Well for the gear its true get it were its cheap and were you can test it etc then take it with you on the plain. There you have 20 kg and more you should not take anyway but shiping a bike in my eyes is a big waste of money.
For the same price then shiping a bike you can often bay two bikes at your destination. I would rather take a cheap bike into strange country so if anything goes wrong you can just leave it there...

Shipping a bike is $2200 one way for me. "WHOOPIE" they give a $100 discount for 2-way trip. I think $4300 shipping for a cheap bike is totally stupid. I could leave here (USA) a week or 2 early for a trip and do "Trip-Maintenance" add-ons and still come out ahead. This bike has to travel about 10,000 Km, after that, anything goes, including the bike.

PM sent to ta-rider

Here's another "take it for whatever it's worth to you:"

I'm totally confused about what you're asking, what you're planning, how much time and money you've got, and lots more. From the broad array of responses, it sounds like others are too.

If you want a cheap bike to last you a couple of weeks or a month, maybe two (i.e., 6000 miles), by all means don't ship: borrow, beg, buy, or rent a bike in Europe.

If you're thinking about Australia, Japan, new bike prices, and all the other perhaps-extraneous detail in your posts above, do the obvious.

And: there are plenty of cheaper shipping options, depending on everything. Since I've got no idea what you're doing, or even whether you're actually doing it, it's hardly worth going into any detail now, is it?

Ignore at will, but in any case have fun out there, wherever "there" is.

Mark

OK, I want a bike in europe, the closer to Russia the better. However, it looks like more options are available in Germany with an Export Plate. The tentative trip time is May 2013. The desired destination is Vladivostok.

I want to buy a bike cheap as possible. If I know what it is and condition before I leave here I may be able to bring parts to the bike. Appearance like paint, maybe a tear in seat, is not so important. Running integrity is important, tires can be replaced. Sprockets/chain etc can be replaced. A lighter bike is better than a heavy bike IMO. I can bring bags and maybe a top-box for the bike.

I have been looking at an (arbitrary) list of:
Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha
1990-2002
Electric start
Under 40,000 Km
500 - 750 cc.
1400 Euro or less

Buying and trusting a bike sight-unseen is sort of a big deal, but I could live with it. Suggestions on where to buy, when to buy is better than other times? - like winter now?, does someone have room to store the bike until I get there, help with government registration stuff, and repair/fix/kit help would be great.

Models coming up are Kaw KL 650A, Yam TT 600, Honda XL 600 V Transalp, Honda Dominator, and Kaw KLX 650C. Are there others recommended? Spares recommended for these bikes or user comments?

The bike may end up in Russia or back to where it started. It may be sold for a low price or even given away. I think it can be shipped back to europe as "Salvage parts", "Auto parts", "Scrap parts" or some inventive name to get it on a train to the west.

The whole process sort of suffered over the holiday BS and so on. There you have it. Post here or PM with email addy and I will get back to you.

In buying a bike in EU/Germany-

What is "VAT not reclaimable"?

What is "VAT reclaimable"?

VAT is an extra tax to be paid every time goods are bought. In Germany its called MwSt.
In some countries and on some products, you can get a refund of the VAT if you are a foreigner and take the product out of the country. This normally takes place at special borders, as only there you can prove that the item actually left the country.

Normally you also have to get some special papers from the shop/seller, when you buy.

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Poul
May you enjoy peace and good health !

VAT = a European-wide tax (Value Added Tax) that, ultimately, is paid to the Government of the country in which business is conducted (it applies very widely to all forms of commerce including buying new goods, such as motorcycles; in the UK it does not generally apply to the sale of second-owned goods, but that is not a universal situation - it can apply in some "business" circumstances).

When goods are exported outside of any individual country of the EU then VAT can be reclaimed, but it is then due to be paid at the rates that apply in the country to which the goods are exported (assuming the exportation is within the EU).
If exported completely out of the EU, with supporting paperwork, then VAT can be reclaimed.

That's how I understand VAT.

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Dave