Importing a bike from Aussie

**justsomeguy** · 2nd March 2005, 23:24

Hi there,

Seems like there are a lot of 400 sportsbikes available new in Aussie....... doesn't seem to be the case here unless I'm mistaken..........

Does anyone know if they are available new here and what would they cost to get imported, etc................?

**F5 Dave** · 3rd March 2005, 09:07

Talk to Dave of GetRouted. He imports bikes out of Melbourne for riders who want to tour EnZed. May be able to help you.

click here

**Skunk** · 3rd March 2005, 09:25

I asked my local bike shop (Boyle Kawasaki) to sort it for me. Cost me $700 to airfreight it to Chch and truck it to Wgtn.

As F5Dave says: try GetRouted

**TonyB** · 3rd March 2005, 11:16

Dunno if this still applies, but OZ import bikes from the late 80's early 90's sometimes had problems with running too lean (as required by ADR). The 88 GPX750R I used to have was an Aussie import. It ran very lean- if the air temp dropped below about 6°C it wouldn't run unless it had around 6K revs on. Was a pain in the arse. It was very economical though... I talked to a bike shop about it and they said it was very common and sometimes very hard to fix.
Just something to watch out for.

**justsomeguy** · 3rd March 2005, 15:15

Spoke to Kerry from the place.......

He said that I'd be better of getting a 600....... as 400's are a b!tch to work on and are expensive to maintain.........

So

Wotya tink?

**slob** · 3rd March 2005, 15:44

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

Spoke to Kerry from the place.......

He said that I'd be better of getting a 600....... as 400's are a b!tch to work on and are expensive to maintain.........

So

Wotya tink?

From what I've observed, bikes cost a wee bit more in Aussie than they do here, so why bother importing at all?

As for the 400 vs 600 question, second hand 400s are the cheapest bikes you can buy in NZ because most people try and buy the "biggest" bike they can afford after they get their full licence. For example, a ZXR400 is usually cheaper than a ZXR250.

**Waylander** · 3rd March 2005, 17:31

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

Hi there,

Seems like there are a lot of 400 sportsbikes available new in Aussie....... doesn't seem to be the case here unless I'm mistaken..........

Does anyone know if they are available new here and what would they cost to get imported, etc................?

If you import DON'T USE CROWN!!!! You'll be fixing thier f*ckups for months.

Taking anger managment classes, they aren't workin yet...

**Rainbow Wizard** · 3rd March 2005, 17:56

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

better of getting a 600....... as 400's are a b!tch to work on and are expensive to maintain?

My Yammy 600 Radian was a real goer too, I reckon they're a perfect size for a motorbike. I love my NTV 650 almost more than le Voxan, but then some days you want someone to just snuggle up with and other days you want rip-roaring 'no holds barred' gratuitous sex! Best of both worlds doesn't seem that unattainable . :love2:

**grantm** · 3rd March 2005, 20:56

Over the years I have bought a few bikes home from OZ , but not 400's as they appear to be quite expensive there, compared to here ..(the bikes I imported they were mostly BM's which were cheaper in OZ than here, due to there being a lot moe of them in OZ)...it's easy to import one though, I have flown all mine over , sometimes even on the same plane as I returned on.
The cost is just based on so much per KG it weighs and was never much more than about $450 airfreight for a BMW twin - at about $2 - $2.50 a KG
You have to remove the battery, and drain the fuel tank, that is all for airfreight. Dont know about sea freight, but dont think you would need to remove the battery, just probably disconnect it.
It will no doubt cost you a bit more if you are not actually there to choose your bike as you will have to pay to get it packed and shipped, unless you have freinds that can do it for you .
Someone in a post above made reference to the bikes being lean, but there would be no difference to the bikes that are imported from Japan to Oz or NZ ...its just that its generally hotter in OZ than here, and that can have an effect on temperature of a bike jetted a little lean.
If you want a particular 400 send me a PM with what you are looking for, I may be able to help.

**justsomeguy** · 3rd March 2005, 21:13

Originally Posted by grantm

If you want a particular 400 send me a PM with what you are looking for, I may be able to help.

Thanks for that.......

I still have a couple of months to go before I can sit the CBTA... thingee

Hopefully by then I'd get enough experience to start off on a 400 or 600........

I really am partial to getting a RVF or ZXR or VFR or CBR.......

Will do some research and test rides till then to see what is the best bike for me.....

Feel free to give me your opinion........

**Blakamin** · 3rd March 2005, 21:38

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

Feel free to give me your opinion........

you'll be bored of a 400 in about a month.....

(my experience and opinion)....

so I went and bought a 600 with the same HP :spudwhat:

and 400's dont have the resale value of a 600....

**justsomeguy** · 3rd March 2005, 22:45

Originally Posted by Blakamin

you'll be bored of a 400 in about a month.....

(my experience and opinion)....

so I went and bought a 600 with the same HP :spudwhat:

and 400's dont have the resale value of a 600....

Hmmmm............. you're the third person to tell me that......(get a 600 instead)

and the other two worked/owned two of the biggest bike outfits in Auckland.......

OK that's it...... a 600 it is.

Now I wonder which one should I get.......

Ummm choices, choices.........

**justsomeguy** · 3rd March 2005, 22:47

Actually I'm already a bit bored with my ZZR but I still have chicken strips nearly an inch wide...... so I better shut up till I get rid of them..... good thing the weekends coming up

**Blakamin** · 3rd March 2005, 22:57

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

Actually I'm already a bit bored with my ZZR but I still have chicken strips nearly an inch wide...... so I better shut up till I get rid of them..... good thing the weekends coming up

my rear is a skinny thing but the only way the chicken strips are going is if my zorst and fairing goes too.....

**justsomeguy** · 3rd March 2005, 23:01

Originally Posted by Blakamin

my rear is a skinny thing but the only way the chicken strips are going is if my zorst and fairing goes too.....

Well Ranzer's got strips a few mm's smaller than mine and we both have sport demons on........

Going to the ridesafe course on the 20th...... hopefully should all be good.

I guess the best time to buy a new bike would be in the middle of winter... as prices should be lower then..... shouldn't they?