Currency Conversion Rate. Is anyone out there still considering importing Harley's from the USA or has the currency conversion rate made it no longer financially attractive?

Right now you'd need to buy a used Harley in the US at a VERY HANDY price indeed to make sense. ( All down to the current exchange rate as mentioned !!)

That and buy something "desirable" like a Limited edition or a CVO.

Just 2 days ago I worked on a newly arrived 2013 Fatboy in a lovely 2 tone colour , some kind of "Anniversary" that never sold here in Australia as far as I know

That had indeed been bought at an auction in Texas at , quote " the right price". 900 miles on it and just been thru compliance and state rego' here in Perth.

My own 2008 CVO Springer would be $5K+ Aussie MORE to buy and ship the exact same bike today if the US purchase price had remained the same as just over 2 years ago !

Hi there

I 'm posting on behalf of a buudy of mine who's looking into importing a 2012 Night Rod Special VRSCDX from the US. Anyone had any experience with this model, by any chance. I've always bought my bikes locally and Softails / Touring are my areas of knowledge.hence the question. 

 

Any advice appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

@conmore

G'day,

Just so I dont get the wrong end of the stick here mate.... and I'm happy to give you and your mate tips etc ...but have you actually read this thread from start to finish ????...coz I already posted heaps in here about importing a 2009 VRSCDX and a 2011 VRSCDX in 2012 ....

TIP#1 - Read the whole thread - there is more to importing from US than just selecting a specific year/model/colour etc

TIp# 2 - Make notes - there is a LOT of really good info in here from very experienced and professional people

Tip #3 - Ask specific questions - that way ya wont be told the stuff ya already know ....and if ya don't know what questions to ask ...then see Tip#1

Cheers

Coxy

PS

Free tip - source an original exhaust system locally or make sure you have access to one ...V&H Comp 2-1 is popular on this model but will not pass any OZ rego pit inspection...

 

Any Harley now . at the current Aussie V US dollar would have to be bought at a very handy price in the US

I really can't see any great saving now , especially here in WA where there are "Gazillions" of used Harleys on the market

These are mostly locally supplied bikes , with a fair smattering of "imports"

I just sourced an "Aussie" supplied 2009 Dyna Superglide with 9,800 K's for a young mate for $13,500 , a one owner FIFO bike like a lot of them...

No point in importing that !

Qld Imports gets 5 stars from me, excellent service, fast, economical and no BS, finaly got the hog mobile with Qld rego... stoked!

inkaporka,, good to hear your importing experience went well ...

If I may ask ,, with the $A dollar as low as its been for awhile, did the figures stack up as you had planned ?? Cheers ,,

US70c to the Aussie dollar , and heading south according to all the pundits

Almost $1.10 4ish years ago for a brief time . Today you REALLY need to do your sums !

The Harley "importer" ( and "compliancer" ) here in Perth is back in the US sourcing bikes to order

He only buys QUALITY bikes with proveable low miles , often at US auctions , and sometimes privately.

Recently he's been "Mr CVO" as that makes the most sense. They still cost wanker loads more here than they do there.

2008 and 2009 CVO Springers , 2013 CVO Breakouts , CVO Streetglides to list a few

He's also brought Limited edition 103cube Fatboys and the like , in colours never sold here , all lovely bikes

I've been doing some of the work on them ( quiet "Aussie " spec exhaust and subsequent ECM tuning once they're complied and state rego'ed ) so they've had a right close inspection haha..

As Chopaweeza says , the post ride -around holiday scenario is probably a good gig if that works for you

I hear ya .

I wouldn't describe Perth as "awash" with CVO's , but for sure there's WAY more than 5 years ago

I see CVO's of all types , Dynas , Fatbobs , Springers 07/08/09 over on the west coast highway all the time.

You can pick the imports even on the move because many of them are in colours not sold here in Australia when new.

The market for them here became well skewed for several interacting factors.

1) Way cheaper NEW and used over there than here ( they were just STUPID here new in 2007 , $58K for a CVO Springer FFsake !!)

2) As we all know the Aussie dollar went to historical highs agin' the US dollar for a reasonable period of time

3) US economic hard times dropped prices there on used toys of every description

4) Same price to ship to Australia and "comply" as a "regular" Harley model makes CVO's look like a better proposition

For what it's worth , CVO Springers are still "cheap" in US Dollar terms over there , quite a bit less now in USD than I paid 3 years ago nearly for my 2008. $15 K USD "buy it now" all day long

BUT they'd still be way more expensive landed and complied and duty paid and state regoed , all due to the 70c us to our dollar , it makes that much difference

I am heading over to the USA next year to do a 4 week bike ride from Las Vegas to New York via Canada and Sturgis ... To hire a bike it is going to cost about $4000 including insurances  ect..     I am thinking about buying a bike and sending it back so I am wanting to know the cost and process of sending this bike back. Can i register it in my name so i can ride it over there ? How does the insurance work ? does anyone know if there is a breakdown service over there for bikes? I was thinking about spending about $12000 Australian on a bike. Any help would be appreciated as if i dont buy a bike i will have to give eaglerider a deposit shortly for the hire.

 

I'm pretty sure most of your questions are already answered in the thread and then some

12,000 Aussie is now only 8,500 USD today

4 years ago 12,000 Aussie was 13,000 US

8,500 USD means an older 88 cube twincam , and most definitely today not worth shipping to Australia ( in my opinion !)

Crazy how the market works in and out with the mighty dollar.

I would love to import an FLH shovel to chop up, but these days it almost looks like it will be easier to get a local one that needs a bit of work. 4 years ago it was goldrush days for this kind of way to make $.... not so much anymore. Things change, maybe if Donald Trump gets into power, the US dollar will bottom out, ha! Unfortunately if he gets into power, his business skills will probably boost the US dollar further and make our dollar worth even less!  

I got an email thru the US CVO forums of a bike for sale there , a 2008 FXSTSSE2 CVO Springer. 5 miles on the odometer ( that's 8 kilometres !!), in "Inferno Orange"

Put in a home museum from brand new. It sold for $19,000 USD. 4 years ago that would have been the perfect bike to bring to Australia , especially at $1.05

Today that's $26300 Aussie , plus shipping from the Midwest to LA , shipping LA to Fremantle , GST then "compliancing" and state rego blah blah blah , that's NOT a cheap bike any more

BUT if you wanted that bike with that history then it would probably still have been worth all the drama.

I also heard of a 1968 Big Block 427 Corvette Convertible being sold out of Perth BACK to the US. A BIG MONEY car at any stage of the game !

I bought a 2013 fat boy Lo 11000km on clock stage 1 kit already fitted American import in fairness to the dealer he told me this almost straight away. $22000 drive away wit 6 months rego and 3 year full warrenty covers everthing. No finance paid with cash. Was happy wit deal

Yes the ECM converts the odometer reading as soon as you plug in the Km/H speedo.

Mate of mine just bought the LAST of the 2016 103 cube Fatbobs , BRAND NEW FROM FRASERS PERTH, Gloss black , $21,000 ride away , years rego 2 years warranty

Why the fuck would you import one FFsaake ?

What a market to be selling a used Harley into....