Japanese bike auctions, anyone bought and imported?

[Icemaestro]

As the title says...been having a bit of a google on japanese bike auctions and costs associated - has anyone done it before through an agent (while staying here in NZ), and costs associated, was it worth it? Alternatively is anyone keen to do it? Have my eye on a couple of RVF400's....

[tigertim20]

Frosty should be able to shed a fair bit of light on this.
Ive often wondered if it would be wirth getting a few mates together and sharing the cost of hiring, filling and sending a shipping container with tasty stuff from japan or the USA.

Would like to know the full story and all the ins and outs

[HenryDorsetCase]

same. ten characters.

[SMOKEU]

Have my eye on a couple of RVF400's....

Since they're not a particularly expensive bike, are you sure that you'll save any money compared to buying within NZ? There's an interesting thread on the TM message boards (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Community/MessageBoard/Messages.aspx?id=1293095&topic=1) about importing cars from Japan (yes I know that the thread is about cars, but it may provide some insight).

[Icemaestro]

not so expensive in japan, minimum 5k per bike here, and not going to go down in value. sounds good to me :-). plus the number of good condition ones in NZ, so even just to import one for myself, and sell another maybe...or two/3 if HDC is also keen haha.

[HenryDorsetCase]

not so expensive in japan, minimum 5k per bike here, and not going to go down in value. sounds good to me :-). plus the number of good condition ones in NZ, so even just to import one for myself, and sell another maybe...or two/3 if HDC is also keen haha.

I would be interested in a CB1100F most likely: they are $10300USD brand spankers and possibly less if you buy it in a box. $18k here and its last years model plus they dont bring the cool black one with the black motor.

Or the RC30 or RC45 I have dreamed of. Has to be ten k or less....

[Icemaestro]

Or the RC30 or RC45 I have dreamed of. Has to be ten k or less....

Good luck with that! :-)
the other ones I have looked at are cbr600f4i's...another rare one here and go for around the 5-7k mark. I'm more tempted by the slightly older bikes that people tend to thrash as I figure there will be less and less of them and make the ones out there worth more...just need the wife to agree to that extra garage...(or one at all!)

[SMOKEU]

Good luck with that! :-)
the other ones I have looked at are cbr600f4i's...another rare one here and go for around the 5-7k mark. I'm more tempted by the slightly older bikes that people tend to thrash as I figure there will be less and less of them and make the ones out there worth more...just need the wife to agree to that extra garage...(or one at all!)

Buy a GSXR SRAD then if you want something cheap, old and potentially collectable in the future. That fat ass on them has a mean glovebox under it as well to store your stash, something modern sports bikes usually lack.

[R650R]

I knew a guy that was doing it here about 20 years ago bringing in all sorts of exotic road and ex race bikes, ie full on RS250 race bikes etc... Some random recalls of what he said about it:

A lot of the road bikes up for auction look mint but have often been sitting outside, port area salt corrosion etc.
Shipping it home, expensive unless you fill a whole container, and that means full. Bikes stacked hard together side by side, fairings removed and stored on top layer etc.
The other option is find a car buyer whose buying vans or people movers and put bikes inside.
Apparently just getting them from auction house to shipping agent can cost pretty penny too.
Lots of paperwork to cover too.

Not really worth the hassle unless your bringing in something super trick that you can't already get here. Things might have changed tho....

[sil3nt]

We do think alike. Just today I was pricing up the importation of an NC35. With a mint NC35 going for around $6000 nzd I reckon it would be around $10,000 to get one here.

Had a mate bring a car over and his $5000 purchase was about $10,000 landed. I certainly wouldn't budget any less.

[R650R]

Buy a GSXR SRAD then if you want something cheap, old and potentially collectable in the future. That fat ass on them has a mean glovebox under it as well to store your stash, something modern sports bikes usually lack.

LOL mines always up for adoption, one slighltly less than careful owner from new
Only done about 103000km...

[SMOKEU]

LOL mines always up for adoption, one slighltly less than careful owner from new
Only done about 103000km...

What is it?

[R650R]

Or the RC30 or RC45 I have dreamed of. Has to be ten k or less....

If you really want one I'd be looking ex UK with current exchange rate.
Saw a RC30 in Norwich Honda dealership for 7500 GBP back in 2003, had done about 45000 miles though...

[R650R]

What is it?

1998 GSXR750WW

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77819625@N08/11598947055/

[SMOKEU]

1998 GSXR750WW

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77819625@N08/11598947055/

Fuck yeah, that's mean. Mine is a 1997 600.

[F5 Dave]

I would be interested in a CB1100F most likely: they are $10300USD brand spankers and possibly less if you buy it in a box. $18k here and its last years model plus they dont bring the cool black one with the black motor.

Or the RC30 or RC45 I have dreamed of. Has to be ten k or less....
Yeah but it would be the right hand drive 120volt version:confused:

[Icemaestro]

We do think alike. Just today I was pricing up the importation of an NC35. With a mint NC35 going for around $6000 nzd I reckon it would be around $10,000 to get one here.

Had a mate bring a car over and his $5000 purchase was about $10,000 landed. I certainly wouldn't budget any less.

Haha sounds like it, though I like to buy cheap and fix up:-p.

http://www.goobike.com/web/search/spread.php?stockbike_id=8701600B30140131001&baitai_name=iphone

Off an iphone so not sure that'll work in a browser, but at about 3.5k usd and looks pretty mint, I'm sure there would be some average ones out there for cheaper, then get bits as needed from japan or 400greybike people.

Not a bad idea on the car importer one - maybe find a van importer for an even cheaper ride over..;-)


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[R650R]

Fuck yeah, that's mean. Mine is a 1997 600.

You didn't by chance buy that from a guy in Te Awamutu??? Mate sold his to guy in Chch via trademe.
Just fixed it up with new blue n white fairings after highside and the new guy was going to paint it black!

I'm not sure they'll ever be collectable. Even when new the 750 awesome as it was, it was overshadowed by the R1, Fireblades (even though faster than blade lol) and the Epic ZXR750.
Then two years later the GSXR1000 era started. And in WSBK they were a non event apart from a couple of victories by Chili, did better in BSBK though...
For a classic to be worth something that's not rare it has to be in super original condition too which many of these wont be.

[SMOKEU]

You didn't by chance buy that from a guy in Te Awamutu??? Mate sold his to guy in Chch via trademe.


No, that's not my one.

[AllanB]

Hmmm I know a guy who has purchased damaged bikes ex USA and used a middle man to import them - price was good last time I asked. The bikes he gets have manly cosmetic damage - one Suzuki needed a rear sub-frame replacement.

I'll find out who he used.

[Icemaestro]

Hmmm I know a guy who has purchased damaged bikes ex USA and used a middle man to import them - price was good last time I asked. The bikes he gets have manly cosmetic damage - one Suzuki needed a rear sub-frame replacement.

I'll find out who he used.

Thanks, that'd be awesome :-)


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[HenryDorsetCase]

Thanks, that'd be awesome :-)


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I was going to deal with the bidrider guy at one point but never got further than a phone call.

http://www.bidrider.com/

[HenryDorsetCase]

my vague plan is to do a deal with a dealer in the US for a CB1100F 2014 model (the black one with the black motor, no ABS and six speed box and 4-1 zorst) and get that bought in. fit a headlight that dips the correct way, bada boom badabing.

No warranty but its a Honda...... depends how the US bike market is doing and how deep the dealer will discount for a bike in a box, no PDI, no setup no hassle.

[Icemaestro]

I looked at bidrider but they only seem to have usa and uk? though they mention japan...copart usa would be the place to get a cbr600 from if I was to do that...they sell easily (when they aren't up for 18k like a particular f4i I can think of on trademe!)

[AllanB]

Righto - chap I know has used these guys to import his bikes:

http://www.kiwishipping.co.nz/

[Katman]

I would be interested in a CB1100F most likely: they are $10300USD brand spankers and possibly less if you buy it in a box. $18k here and its last years model plus they dont bring the cool black one with the black motor.


Oh, at first I thought you meant one of these. http://www.motorera.com/honda/h1100/sport/cb1100f-83f1.jpg

As you were.

[AllanB]

Oh, at first I thought you meant one of these. http://www.motorera.com/honda/h1100/sport/cb1100f-83f1.jpg

As you were.

Did we ever get that version? The CB900F yes, CB1100R (yum), don't remember the 'naked' version.

[Icemaestro]

Righto - chap I know has used these guys to import his bikes:

http://www.kiwishipping.co.nz/

Thanks, yeah saw that one, if only they did from Japan! That looks like the way to go for a cbr600 f4i or similar...