Where is cheaper to buy bike - in Chile, Argentina, Peru or Bolivia?
 

Does anyone know how the market for motorcycles is in South America? Is it cheaper and better to buy a motorcycle in Chile or in Argentina or in Peru or in Bolivia?? THat's the biggest question I am trying to resolve now in my head...
I want to get a bike in one of thouse countries ride up until Colombia and potentially sell it there (might cause some import complications I guess)
Any tips are highly appreciated!

Lots of Chinese bikes available, so might pay to specify a make and model if you have anything specific in mind.

It is not always the cheapest place, often the choice is easiest. Peru is probably the cheapest, but from what I have by far the hardest (sometimes) to sort out the paper work and get it out of the country.

Bolivia has a lot of bikes, but decent ones are at a price. And as so many are stolen (possibly) there would be a lot of scrutiny at the borders.

Argentina has some rule over owning a bike 12 months before being allowed out with it (some people have managed to to work around it).

All the above was why I chose Chile, not the cheapest but the easiest to get paper work sorted.

The (expensive) Funduro was much admired in Bolivia, I had many offers for it.

Keep browsing and searching the South America forum, there is a lot of info and experiences on there. With a couple of guides to buying bikes.

hello, as dicen.efectivamente in Chile is not the cheapest but it is as simple to buy either new or used,
I live in santiago, chile and if you need help buying or getting a good product count on my support
Regards.: Vespa:

A friend (who lives in Bolivia) told me yesterday, that without a resident visa, a foreigner CANNOT purchase a used motorcycle in Bolivia.

Peruvian registered bikes are no problem getting out of the country, just directly into Bolivia, but if you go to the Bolivian consulate in Puno, Peru, in just an hour they will give you the document necessary.

Toby

Buy in Chile or Peru and have a read of the (long) sticky about it. All the answers are there. If you want anything specific come back and let us know!

seek and ye shall find
 

Grant & Susan Johnson set up Horizons Unlimited because they found they were answering the same questions again and again. There is much knowledge to be found by seaching the forums and simply investing a little time reading old posts (and sticky posts too!) That little rant said, things change all the time, so the best approach is to first become informed by reading, then ask for updates or recent changes...

Isn't that out of date now (like most stickies)?

Last I saw in one of these threads you can't leave Chile for month whilst waiting for some paperwork to come through.

you can leave Chile immediately if you get a "poder" in the notaria, it will only cost you a few extra pesos and by the time you come back to Chile the bike will be in your name and you can sell it again without any problems.

Groschi

In Peru the name and address on the owners card is in a bar code so it only can be read by a border computer. Within 10 days the barcode now reads your name.. you don't have to go back for any papers! bierbier

When are you looking to buy one bud? Easiest way is to buy one off a traveler finishing his/her trip.