I posted this bit in the 'importing a softail' thread but I think it's relevant to anyone thinking of importing any bike from the USA:

An old thread re-hashed I see - it appears things have changed with the whole USA import thing since the original post date (with regard to importing pre '88 models only). A mate brought in a 2008 Anniversary Dyna (105 years - copper coloured tank) from the US only two months ago. Low K's and mint condition. Pretty sure he did the deal with Barnetts Harley in Texas(?).

Overall he reckons it was cheaper than buying similar here in OZ.

I forget the exact figure, but he was seriously pissed off with the cost of gaining Aussie compliance given the mods - could've been performed by a trained monkey he reckons. Get this, to the external glass of the speedo was applied the kilometre conversion sticker! A f*ckin' sticker! He's now chasing a proper speedo to replace the US mph unit. After a bit of banter he was allowed to keep the US tyres but overall f*ck all was altered - and at great cost for a tick in the box!

But, in the last few weeks we've both noticed a big increase in the amount of imported US bikes available for sale from Dealers in Brissie and the Gold Coast; and pretty damn cheap too. Alongside several imported Harleys in a 'Team Moto' I saw two weird-arse looking Kawasakis (Bonneville copies) with the little tell-tale purple import sticker on the down tubes. So it's not only individual Aussies who're onto the cheap import deal, but the Dealers too; and by the container load it seems.

One scary story I heard was that the US are unloading their patched up 'repairable wrecks' onto Aussie shores... My Dyna mate says "bullshit" as they must be registered as 'wrecks' but I dunno....... food for thought and buyer beware!