Japanese bike auctions, anyone bought and imported?

**Icemaestro** · 5th February 2014, 20:22

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** · 5th February 2014, 20:35

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** · 5th February 2014, 20:41

same. ten characters.

**SMOKEU** · 5th February 2014, 20:44

Originally Posted by Icemaestro

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 about importing cars from Japan (yes I know that the thread is about cars, but it may provide some insight).

**Icemaestro** · 5th February 2014, 21:11

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** · 5th February 2014, 21:14

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 5th February 2014, 21:20

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

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** · 5th February 2014, 22:04

Originally Posted by Icemaestro

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** · 5th February 2014, 22:06

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** · 5th February 2014, 22:06

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** · 5th February 2014, 22:09

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

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** · 5th February 2014, 22:11

Originally Posted by R650R

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

What is it?

**R650R** · 5th February 2014, 22:14

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

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...