Buy here or buy there?
 

Hi

I am planning on leaving for the US and heading south by bike toward the end of this summer.

Has anybody got any advice on travelling on a US registered bike south or a European (UK or Ireland) registered bike as I may transport one from here by air...

I am unsure of costs etc heading through Central and into South America with temporary import/passing through charges and insurance and whether or not I would be able to register a US bike in my name as I do not live there...

I have access to an address in Florida but may be better to ship my bike from here and hit the road.

Any definitive advice appreciated!

E

There are many post about this every year. So you can look them up in the HUBB to get more info and look at the travel stories Ride Tales - The HUBB and http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/get-inspired/travel-stories-blogs. Then you can hit up a meeting.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings/Ireland2012.php or go big
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings/UK2012.php
Go to one it will save you money and may save your life, but do get to one there going soon may want to sign up.

This post will help to start you off http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...sier-usa-59241

You can buy a bike in the USA and use the address in Florida. You go in to shop and buy the bike and use the address when they ask. Ride around put the plate and grab the title when they send it. Then off you go. But laws do change and there 50 states and there all diffrent this was the way it was and may still be.

Or you can fly your bike over the come over uncrate the bike and ride off from there. you will need USA insurance but you need that on any bike. There are othere bits of paper you may need to go on with that

The costs will depend more on you than any thing else. Say $30 to $50 a day is more than safe for me but I know people that will use $100. As far as the price thay hit you with at the borders? who knows, every one seems to take a little off the top for them self at times other times they do not. But it can run a few $100 may want to look at this http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/get-ready/budgeting.

There is getting over the gap, a new boat that may be running $200 or a plane ride at $1000 last I looked.
Then at the end of the world there are boat rides to the ice starting at $3000 to $4000.

Just remember that if you buy a USA bike when you bring it abck to the UK you will have to pay VAT. But apart from that there's no problem. I did this last eyar. Bought a bike in Alaska and rode down to Panama. No issues at borders or anything like that. It costs less as you don't have to fly a bike to America, but costs more if you bring it back to the UK (VAT) so evens out. Bikes are probably cheaper to get in the US but you are either buying before you see it or spending a few days getting a bike when you get there.

Neither option is better. I'd say if you can find a bike in the US that you like, and is a good price, go for that.