Why import bikes?

[aud]

We're helping our son buy a second hand bike (250cc) and are amazed at the proliferation of second hand imports. Why? Do we have a shortage of 250cc bikes here in NZ? Are new bikes overpriced? Anyone know the answer.

Oh . . and any tips on what to look out for on these imports would be appreciated.

[racefactory]

because they are all/mostly made in japan for the japanese market only. until recently there have been few new 250's made for overseas markets

[PirateJafa]

Try finding a VFR that hasn't been thrashed, crashed and usually raced in NZ.

Importing is the way to go.

[Bonez]

Gives more selection. Pity it they're sold at artificially high prices compared with larger capacity machines.

[popelli]

Do we have a shortage of 250cc bikes here in NZ? Are new bikes overpriced? Anyone know the answer.

.

answers is simple NZ is the poland of the south pacific and people are restricted to 250cc for 2 years

most developed countries have sytems for direct access to a full licence if you take approved courses

nobody really wants to buy a 250, people only buy them because they are limited to 250cc hence the demand for cheap 2nd hand 250cc bikes

importers are merely taking advatange of that market opportunity

[megaphat]

All that above

And the fact that all the good/fast/race-replica 250's were never actually sold here. The popular cbr's, zxr's, fzr's etc were not officially available here.
The only 250's officially sold here are some pretty slow v-twins and singles. No one wants those - hence the large importation market.
They are so popular that even though they are 10-15 years old, they are still getting imported.

Similar story in australia, even though the cbr250rr was officially available over there (expensive though).