Hi guys.

I'm new to the forum and in need of wise info from those with experience.

I am at present in the early stages of looking for another bike most likely a CVO Dyna or CVOBob 07 to 09 model or possibly a Springer.

What has thrown me is the sheer amount of high quality low mileage bikes available. I have learned that this is largely due to the volume of US imports.

I wish to ask

1/ Bike for bike in near new condition and very low miles would there be any market value difference between a complianced import (Vin#1) and a locally Aust delivered bike (Vin#5)?

2/ What problems (if any) are there to be aware regarding an imported bike?

3/ What exact changes (to the bike) are required by law to be performed by the selling/compliancing agent?

Cheers

 

 

 

 

Chopaweeza is the expert , check out Importing a Harley thread in this section , all your answers are there.

I looked at a heap of good condition, 'low mileage' imported harleys but decided against it because if I'm spending over $20k for something, I want to know the history of it, servicing etc which you often don't get on an import. And even if you do, you can't guarantee it's accurate. I didn't think the amount of discount for the imported ones was worth the unknown history. I also worried that it would be harder to sell an import. My two cents worth...

Thanks Choppaweeza and Fatbat for your input. (Choppa Ive sent you a PM.)

Im not looking at importing a bike myself I would buy a directly from a reputable/well known dealer with the bike fully registered and ready to go.

Fatbat just as you stated I too am concerned about the actual $ value bike for bike (if they were for sale side by side) import versus Aust delivery. In other words do "grey" imports hold any sort of stigma? It is not so much what may be saved at the time of purchase but the future investment value in the bike at a later stage.

 

 

 

 

Right now Australia is FLOODED with used ex-Yank CVO's. Springers /Dynas / Fatboys

The same bikes have been on Australian eBay for MONTHS now . 5 months plus some of them.Too dear obviously !! 

Most with Eastern states based importers. They buy in LA for $18K ( or less !!) and retail here for $32K ( or more !!) 

There are 5 for sale in Perth alone right now , on Gumtree / Bikesales / ebay / Sunday times etc

Have they "shagged" the price of Australian delivered CVO's ? Most definitely.

As stated MANY times before , buy your own Yank CVO and import it yourself ! Deal with the Yank seller direct !!

Why give some boat/jetski importer $10K of your money ? And you're right, you have NO CHANCE of checking history !!

One of the Ex- Yank 2008 CVO "Springer" Softails for sale here in Perth has conventional forks FFsake !! Very very suspicious indeed !!

Almost deffo a front end "fender bender" as they say in the US , fixed with an aftermarket wide glide front end. P&M caliper etc etc... 

And for what it's worth, the WA dealer network WILL NOT touch any Yank import bike in ANY way .

Now that wouldn't and doesn't bother me,as i do all my own work , but it may bother others .

CAVEAT EMPTOR   Let the buyer beware !

7out of 11,, That was the amount of seconhand imports at my local dealer last friday ,, would i buy one would i fuck ,,, there getting them cheap but not passing the savings on , and unfortunatly most have not relized it yet but Harleys don't hold there price anymore , no theres just too many low mileage used ones around .

Has someone else just pointed out most don't aknoledge depreciation , and are stuck with there bike for a long time .. I've got a mate he was tryng to sell his 08 street bob for 21 grand ,, he only paid 23,500 for it but remember that include rego and stamp duty yet he fell into the trap of thinking its a Harley they go up in value ,,, well sorry but not any more .

Got another mate he 's got a really nice 08 road king , lots of extras really well looked after polished to the max , serviced every 5000 klm , he was gonna,, trade it in on a new one , he's decided to keep it ,,, why ,,,, simple the dealers did'nt want to trade it its done 70 odd thousand clicks ... Sell it private they told him because we will never sell it , one even told him its probably worth 5 grand too them at the most , but facts are they will not trade it ... so like he said its a keeper