Need advice for possible bike to import to NZ

**Harvey Mushman** · 27th June 2011, 12:53

First of all, I live in the USA and have never been to NZ. For our 25th anniversary my wife and I are planning to visit my brother and his family in Nelson for at least three weeks this coming February. Over here I ride a 2006 FJR1300. Unfortunately my wife gets uncomfortable after a few hours on it. She says the only bike she could spend days on is a Goldwing or something similar. I'm thinking about buying a GL1800, shipping it there, riding it, and having my brother sell it after we leave.
Any thoughts on my choice of bike for this trip? My brother thinks the Wing might not be the best thing for resale there.
Thanks for any guidance. I look forward to seeing your great country soon.

**ukusa** · 27th June 2011, 14:27

Originally Posted by Harvey Mushman

First of all, I live in the USA and have never been to NZ. For our 25th anniversary my wife and I are planning to visit my brother and his family in Nelson for at least three weeks this coming February. Over here I ride a 2006 FJR1300. Unfortunately my wife gets uncomfortable after a few hours on it. She says the only bike she could spend days on is a Goldwing or something similar. I'm thinking about buying a GL1800, shipping it there, riding it, and having my brother sell it after we leave.
Any thoughts on my choice of bike for this trip? My brother thinks the Wing might not be the best thing for resale there.
Thanks for any guidance. I look forward to seeing your great country soon.

check the prices here (use trademe.co.nz as a guide) & at home, do the sums, calculate the exchange rate & shipping costs & go for the cheapest option.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 27th June 2011, 14:49

Originally Posted by Harvey Mushman

First of all, I live in the USA and have never been to NZ. For our 25th anniversary my wife and I are planning to visit my brother and his family in Nelson for at least three weeks this coming February. Over here I ride a 2006 FJR1300. Unfortunately my wife gets uncomfortable after a few hours on it. She says the only bike she could spend days on is a Goldwing or something similar. I'm thinking about buying a GL1800, shipping it there, riding it, and having my brother sell it after we leave.
Any thoughts on my choice of bike for this trip? My brother thinks the Wing might not be the best thing for resale there.
Thanks for any guidance. I look forward to seeing your great country soon.

New Zealand is TINY: you could tour on a GSXR1000. Maybe not two up, but a mate of mine tours on an R1. Nowhere is more than an hour away from somwehere you want to stop and take a picture of or visit a brewery or have a coffee or glass of wine or look at scenery or whatever.

I reckon if you want to bring a Gold Wing, bring a mint 1975 one, and tour on that, leave it in my garage when you're done and I'll give you a lift to the airport!

**DrunkenMistake** · 27th June 2011, 16:11

You could probably do a complete loop of the south island in 2 days with minimal stops, of coarse you want to stop but you know what I mean. You could do Nelson to Dunedin so via the east coast in about 7 hours.. well depending on Christchurch maybe, I done it in 7.5 hours on my CBR 250 I stopped for petrol and a 5min stop for lunch and a poo. Lol

**NinjaNanna** · 27th June 2011, 19:18

Nelson is a very small city (that's if it even qualifies as a city). I just googled it and apparently the population is around 43,000 that's not a very big market to sell a Gold Wing in. Sure you'll get some interest from people outside of Nelson that are willing to pay shipping or travel to collect it, but that will all be factored into the price they negotiate.

http://www.nelsoncitycouncil.co.nz/facts-and-figures/

**Old Steve** · 27th June 2011, 20:32

Yeah, Nelson is a city, it's got a cathedral! Doesn't matter if it's population was only 5,000, it'd still be a city.

How would the import laws allow a non-resident to import a motorcycle and then have it sold here?

**Harvey Mushman** · 28th June 2011, 08:18

Thank you for the responses. Any suggestions as to what kind of bike might be comfortable for the wife and be sought after there?

**Conquiztador** · 30th June 2011, 23:02

Not sure why you want to bring a bike here? We have heaps of them. All the makes and models.

You bring a bike in to NZ from USA (just doing that but a very one off thingy) and with all the freight, paperwork etc. there is not much change from NZ2K. (And if you leave the bike to be sold you will have to pay our 15% GST on purchase price and freight on top of that).

I could understand if you had this bike that you sleep with. But if you just want a bike for you and the lady to ride NZ with, then get one here. As already mentioned go on to TradeMe and look what is available and prices.

**HungusMaximist** · 30th June 2011, 23:14

If I was you I wouldn't bother unless you manage to score an amazing bargain.

**hayd3n** · 30th June 2011, 23:36

look here www.trademe.co.nz

**jaffaonajappa** · 30th June 2011, 23:46

Originally Posted by Conquiztador

Not sure why you want to bring a bike here? We have heaps of them. All the makes and models.

Almost...

Not sure why you want to bring a wife here. We have heaps of them. All the makes and models.

And then you could tour on whatever you want. In peace.

**Harvey Mushman** · 30th June 2011, 23:56

Originally Posted by jaffaonajappa

Almost...

Not sure why you want to bring a wife here. We have heaps of them. All the makes and models.

And then you could tour on whatever you want. In peace.

**Harvey Mushman** · 1st July 2011, 00:02

Originally Posted by hayd3n

look here www.trademe.co.nz

I have and that is what made me think of shipping one over. Prices of bikes there are almost double what they are here. For example, as our riding season in the NE of the states comes to a close in a few months, I can buy a nice lower mileage GL 1800 for about $9000 US. Similar ones I've seen on trademe have been closer to $22000 NZ. I thought that instead of paying $1000 for a rental (On top of an already expensive trip. Two airline tickets alone are $5200 US), I could ship one and help defray some of the cost of the trip. You're not talking to a rich guy here.
Thanks for the posts everyone. Assuming I do stay on the path, what bikes might be popular over there? Again, it must be comfortable for a couple middle aged people.

**Scouse** · 1st July 2011, 00:51

Originally Posted by Harvey Mushman

I have and that is what made me think of shipping one over. Prices of bikes there are almost double what they are here. For example, as our riding season in the NE of the states comes to a close in a few months, I can buy a nice lower mileage GL 1800 for about $9000 US. Similar ones I've seen on trademe have been closer to $22000 NZ. I thought that instead of paying $1000 for a rental (On top of an already expensive trip. Two airline tickets alone are $5200 US), I could ship one and help defray some of the cost of the trip. You're not talking to a rich guy here.
Thanks for the posts everyone. Assuming I do stay on the path, what bikes might be popular over there? Again, it must be comfortable for a couple middle aged people.

Bring a Harley Ultra Glide nice arm chair on the back of on of those for your missus then while you are here you could hook up with one of the local HOG chapters