Hello !

I'm currently debating whether to purchase a 2024 Triple Black BMW F800 GS here in Sydney for a big Europe trip next year. If I do, I'd ship it.

The bike is basically brand new (1500 km odometer) with a modified low seat (780 mm) which is perfect for me in platform boots because I'm 164cm (female). It's currently priced at $17.5K AUD, and I just saw online that the same bike (brand new - 5 km odometer) in Germany is $20.5K AUD.

I don't necessarily need a new bike for touring though and I understand that Yamaha's and other brands are significantly cheaper but BMW's come with service packages and worthy warranties.

In terms of my current situation, I am thinking about maybe moving to Europe so it would likely be a one-way shipping. I'd only return to Sydney if I wish to continue law school.

(1) Would you recommend buying in Germany, considering rego transfer, etc. as a foreign purchaser? Does anyone know how insurance would work?

(2) What is the cheapest shipper of motorcycles? Is it cheaper from Perth/Sydney/Brisbane?

(3) Side Question: to buy BMW or not? Cause a Yamaha would obviously suffice but BMW's are so beautiful ( I have a little BMW G310 R)

(4) Further side question: travelling as a 21 yo solo female across Iran to Pakistan in 2025 - safe or unadvisable? (Cause I'm hoping to do South Asia on the same bike but am also investigating purchasing a Royal Enfield over there)


Thanks everyone !!!!

As a foreign purchaser, you would not want to buy in Germany unless you plan to ship or ride the bike back. You cannot fully register it in your own name unless you are a German resident. (Do you have an EU passport by any chance?) You can buy a bike in Germany and put it on export plates, which come with mandatory third-party insurance, but have a fixed validity (up to a year), after which the bike must be taken out of the EU or registered fully.

There are countries in the EU where registering a bike in your own name as a non-resident is much easier (Estonia for example). EDIT: Get a used F800GS for 10k euros, ride it all you want, don't be concerned about dropping or scratching it, sell it for 8k when you're done.

If you're spending 17-20k, obviously buy the bike that makes you excited. That said, for a fixed-length eurotrip, consider getting a cheap used motorcycle. Even in a fast sale, you probably won't lose more money on it than you would on one-way shipping.

Iran on an Australian passport would need to be a guided tour anyway. From what I've seen about Pakistan, you'll probably be fine if you exercise reasonable caution; in the areas around the Iran border, any foreigner will in any case be required to travel with a military escort.

The bigger issue these days is after Pakistan/India, unless you are shipping the bike from India to Australia. Myanmar is closed for overlanders, so you would have to do an expensive guided tour from Nepal across China/Tibet to Laos, and getting into Thailand on a foreign-plated bike is kind of a coin toss.

If it's a "maybe" move to Europe, I think that you should just buy there. Registering an Aussie vehicle in Europe is at the least a big hassle and expense, and may not be possible at all.
UNLESS it's a definite "ride it back to Australia", in which case ship one way makes sense.

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
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