Anyone need a bike to ride to the US?
 

Hi all,

Just starting to toss some ideas around regarding getting my bike home after this trip I'm on. I had been planning on riding all the way back home from Panama once I get there, but I'm thinking I'll probably fly home now.

The question is what to do with the bike. I can't bear to sell it, and I'll want a bike at home anyways. I'll probably ship it home, but it occurred to me that if anyone wanted to pick it up in Panama and ride it to the US, that would work, too. It's a 2005 Yamaha XT225, so just a little bike, but it's gotten me this far without a single hitch. Comes with Happy Trails panniers, tool kit, spares, etc. Only catch is that I want it back in the end! Consider it a free rental?

Let me know if anyone is interested, or if anyone has tips on the logistics of paperwork for this sort of thing. If I don't hear from anyone, I'll be sending her home via plane. I'll be arriving in Panama City sometime around early October, give or take.

Cheers,
Sarah

Hello! I live in Colorado, excellent destination in the US. My blog is here: Peregrinations - Mexico and Central America on Motorcycle: Open road, open heart, open mind. - WorldNomads Adventures. Full of pics and stories. PM me if you're still interested!

You're aware that the rider needs ownership papers in his/her own name to cross borders, right? Ideally these are genuine, but convincing fakes seem to work....at least until you get caught speeding in New Mexico, at which point you're screwed. That means you need to transfer ownership legally in the States and carry all the necessary paperwork, or apply your computer graphic skills with verve. It won't suffice to just sign over the title.

Hope that helps.

Mark

Paperwork
 

Well, the title is in Colorado right now, all I have is the registration, and that is in my name. Forged registration should be easy--it already looks fake and got me this far!

I was thinking about drafting a "rental agreement"? Any thoughts on that? Then the bike would still be in my name, but under the borrower's responsibility.

Let me know if you have any more ideas.
Sarah

Sarah, I don't want to put a lot of effort into repeating descriptions which are all over this forum and the next. You'll search it out if you're interested (or someone else will step up). These questions are asked approximately weekly.

The simple fact is that the document allowing use but retaining ownership that you're describing is forbidden by the regulations around temporary importation of vehicles in most, if not all, Latin American countries. A persuasive rider with a wallet full of small bills might be able to finesse it....or not, depending on who-know-what. That leaves a genuine or fake transfer of ownership as the best scenario, with accompanying questions about what is the best way to accomplish this in your specific case.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark