I did a couple of searches here but was unable to find the info I needed-- I am from the US and currently in Ecuador. Bikeless. I have been in South America for the last 3 years and its time for something different - thinking about from here to Europe, buying a used bike- something like one of the smaller KTM's or a Husky Terra or might consider a BMW 650-- for a trip around Europe and depending on how it goes eventually maybe India and/or parts of Africa....I want something lightweight and reliable. My question is would I be better off buying a bike in the US and shipping or simply going to Europe and buying there?

Regards

Expat

If your thinking a bike would be cheaper in the US compared to Europe .. you might be correct .. but factor in the cost of shipping and the overall may well be the other way around.

What happens to the bike at the end of the trip? That should influence your decision.

If your taking it 'home' then check what regulations you will have to meet = how much money you'll have to spend at the end of the trip to get a usable bike. Here the cost of shipping comes into to it too.

If leaving it somewhere, check what you'll have to do to do that.

The simplest thing is to use the bike .. then return it from where you got it. If your not certain of where the trip ends then go with the most certain ...


If Europe looks to be the most certain end point.. buy the bike there.

If India or Asia is the end point ... well your going to have to get rid of it there .. so may as well buy in Europe and save shipping fees. Germany looks to have the best carnet fees .. so maybe that is the way to go. And you never know .. you might arrange another Hubber to buy the bike off you and they ride it back to Europe... win win. If that even looks a possibility start arrangements as soon as you think its over 50% possible!

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There is no one 'answer' ... depends on lots of things. In the end you make a choice and .. go!

Warin

Thanks for the information and ideas. I have an idea where this trip might start- just no idea where it might end.

Regards

Expat

Warin pretty much nailed it with his answer.

The issue is not the purchase price of the bike, the issue is whether or not you will be able to register it (plate it) in the country you eventually want to plate it in. The problem is not import taxes, the problem will be emissions and safety compliance.

Michael

Michael

Thanks for the reply and interest. I have seen just such problems here in South America over the past 3 years particularly in Ecuador where, according to my limited knowledge it is impossible to plate a bike that was not originally purchased new here.

Regards

Expat

Warin brings up all the important things to consider
I would think of it by continents. As said, shipping takes BIG chunks of cash, adds a ton of stress. So best work the continents best you can on one bike, then sell it off, go to new continent, buy another bike and continue.

Example 1: If you wish to start in EU, then buy a bike there. I bought a bike in the UK and the whole thing was easy. If you decide to travel East then obtain your Carnets' (as needed) there and do Europe, Russia, Stans, Mongolia. From there you could: 1. ride the bike back 2. sell it off or 3. ship it to Japan and onto USA. I choose option 1.

NOTE: you will never be able to register a EURO bought bike in USA. Nearly impossible, just like Ecuador, even if exact model that is sold in US. No matter. But you can temp import it (short term)

If you ride your bike back to the EU (which I would do) ... you then can continue on the same bike back across EU to Africa. So that's TWO major areas done on ONE bike. It's a beautiful 4 day ride from UK down to Spain to Ferry to Morocco. Now you can ride all the way to S. Africa. All up that's probably two years travel? depending on your pace.

Sell off bike in S. Africa or ship it somewhere or ride it back to EU, going opposite side of Africa you came down.

EXAMPLE 2
For the USA and Latin America chunk, it's simple. Buy a bike in USA (cheapest used bikes), ride to Tierra del Fuego, then either sell it, ship it or ride it back North.

As Warin says, bikes are cheaper in USA but shipping one to EU negates any gain. So buy in EU to ride that continent, Buy in USA to ride the Americas. Shipping always adds $2K to $3K to bottom line for cross continental transit.

India:
Shipping a foreign into India by all accounts is a nightmare, even for temp importation. Experts here recommend to buy a local bike. Not too hard, tons of INFO here on doing this. Read UP. Re-sell once you've done India trip.

Asia, same deal. Buy/Sell local bikes as needed. It's just crazy to hassle with outrageous shipping, impossible import regs., Carnet's and such. Buying/selling locally by passes most of this ... but DOES take some time.

!Suerte!

If you cannot sell the bike .. Last option .. 'wreck' it.
The alternative to selling the bike in another country .. is to sell off the parts ... some parts may not be able to be used on a road registered bike .. they could be used for racing or for workshop duties only. Less money this way and more hassle. BEFORE you do it .. check with the customs as to what they want done!

Mollydog and Warin

Thanks for the excellent information. Never had thought about wrecking one i.e. selling the parts off.....but a good option....

Saturday I am checking on tickets from here to Barcelona (cheapest place to fly from Ecuador) with the idea of buying a bike somewhere in Europe and from there, the rest of the world pretty much is accessible. I ve been to Europe once to help friends bring a boat from the med back across the Atlantic many years ago. So it was get off the plane, get on the boat and go (late in the year for a crossing due to hurricane season so we didn't fool around). So theres a lot to see and a lot I have not seen so far.... at 64 better get on with it. Right now its winter very much South of here, I have a fair amount of time here in Latin America- although its unfair to lump it all together like that....but I don't want to sit around for 6 months until Patagonia warms up to the point where open spaces and camping are not miserable wind blown and cold as hell. So yeah.... time to move continents. I am even thinking...and will do some searches here- about heading for Asia on the bike, have no idea what that might entail.....one wonders if one shows up at the border of India on a bike they wouldn't issue a temporary importation permit...... ran into a couple from Oz a couple of years ago when I was in Colombia, who were just clearing their bike off the boat from where they had crossed the Darien Gap. They came to the US, bought their bike, spent 6 months or so in the US, Mexico and Central America and were headed for Patagonia..... they several years before,spent a year in India touring 2 up on a British Enfield.......

Thanks for the great information. Took laundry down to the girl here in the neighbourhood, does wash for everyone this morning. She has an old fashioned world map on the wall and I was marvelling at how much there is to see once one is in Europe. From there maybe China....unless foreign policy screws that up some way( can you say South China Sea). I sure hope not. Then there is Mongolia, Morocco, Turkey, India, all sorts of exotic places with exotic names and people. Good reason to stay on the road until ya can't

Expat