Selling a Chilean bike in the USA
 

Hi all,
as the title suggests I am wondering if this would be possible, I would like to purchase a cheap CGL125 or NXR125/150 in Chile and ride it to the USA, hoping to get some money back for it which I can put towards my return ticket home. I am aware that it most likely can't be registered but is it possible to part it up or sell it as an agriculture bike or something similar?

The most salable bike here in the USA that you can buy in Latin America is probably the Honda XR250, known as the Tornado down south. Loads of dirt bikers use them here (USA) and won't care about the paperwork as much as a street bike.

hmm good to know but probably a little out of my price range (they cost heaps in SA), I am curious though, is it legal to leave without the bike which was rode in on?

In theory, No, it's not "legal" ; on 'temporary' entry of non-US vehicle into US, you complete a US Customs form which promises to re-export the vehicle within 12 months. But there is no 'system' to track such vehicles or the entry paperwork after the vehicle is physically entered in the US. So, leaving without the bike, you've broken a promise.

In practice, Yes, it's "legal" for you to leave without the bike, because there is no US Customs paperwork or database cross-check/link between your personal passport/ visa, and the vehicle-entry paperwork. In other words, the vehicle entry is not posted/ stamped in your personal passport entry.

BUT...be careful trying to sell a non-US bike (that is legally entered by the owner on a 'temporary' basis) to a US buyer. If the US buyer then tries to register that non-US bike in a US State (rather than using it only for off-road use, not registered for street-legal use), most State motor vehicle agencies will cross-check the VIN against a separate national/federal database of "US-spec" bike VINs. If the VIN doesn't show up on that database, the State DMV will likely deny registration, unless/ until that bike has been 'conformed' to US-spec (a whole different & very costly system--don't go there). Many/ some US buyers may not even be aware of this procedure/ requirement. If the US buyer only intends to ever use the bike offroad and not ever register it as street-legal, no problem for either seller or buyer.

Or, as you suggested, a non-US bike could be 'parted out'.

Excellent, that's pretty much was I needed to know, thanks :thumbup1: