CR500AF in Australia

[Stoner]

I see that Service Honda now has a dealer in WA and NSW so I went to see the dealer in Perth and they want 15,990 AUD for a standard CR500AF. With the current price of the AUD the bike would cost just under 11,000 so they want 5,000 to ship the bike over. I can't believe it would cost that much for shipping, tax, import duty etc.
Has anyone have any idea on what these costs would be?
I want to buy a new 500 but don't know if I can justify that price.
I see on another thread some guys (Shaggy) in NSW built a couple of bikes, does anyone know if they sell complete bikes or only sell the conversion kits?
Look forward to any info anyone can give.

Stoner

[maddog1927]

It looks like 500 stuff brings top dollar down under. I bet I could buya container full of 500 stuff off craigslist ship it to austrailia, and do pretty good.

A few years ago my dad went nuts over RH drive ford model as. a trip to uruguay and 3 containers later landed 9 model As in cali.

[gregrobo]

maddog if you can load the container we should talk

[AlisoBob]

maddog if you can load the container we should talk

I had the same thing planned with Asteroid, but he said any Yank that shows up in OZ with a container of CR500 stuff is going to die with it, because the Aussies will refuse to let a Yank make some money on the principle of the thing.

If you think differently Greg, lets talk.... I could use a Perth vacation...

[Gravel Scratcher]

If you show with a container of gear and expect to get the top aussie prices you might be a little dissappointed because alot of that gear sits for a long time just because its way overpriced and pretty well used as well for the general punter here. Put some realistic prices on things and you will move the shit. The Aussie dollar is pretty much on parity with the greenback at the moment so buying from the states rather than local dealers at the moment is definately the way to go.....at least for parts.

[gregrobo]

bob we can arrange something we can talk logistics later, the holiday mate if you are keen on that i can arrange that i have a shed full of bikes and 1000s of acres to ride in we have lots to do here for the whole family you tell me when and where.

[Stoner]

Given that the AUD is almost one for one with the USD it seems ridiculous that we have to pay 16 grand for a bike in Australia. If someone who could supply them at a reasonable price then I'm sure they would sell. I know of someone who paid 23,000 AUD for a new Service Honda from the dealer here in Perth!!!!

Stoner

[juddy]

Mine is going on e bay tomorrow night for reserve of $8000

http://www.bannedcr500riders.com/board/ ... l&start=25

$23000 ??????? WTF ???? what was so special about it to be that much more ?

[gregrobo]

i as why would you pay someone when you could import it yourself and save 3 - 4 grand i know a guy in esperance that paid close to that from service honda but it has everything but they are not finished of as well as a top notch aussie build

[AlisoBob]

i ...they are not finished of as well as a top notch aussie build

Thats very true....

[bearorso]

Unfortunately, the price reflects what happens to anything imported through legal channels to be resold here in OZ.

It's as I've written a few times when blokes have wanted a SH dealer here in OZ - Be Careful Of What You Wish For, As You May Receive It!

Someone brings them in, they pay all the taxes etc that have to be paid as an importer, liability insurance, customs, duties , freight ( and if they don't have/ don't know how to get the best deal, they will pay through the nose) and make a profit from doing so - so , megabucks are demanded.

It would be interesting to see if SH would 'back door' their own distributor still, by selling direct to OZ riders - plenty of US companies do it to their distributors, but if I were an importer, I'd be seeking a iron clad guarantee they would not do so.

I'm not defending the price, but I'm not at all surprised it's so much - that's how it goes. There's a lot of people around who can't make their own bike, but with plenty of money . I can engineer / make pretty much anything I want when it comes to bikes, but , say, with a dastardly electronic box , I just go f**k that, I don't want to know, and pay someone else. Horses for courses - my computer genius mates all have a giggle at me - unfortunately for them, fortunately for me, it works both ways, as they are into bikes.

As for the 'Aussie Way' - I see plenty of great stuff from everywhere, as well as crap from everywhere. There have been plenty of full cradles done previously. I've never understood why making a whole cradle is so startling to others - it's always been, to me, the logical way to do it, If you can. If you can't, inserts are OK by me. Most owner builds Are better than a Paid For build - as blokes take so much pride with their own projects. I'd tone down the 'Aussie Way' adulation / bragging - because , if we don't, those Bastard Kiwis will come out of the woodwork - and very few can top those sheep shaggers' ingenuity! Someone getting someone else to bend and machine bits for them, then charging a reasonable price for them, does not make it innovative. Well, perhaps it does - good materials, simple and accurate design and fit, for a fair price, nowadays, probably IS rare and innovative, in a world of rip offs - a few of those we all have probably seen on this and the other 500 site, which is a bummer.

There's' a fellow on this site that I must be driving a bit crazy with my PM'd suggestions for something different from the norm - describing to him more involved solutions to something that can , and perhaps, should be, kept so basic to do. But I tend to forget that I have the resources to do things that others may not have .

So , apologies sport - but I'll send those pics in about 24hrs, if the bike in question is still at Teknik when I go in tomorrow to help (help?..... well, that's debatable) out. It would give you something just that little bit different to the norm.

[Stoner]

You can't buy the bikes from Service Honda, have to get them from their dealers in Australia. There was a couple of guys on here, I think one was Shaggy, who built a couple of bikes which looked very nice. Does anyone know if they are selling bikes or just the conversion parts. I would buy one from an aussie builder if I could find one. It's probably easy enough to pick up a frame but getting hold of a good 500 honda motor is not easy now and Service Honda want 6100 USD for a new 500 motor.

[gregrobo]

i know a guy in wa that has only just got his service honda from the states direct ill build you one if you have the cash

[yota]

I have a friend in Israel who had a used bike from florida taken apart and shipped over in 5 boxes to avoid the heavy import taxes and duties. a few months later he was pulled over (they ride dirt bikes on the street) and did not have the proper documentation. his bike was seized on the spot and 6 or 8 months later after paying more in fines than the tariffs were he got it back.

prices are so high there he was crowing to me once about getting a 6 year old ktm for like only 11K.