Wow! HD AU and the authorised dealers are panicking big time.

I agree with your logic. The world is smaller place now. Pricing based on region doesn't work anymore. If the government relaxes on car imports like they did with motorcycles (now that we don't have a car industry to protect come 2017), BMW, Merc and Audi will be in the same position. They are similar price to Ford and Holden in Europe and used as taxis. Pricing on BMW and Mercs are not that dissimilar to HD. Charge what the market is willing to pay. I can understand the HD AU's logic too... AU is a smaller market and each dealers sell less bikes per year so get more from each sales. The thing is... making sense with logic is one thing, human nature is another. If we can buy something for less by doing some paperwork or paying an import agent, depending on the amount of saving, why not? There will always be people who's got more money and less time and don't want hassles, they can buy from AU HD dealers. Then there are others like you and me. Not right or wrong, just preferences.

Cheers Retro, it was mainly parts I was after. I wanted some chrome controls to suit the 2012 on Dyna with the c-bus electrics, I need to buy genuine. The funny thing is I emailed Indy HD where I bought the bikes and they were originally ok with sending me the parts but changed their minds and referred the enquiry to HD Australia, who inturn referred me to Perth HD. Interesting they didn't mention Frazers.
I don't suppose anyone knows of a US website flogging genuine parts?

why not use the same "mate" in Indy, tell him what you want and he can ship from the states.

what about the for sale section, order from the guy in Melbourne then have him ship to you

Yeah Soapbox, didn't want to wear out my welcome with old mate in Indy, I put him through a bit already. I'll check out this Melbourne guy. cheers

hey mick, your fatbob got cross over rineharts on it ??

Silverbeard I am in Busso and always buying oem parts for projects I use Great Southern in Albany and they have no issues working on grey imports nor selling parts for them. I may be wrong but I think they trade them as well. I had some emergency repairs done on mine last year when I was passing through and told them before hand it was an import.............not a problem

From my understanding , Great Southern actually had greys in the showroom for retail sale , the only WA dealer to do so

That was bikes they had imported themselves and had complied in the east at the time. They also have had "Genuine" HD trikes

I think they would struggle to "warranty" a US VIN numbered bike right enough

PS For what it's worth . the Aussie dollar is on the way up again against the US $ , so maybe more imports to come ?

Just remember the market here is saturated with them now , I've just seen a lovely 2008 CVO Springer sell here for $24500 , all NSW rego and everything !!

You would really be toiling to land and comply one for that money ! Mine was more than that...

Thanks Guys, Albany is a bit far off but It's all good, I will check out some of the advertisers here. Yeah Killer, my Fat Bob has Rineharts on it. I see a picture of it among your pics, on the run to Yarloop last year. Didnt realise it was you mate, hows Albany? Hey you have better pics of my bike than I have, it's all changed, I got a new paint job and a few more mods. I'll have to come for a run down south and catch up.

Well all this HD Australia stuff is BS.

Australia has a free trade agreement with the USA and I will remind them of that directly and also my local federal member about their bullshit attitude and requirement for re adjustment.

 

Address is here, They dont accept emails probably because they wont buy US made computers to run it LOL.

 

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND
Harley-Davidson Australia Pty. Ltd.
PO Box 133
North Ryde BC, NSW 1670
Phone: +61 2 9886 0600
FAX: +61 2 9886 0699

got an email addy for em that they will answer

There are many more factors to it than just comparing the USA price to the Aussie price. Do you not think hd know what they're doing or haven't heard of how the free trade agreement works? But write your letters if you think you know better

I think HD definitely know what they are doing, they are doing what every business does and that is maximising their profits. As far as the premium that we pay in this country for HD products; I don't know who sets the prices. Is it HD USA or HD Australia or simply the dealerships. Is it all three, I don't know. Why is a new Fat Bob in Shanghai $40,000 USD, who sets the pricing?
All I am bloody sure of is; we pay almost double the price in the USA for exactly the same product. Enlighten us, we really want to understand why that is.

Sounds like a can of worms for sure. With vehicles that are not sold in this country it would be quite difficult to have any sort of warrantee or recall process but Harleys are sold here and there is a dealer network for warrantee and recalls. I don't really give a rats about warrantee but I would like to know if there is a safety recall for my bike.
Those poor sods getting shot dead all over in modern democracies have my sympathy Kiwi. That doesn't mean we should not debate issues like this one, because they are too trivial. The great thing about a democracy is the freedom to discuss these issues and the freedom to go and ignore a post like this if it is too tiresome for you.

haha thought it was you mate. be up in perth for a couple days soon. will try & catch up with you mate & have a look at what you have done to your bike.

Before I bought my Wideglide I rang my nearest dealer to see if they had any problems working on an import..(I bought it off the person that went over there,bought the bike new and with a few miles on it bought it back)They said they had no prob's working on it but there was no warranty available on it other than the fact that they would fix any recall issues.

Not too sure if all dealers are the same but that's what I was told...

 

 

I am guessing this thread is a 'sticky' because of so many questions, so here is mine, which I do not quote see aaddressed perusing through the novel (thread).

I imported my 1992 FXR under the personal import option. It just got off the boat yesterday, and apparently is slated for delivery to my (new) home in Melbourne next week. I started calling the engineers listed by VIC Roads as offering VASS compliance certificates. Aside from wildly varying prices, a few suggested my Vance & Hines pipes and back dual brake/indicator light (because it flashes briefly when braking) might not pass compliance. Given this bike has been burning around Canadian and USA roads for years with no issue, go figure. But anyway, a local Indy shop in Melbourne, who I plan to have the bike delivered to rather than my home (because I currently lack any tools, having just moved international, so figure it is just easier for a shup to do a battery swap and oil change etc), says they can handle the whole compliance and registration process for me. Note I imported the bike under the personal import option so many of the issues in this thread do not apply.

My question specifically: can anyone report their experience, pros and cons, with turning over the compliance and registration process to a shop? Yes, I could run the bike around for compliance etc myself. But with the idea that I might have to stupidly take off pipes and brake light only to put them back on again later, I am thinking a shop's "not what you know but who you know" ability might be the most hassle free even if not cheapest possible option.

 

Thoughts?

HI all


Im looking at importing from the states a rocker C, i have two options:


Bike A, with all the mods done:
Custom Paint job by: Josh Stokes
Heartland Rear Fender Kit
with passenger seat and sissy bar
PM Wheels Rotors and Pulley
Custom Handlebars
Vance & Hines Big Radius Full Exhaust
Stainless break and clutch lines
Handlebar Risers
This bike has a clear title and all the work carried out was done by the same garage selling it.
WIll the above pass a the Aussie compliance?


Option B: (half the price) but stock standard!
I'm getting a price from bitchin seats to carry out works to customise the bike these would be
handlebars
wheels
seat
tree/fork

what type of engineers cert would i require to pass Aussie compliance?

or am i making my life difficult by buying bikes that aren't stock to import?


Thanks

RockerSteve

Easy answer :

"Stock" will be straightforward to comply in any state in Australia

Sadly the "modded" bike will not..it will be a world of pain 100% guaranteed

Hi Retroman,

Thanks for the reply.

Ok so ill take your advice, and from what i have read getting mods through can turn into a night mare!

Can you tell me though why and what will i be paying $2000 for compliance if the bike is 'stock' ?… a speedo only costs 300 bucks and 2 hours labour, i understand their is some paperwork involved but this fee is well,,,, F*****!


thanks

Rocker Steve

oil, brake pads, brake fluid, headlight, speedo, brake light, indicators, numberplate to the rear
it is starting to mount up