there any US state that is cheaper to buy motorcycles?

I am looking at doing a trip leaving Australia, buying a bike in USA and travelling through Central America and South America. I was looking at LA or San Francisco but can fly elsewhere if I can get a better buy.

I was contemplating buying a new bike to minimise the possibilities of breakdowns as I am not mechanically experienced. A late model second hand one is an option too.

Looking at KLR650 or Vstom 650 but will ask a separate question about that.

Many thanks for the help.

Maurice:biggrin:

I have heard the Bay Area has some good deals on used bikes, but not sure of new bike deals. There is a trader magazine called Cycletrader that is available online.
I linked you to this page on www.cycletrader.com The criteria I used (if you want to go back to try a fresh start) was 'new' 'Suzuki' within 100 miles of zip code 91325 (one of the many zip codes of the L.Angeles area) There is an option to narrow down your criteria, but you might miss some deals if the bike dealer doesn't use the proper name for the particular bike you are looking for.

Here's a sample ad for a V-Strom: http://adcache.cycletrader.com/5/2/9/84181829.htm

http://www.cycletrader.com/adsearch.html

Try this link for a KLR; again I used 'new' 'Kawasaki' but used keyword of KLR to help narrow the search, 'within 100 miles of zip code 91325.

Here is a sample ad for a KLR with an "out the door" price found using the above criteria:

http://adcache.cycletrader.com/5/9/2/85445192.htm

You can play around with the settings on this search, but for L.A., use 91325 as your zip code, and even try a wider search, such as 200 miles, and add keywords in as well.

Perhaps, someone could give you a good, central San Francisco/Bay Area zip code to use in the www.cycletrader.com search to look there?

Many other good options too. I'd go

Maurice,

Go to Lycos Classifieds, it'll pick up ads from craigslist and other websites. I would get the KLR, cheaper to fix than a VS or BMW and resale value is still pretty good in SA. Better yet, bring over an Africaa Twin and forget about the Kawi or Suz.... :)

Thanks Guys!
 

Thanks for the great feedback and links. The links have been gretly appreciated. I am leaning towards San Fran as it is a little bit less scary to an outsider, particularly one that has to buy a bike (I have been to both but not on motorcycle).

As far as the cost of a flight eating into the savings made on a purchase that is not too big a problem because I am going to get the flight on frequent flyer points.

Thanks again
Maurice

You might consider that Oregon state has no sales tax, so that would save a few percent if you are buying new. Depends where you want to start your trip from.

d.

forks, subframes and swingarms.

I've used the vehicle registration/temp title to get the Mex permit.
Yeah, some states do take a while getting the title to you.

Some dealers will allow foriegn buyers

Our document systems used to be a giant sieve...with holes the size of your imagination.
It's now much tighter.
In a few more years, they should have most of it figured out. Dick's hatband....and all that...
I expect to be doing the dirt nap long before my retinas are scanned. :)

Buying a bike
 

Montana. lifetime license plate (the bikes life), no social security number required and you can use my address for the title. You can get the title really quick, less than a million folks in the whole state. It is a great place to tour around and get some riding in on gravel roads and see yellowstone park and glacier park. Think about staying and transporting around in a big city and then think about the state capital of montana which has a resident deer herd of 400 critters. I do like living and riding here.

Hi Bill

Thanks for the info.:thumbup1:

Excuse my ignorance but what is the capital of Montana? Would that be a good place to buy? Also do you know if there is sales tax payable on purchase? How competitive are the prices as sometimes a smaller population can mean higher prices.

I was interested in going to Yellowstone National Park and the region in general.

Cheers
Maurice:scooter:

FREE SPIRIT, go see Bill, if you can, in Montana. Helena is the capital. Flying Gringo, FREE SPIRIT is looking for a new bike, which you deal in as well. How difficult is it to sell a bike to a tourist?

FREE SPIRIT, make sure you are coming through in the next couple of months if you want to go through Montana (Bill Ryder) or Ohio (Flying Gringo) due to the weather changing to winter in those states...

That stinks for FREE SPIRIT, but I don't think it means the end.

I have seen many posts by Bill Ryder and figure he is an honest man. This gets complicated, due to his being in a remote state that might be more difficult to get to, but as he is not the owner of the dealership he works for (I don't think), you could give him your money and he could run off to Vegas to gamble it away, and get call girls, and, no just kidding. He could be the buyer of record as you indicated you would prefer a new bike, buy the bike, register it, and then "sell" it to you as a private party "used" bike with a permanent Montana license plate, that could be transferred at the Department of Motor Vehicles, using his address as your place of residence. It could be worth a try. Flying Gringo is the owner of his dealership and had mentioned that its harder for a dealer to sell to a non-US citizen, and probably wouldn't be able to get away with using the above scenario such as with Bill Ryder.

As the US is often called a melting pot, it is often the case that tourists come here and have relatives here, which, if you do, would be able to buy and register a bike for you as well.

The other alternative is the obvious one; ship a bike from Australia.

Next time I'm in DMV, I'll ask about laws regarding foreigners buying
vehicles.