Topic: Japan prices higher?

[amitr0]

I know someone who imports japanese bikes into usa, bikes that never were launched here etc. So basically, he has a dealership license and access to shipping and custom clearance etc.

So obviously, I asked him, if he can get me a cb750 from Japan.

Surprisingly, it turns out that the cost of those vehicles(not just sandcast ones) are way higher than in usa. I didnt understand why, so googled some auction houses in Japan and yes they were way more expensive (per my 1 hour research).

I wonder why...

[RAFster122s]

Old cars tend to not be something supported easily by the Japanese market due to their regulations... Many many relatively recent model cars end up exported to neighboring countries and to Australia every year because of the way things work there. I forget how old the cars are, but we are talking about less than 10 years old.
Here in the US car prices drop significantly at 10 years because of financing takes on new challenges. Cars as they approach 100,000 miles is another mark causing larger loss of value. Some cars are less affected by high mileage like that and can easily reach 150-200k before major motor work when properly maintained during ownership.
Cost of living in Japan is very expensive, housing is a multigenerational purchase there. Cars in many cities are a luxury and not as common in the countryside as they are in other countries as well. The train system and transit system is very good in many countries resulting in vehicles being more of a luxury.

[Kevin]

There are multiple reasons why an imported bike would be more expensive than one sourced locally.
 The CB750 was not sold to the general population in Japan. In general it was built for export only. Most CB750's in Japan were repatriated which incurred huge import taxes and also have to go through an intense (and costly) inspection process. The people that repatriate these bikes are very well connected with the agencies involved in the process, and will make it almost impossible for anyone else to get in on the action. Those costs make the bike much more expensive to buy in Japan, even though that is where it was manufactured.

If you were to pick a bike that was sold to the domestic market in Japan you will find that the cost is much lower.

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[bryanj]

There is, or was, a cc limit on domestic bikes in Japan but not imports.Paul Dunstall used to make a good amount buying new crated Suziki GS 850 in UK replacing exhausts with his,fitting Avon Tyres made in UKremoving Suzuki badges and relacing with stick on union flag emblem( they are only a union jack when flown from the jask sprit of a navy vessel).
He then recrated them and sent them to Japan as "English"

[andy750]

There is, or was, a cc limit on domestic bikes in Japan but not imports.Paul Dunstall used to make a good amount buying new crated Suziki GS 850 in UK replacing exhausts with his,fitting Avon Tyres made in UKremoving Suzuki badges and relacing with stick on union flag emblem( they are only a union jack when flown from the jask sprit of a navy vessel).
He then recrated them and sent them to Japan as "English"

The addition of the Union emblem would have made them "British". The addition of the St Georges cross would have made them "English".  Just sayin..

[69cb750]

Surprisingly, it turns out that the cost of those vehicles(not just sandcast ones) are way higher than in usa. I did not understand why, so googled some auction houses in Japan and yes they were way more expensive (per my 1 hour research).

The bikes that are desirable in usa are desirable in Japan, CB750, CBX, Z1, H2.
Japan is an affluent country, there are guys who have money and want the bikes.
These bikes cost twice as much in Japan vs usa.
We are fortunate so many came to usa, now they are leaving.

[bryanj]

Very true but so few people would have understood that i didnt say it, our Goverment gets upset when i cross out "British" on there beloved paperwork and write in "English"
Even worse i am a Lancastrian and ofthe opinion that Yorkshire should be allowed to detach an float away!

[69cb750]

Even worse i am a Lancastrian and of the opinion that Yorkshire should be allowed to detach an float away!

There are people like this in the usa too.
You may have heard some "English" woman abused girls in usa and now they plan to jail her for a few decades.
Perhaps the prince can help her out.

[69cb750]

There is, or was, a cc limit on domestic bikes in Japan but not imports.Paul Dunstall used to make a good amount buying new crated Suzuki GS 850 in UK replacing exhausts with his,fitting Avon Tyres made in UKremoving Suzuki badges and relpacing with stick on union flag emblem( they are only a union jack when flown from the jask sprit of a navy vessel).
He then crated them and sent them to Japan as "English"

The 750cc limit was abolished in 1988, since then they can buy z1's and go like hell.

[atm cycles]

I’ve sold cb750’s back to Japan. It’s way more profitable to sell a mostly complete original k0, in need of full Restoration, than it is restore.

[atm cycles]

And much easier transactions.no BS

[ekpent]

 I had to e-mail and ask my friend the details on his low mileage Z1B that sold for over 42k. Even he was surprised even though he has been in the game a long time. Ended up being a couple of Japanese buyers going at it hard.
  I know of a couple of buyers who have boiler rooms where there full time jobs are scouting for bikes to buy and send back off to the motherland. 69cb750 listed off some of the bikes on their wish list. I have a more complete list of wanted somewhere around here. As far as certain Honda's and Kaws Suzuki GT380 and 550 are high on the list also with the GT750 having some interest also. https://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/363578001563?item=363578001563&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565

[Tim2005]

The bike scene in Japan is pretty high value- I mostly follow 400Fs from over there, it is common to see they have $10k and more of accessories fitted, with one very nicely modified bike recently for sale for $55k.   Some of it must be down to what might be called patriotic nostalgia amongst wealthy people, the same as Germans pay a lot for old Audis and many vintage Bimota owners are Italian.

[desertrefugee]

Regrettably, I sold my 79 CBX in September back to Japan. Yes, they pay good money. But, I was strangely satisfied to see it go back to the motherland.  I understand they are quite rare over there.

[andy750]

This thread reminds me of my trip to Japan in 2005 - I saw the white CB750 in a showroom in Nagoya. The red CB750 was at a highway service station on a weekend ride. Very well taken care of.

[craz1]

Not only are they buying back the vintage Honda,Kawasaki bikes but also a lot of the AMF Harleys and HD's in general. The guy I sell my KZ900 bikes to and ships them to Japan said they cant get enough of them. This is what they are doing over there to a lot of them

[carnivorous chicken]

Regarding CB400Fs, I was told years ago that Japanese buyers were coming to the US and buying them in whatever condition they could find, because in Japan it is easier or less expensive to register a bike under 400ccs (and 400Fs were techincally 398ccs, IIRC). This was, I believe, part of what starting driving up prices in the 1990s.

[ekpent]

 David Silver was on a major buying binge of the CB400 also at one time and restoring them. Not sure if he is still scooping them up by the truckload now or not.  http://davidsilverspares.blogspot.com/2014/

[bryanj]

Silver did that to see what parts were worth producing as repops and at what price. I believe he sold most of them on

[Tim2005]

David Silver's announced a year or 2 back they have done their last 400F restoration. I'm not at sure where they all went. At times Silvers imports bikes from Japan, at others they export them to Japan, same for US, all depends on exchange rates I think.

Carnivorous Chicken, there's more to that topic too- in Japan 400cc was indeed a limit, so a different version of the 400F was made with 398cc - those still command a premium in Japan as they remain registered differently.

[Stev-o]

Carnivorous Chicken, there's more to that topic too- in Japan 400cc was indeed a limit, so a different version of the 400F was made with 398cc - those still command a premium in Japan as they remain registered differently.

Yes, other 400F's were 408cc...