Need advice for possible bike to import to NZ

[Harvey Mushman]

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

May I ask why the Harley would be any different than bringing a Wing? From what I've seen here on ebay and over there on Trademe they both seem to bring about the same money. Are they maybe a quicker sell? My brother is trying to discourage a big, fat bike alltogether. I can hustle them around without any problem. My wife and I did many miles of single track 2 up on the 1500 Wing we sold last year. I would think that your roads are fine for any type of motorcycle.

[Harvey Mushman]

I've sent you a Private Message Mate

Shafty

I emailed you back. Thank you for the PM. It was much appreciated.

[Conquiztador]

You seem bent on bringing in a bike from US. And that is cool. If I was you I would find a buyer for the bike before I do all this.

Here: Ask on here/TradeMe/other places if someone is looking for their dream bike, then strike up a deal as the main hinder for us here is making sure what we get is what we paid for.

Just a thought.

[jaffaonajappa]

Import that Gold Wing.
Just remember tho - we are left hand drive in NZ.

Hehehe, okies. We have a few full sized touring bikes in NZ - but less common than most larger countires. More common over here are the likes of your current bike, FJ1300 etc. sports/Touring types are likely to be easier (quicker) to sell here than a full fledged tourer.

Good Luck.

[Harvey Mushman]

You seem bent on bringing in a bike from US. And that is cool. If I was you I would find a buyer for the bike before I do all this.

Here: Ask on here/TradeMe/other places if someone is looking for their dream bike, then strike up a deal as the main hinder for us here is making sure what we get is what we paid for.

Just a thought.

Very good idea and much appreciated. Thank you.

[robinm]

Actually, jaffas comment about left hand drive does mean something, any bike bought in from the USA will have a headlight that dips to the right and will need to be replaced with a unit that dips to the left top be legal here, so that is just one more thing to consider, the cost of a legal headlamp unit. I dread to think what a pair of goldwing headlamps would cost.

[imdying]

Lights, compliance (plus whatever parts they'll make you replace to comply like the headlight and brake friction material), shipping, registration etc. Fun fun.

[marty]

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.

US$5200?? are you paying for a private jet? What ever you do, don't come to NZ via Aussie (ie with Virgin or Qantas etc) - it adds hours to your trip, and is a huge fuck-around. Come direct from LAX with Air NZ (on NZ1 or NZ5).

[marty]

would have though something like this would be a pretty good set-up - should move quickly too

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-388263700.htm

[jaffaonajappa]

May I ask why the Harley would be any different than bringing a Wing? From what I've seen here on ebay and over there on Trademe they both seem to bring about the same money. Are they maybe a quicker sell? My brother is trying to discourage a big, fat bike alltogether. I can hustle them around without any problem. My wife and I did many miles of single track 2 up on the 1500 Wing we sold last year. I would think that your roads are fine for any type of motorcycle.

HD tourers seem to be more popular than their jap equivalents over here....some people have argues they are 'better' - others suspect HD sales are driven by other issues. Regardless - seat of the pants feeling...an HD would sell faster.

And yes, our roads are pretty good. And yes, any bike will put a smile on your dial on our roads.

Dont get too hung up by a handfull of KB Posters thoughts - you are going to enjoy riding here regardless of what the bike is, im sure.

[Harvey Mushman]

US$5200?? are you paying for a private jet? What ever you do, don't come to NZ via Aussie (ie with Virgin or Qantas etc) - it adds hours to your trip, and is a huge fuck-around. Come direct from LAX with Air NZ (on NZ1 or NZ5).

$2700 each for coach from Rochester, NY to LAX, to Aukland, to Nelson. And that's the current lowest price. Yup, that hurts. I'd much rather be spending it in your country than at the airlines.
What is NZ1 or NZ5?

[imdying]

$2700 each for coach from Rochester, NY to LAX, to Aukland, to Nelson. And that's the current lowest price. Yup, that hurts. I'd much rather be spending it in your country than at the airlines.
What is NZ1 or NZ5?

That's the flight code for the Air NZ flights that go direct IIRC.

Currently and off the shelf price, 1 month out from now, Auckland to NY (JFK), return is about NZD$2353 pp, FWIW.

[Harvey Mushman]

That's the flight code for the Air NZ flights that go direct IIRC.

Currently and off the shelf price, 1 month out from now, Auckland to NY (JFK), return is about NZD$2353 pp, FWIW.

Now you need to add the flights from ROC to JFK and Auckland to Nelson. Obviously I'm hoping to see lower fares as the date gets closer. Oil prices continue to drop so maybe the air fares will start getting closer to what was normal.

[imdying]

Now you need to add the flights from ROC to JFK and Auckland to Nelson. Obviously I'm hoping to see lower fares as the date gets closer. Oil prices continue to drop so maybe the air fares will start getting closer to what was normal.

Akl to Nsn is about $114NZD pp one way.

/edit: An agent would probably get you about USD$2000 return all legs, FWIW

[Harvey Mushman]

I do have an agent looking and so far he has not found anything. Truthfully, it is too far out to find and bargains yet. 8 or so months to go.