Topic: New Member needs help to EXPORT

[ascanio1]

Hello to everyone,

My name is Tommaso and I am looking for help to export a CB750 to Japan from the US.

On another thread other members are advising me which model to buy. I'm now researching on Craiglist/eBay to buy a CB. I will then need to ship it to Japan.

Does anyone know any reliable (and reasonable) guy who can:
1. Pick up the bike in the US (after I pay for it from Japan);
2. Verify that the bike's chassis number and general appearance is consistent with the item I purchased (*);
3. Do all necessary export paperwork;
4. Ship the bike to Japan.

(*)
If anyone in the forum would consider helping me to evaluate the bike technically... it would be greatly appreciated.

Tommaso

[Don R]

The US is a big place, help may depend greatly on location of said motorcycle. Maybe if you post what you are looking for someone willing to assist knows of such a machine near them.
 I recovered a members bike lost in shipment once but it was near here.

[ascanio1]

Thanks Don R,

Apologies for not specifying what bike I was looking for but I did not want to duplicate the topic as I already posted for help, in the <SOHC/4 Bikes> forum, to decide which bike to buy and where to find it. I received a great deal of help and I decided to look for a pre 1978 CB750 which is perfectly roadworthy (I don't mind minor cosmetic glitches). I'm now in the process of deciding if I should buy it in Japan (I live in Tokyo) or in the USA, where they are cheaper.

Part of the decision where to buy it rests on the export/shipping costs and the risk of not being able to examine the bike and, therefore, I posted a second request for help - this one.

Searching/purchasing and verifying/exporting are 2 separate posts. Any help in either one is really very welcome. To avoid confusion, here I am only searching for help to export the bike to Japan. And, possibly, help to verify the bike too.

[goldarrow]

 I know there's a shipping company this way in my area.  My brother use to ship large (huge) audiophile speakers oversea

[ascanio1]

I know there's a shipping company this way in my area.

Thanks, could you give me their contact details? Please?

[faux fiddy]

Obviously you would prefer a bike near L.A. or another large west coast port city. Prices for the bikes tend to be higher in these areas.  The place where the bike has been geographically can affect condition, ie salt air,  use of salt or Calcium Chloride for ice melting, sunburn, etc.  Midwest has lots of bikes, and lots of rust.

Are you wanting a project or a pristine garage queen?  Barber Vintage Week is a good place to have a shopper.

Shipping may involve two or more companies depending on where you find the bike.

Just my $.02

[ascanio1]

I'm looking for a bike in very good mechanical conditions, because I almost every other weekend I ride around Japan for a few days (if the weather is good, which often is). Plus I want to use it every day in Tokyo: pristine mechanical conditions are important. But I don't mind a few cosmetic blemishes, as long as it's original.

And, of course, you're right, sunny locations have the best bikes: it's the same in Italy!

The Barber Vintage Week seems like an event, not a dealer/trader... I live in Japan and I doubt that I'll make the trip for the event...

[goldarrow]

I know there's a shipping company this way in my area.

Thanks, could you give me their contact details? Please?

if i can find out anything from my brother, i'll let you know. 

but here's a quick google search that i found a company in Tokyo may be you can get in touch with them just to see what the process involves?  i'm guessing the just shipping alone would be in $1500 range.  http://www.a-cross.jp/about.shtml

[JeffSTL]

Seems to me, you'd be much better off finding something locally. You are likley looking at at least $2k for a decent bike, $2k for shipping, paperwork nightmare, going to have to swap headlight and speedo faceplate, you'll have to depend on others following through, buy a bike sight unseen, etc. You really aren't going to be saving much. Is much rather be able to kick the tires and take a test ride. You posted some picks of a gold 750K in the other thread. If that is what is typical of the $5k-$6k CB there, then that seems like a much better route than the huge risk of importing one unseen. My opinion, anyway.

[ascanio1]

but here's a quick google search that i found a company in Tokyo may be you can get in touch with them just to see what the process involves?  i'm guessing the just shipping alone would be in $1500 range.  http://www.a-cross.jp/about.shtml

Thanks goldarrow, I appreciate your help.
Also I found that company online together with a few others US based (mainly in LA).
I'm waiting for more quotes but, so far, if I mix and match services the best estimate is this:
A) 900US$ for the shipping alone (LA to Tokyo)
+
B) 600US$ paperwork in the US (customs etc)
+
C) ??US$ US land shipping from vendor to LA
+
D) 1,100US$ (unloading, paperwork, registration customs and dues @ Tokyo)
------------------
2,600US$ + US shipping from vendor to LA

To make buying one in the US worthwhile, I would have to find a very good K1 for less than 5,000US$ or a perfect K2 for less than 6,000US$ - in LA.

What do you think... are these values reasonable for the US?

***************

I would appreciate any help from anyone in the US to find better shipping quotes. Again, thanks for the incredible support that I am receiving from this forum. I hope that I can help someone back with finding parts and reverse shipping if the need arises.

[ascanio1]

Seems to me, you'd be much better off finding something locally. You are likley looking at at least $2k for a decent bike, $2k for shipping, paperwork nightmare, going to have to swap headlight and speedo faceplate, you'll have to depend on others following through, buy a bike sight unseen, etc. You really aren't going to be saving much. Is much rather be able to kick the tires and take a test ride. You posted some picks of a gold 750K in the other thread. If that is what is typical of the $5k-$6k CB there, then that seems like a much better route than the huge risk of importing one unseen. My opinion, anyway.

Thanks Jeff.
Yes, I was coming to that consideration too. Values may be a bit different, but the bottom line is more or less what you say:
So far, here, I found:
- very good (almost show-grade) K2 for 1MJPY=9,500US$
- good K1 (other thread) 900,000JPY=8,500US$

Shipping would seem to cost about 2,600US$ from LA.

To make all the trouble worthwhile I would want to save at lest 1,000US$. So I would need to find a perfect (not simply very good) K2 in LA for 6,000US$ or less and a good k1 for 5,000US$ or less.

Not impossible, but hard. As I said, this forum is proving invaluable under so many aspects, advice first of all. Thanks!

[Stev-o]

Here's a nice K2, unfortunately doesn't have stock exhaust.  Looks clean. 

https://maine.craigslist.org/mcy/4635467751.html

[ascanio1]

@ Steve-o,

Thanks Steve! I am replying to you in my other thread to avoid confusing the 2 topics. I read the forum rules and I should not duplicate the information.

[Stev-o]

Now that you know what you want, you could also start a thread in the Bijes and parts wanted on this forum.