Has anyone noticed that there has been a huge drop off in travelers posting their used motorcycles for sale in South America?

Did Covid turn the "used motorcycle market here" into a ghost town.

Are the younger generations renting the motorcycles in South America instead of buying them.

I've seen a few motorcycles here for sale, but there doesn't seem to be a very good selection or volume of used motorcycles available for sale here.


What's the deal?

__________________
http://www.journeyrider.net Latin America blog (07-8)

One reason could be that there is better control now with computer systems.

In general: You can't sell a bike that is on a Temporary Import Permit.
The TVIP is connected to person. And that person need to take the bike out of the country.

And if you could sell it. Than you need to change owner remote,
something that very few countries allow.

See examples. Xfiltrate (Argentina) and my post (Colombia).

In several countries (Argentina, Peru...) You can buy a local bike.
But not legally take it out of the country.

=
Than you can do things that are not legal.
And write papers of all kind. That someone has the permission to use another persons bike. But for my that it not to sell. Since the ownership has not changed.
=

This is a never ending topic. And many people will claim that there are workarounds. But...

Or this HUBB has degenerated ??

I think that a lot of people have realized that it is not that simple, and probably better educated after reading forums and realizing that this is not the back packers world. Buying a motorbike in a foreign land comes with responsibility. A lot of travelers that that earn Currencies other than USD, Pounds, or Euros don't have buying power like they used to and it may be a reason for staying home and watching YouTube adventures on Motos
How many people would actually buy a used Moto with Foreign plates in South America and expect to get a fair return on the purchase price.
I think buying a local bike is the way to go because its perfectly legal for a foreigner in Colombia
Me thinks people in general are not to enthused into diving into a full blown adventures in SA anymore, SA is going thru a lot of turmoil Equador good Example right now, The new Decree about having a five year record check is not a welcoming gesture Thanks to the neighbourly assassins that took down a prosecutor lately and a Pres candidate a few years ago
USED Motos have gone up drastically in Colombia since 2021 but are still a bargain and the selection is huge in Colombia
NEW well be prepared to pay 30% more than Canada and 40% in USA for a high end Moto. A Royal Enfield not too much they are economical
I was in Puntarenas Chile late October last year checking out Motos in Zona Franca and the prices did not seem all to pricey. the same as I would pay in Canada for a Harley, Indian or BMW
Now the other countries is SA, Ecuador forget it. too expensive. 60% higher than the normal, Argentina Peru same, Brazil im not to sure but its probable 60% Unless you buy a local made or assembled 300 XRE Honda

I would buy a foreign moto for a parts bike
if there is someone in Colombia that has a F700gs or 800 with foreign plates that wants to get rid of it
id make a offer

I bought a bike a couple years ago with a poder and changed plates at the border.

I bought an USA plate bike in Colombia and had new USA plates mailed to me in my name

I rode the bike to the Ecuador border on the sellers plates with a Poder. After I exited Colombia I changed to the plates and my name and entered Ecuador with a TVIP. It was all legal and I had no problems. Is this not possible anymore?

I saw quite a few posts of vehicles for sale in Whatsapp groups for S American travel (probably on FB and other social media platforms). It seems to me that this site is not a popular place to sell/buy motorcycles.

__________________
https://ijustroam.com/

this is a totally legal thing to do in canada everything is on line hell we dont have date stickers on on our plates anymore and I think the registry or insurance care where the bike is
The only issue is where the bike was registered before the purchase. All provinces have you pay taxes on the purchase price Except Alberta , NWT and the Yukon

One reason people may have this impression is that they've not noticed the dedicated HU forum for buying/selling bikes in SA:
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...south-america/
There are about 20 posts so far this year.
It was separated to make it easier to find bikes vs look for travel info.

SA has always been one of the most popular continents for selling bikes on to other travellers. I don't think that's changed much.

__________________
Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

Hi Chris, one possible reason for the lack of interest in selling/buying foreign registered bikes entered into a South American country on a TVIP (temporary vehicle import permit) is the issue of maintaining valid insurance coverage.

In the event of severe personal injury and/or extensive property damage South American and most other insurance agencies will check to see if the bike involved was operated legally in the country.
Insurance companies are "off the hook" for bail, court representation and all liabilities due to the fine print in insurance companies policy proclaiming that coverage is null and void if the bike is being operated illegally, and/or if a transfer of title was illegal. The original owner who entered the bike into the country and the new rider would both could be held liable.

Neither the "seller" nor the "buyer" would have valid coverage, except perhaps, *it could be argued, the "seller" who secured the TVIP upon entering the country might have coverage if the TVIP was still valid. If the TVIP was overstayed, the bike would be immediately confiscated and the "seller" aka the "original owner" would have to pay a fine in person (in country) to retrieve the bike. The insurance policy purchased by the new rider, who tried to purchase the bike illegally, would be declared null and void by the insurance company.

*After a consultation with my Argentine attorney, once he stopped laughing, he cautioned "that the chances of obtaining coverage for the original holder of the TVIP the "seller" from the insurance purchased by the illegal "buyer" on a foreign registered bike within the country for which the TVIP was issued would be slim and slimmer. No, not **Carlos Slim, just very slim chance. " His quote.
**Carlos Slim is a Mexican business man who was ranked by Forbes as the richest man in the world from 2010 - 2013.

Important note: Universally insurance companies pay only liabilities for which they are legally responsible. This is not, in any way, demeaning of South American insurance companies.

As you know, selling/buying a foreign registered bike entered in most South American, all Mercosur countries, on a TVIP is illegal and this is agreed to by the owner via the issuance of a TVIP upon entering the bike into the country.

There are now Buy and Sell options for locally registered new or used bikes (in Argentina for example) being established. Several Honda dealers will sell new bikes like the XR-250 Tornado that can be purchased by a U S or EU credit card along with a buy back guarantee, if the bike is returned while still under warranty. Honda warranties for Hondas are now three years or 36,000 K.

This idea, although limited to those wishing to buy and sell and tour the South American country where the new or used bike was purchased, is becoming popular. This might account for the diminished interest in selling foreign registered bikes in South America.

The reasons for the Buy/Sell option is the generally high cost of motorcycle rental in South America, and the option of parking the bike in the country of purchase forever without the need for a TVIP. There is also the fact that buying/selling a foreign registered bike entered into many South American countries (especially Mercosur countries) is illegal and nullifies all insurance coverage. Riding most South American countries without valid insurance is also illegal.

Chris, Is it correct that you have reviewed the XR-250 Honda Tornado in one of your latest books? By the way, many years ago, one of your books got Elisa and I interested in international overland travel by motorcycle.
thank you for your contributions to overland motorcycle travel.

__________________
Motorcycle Parking Buenos Aires, Argentina
www.xfiltrate.com
Discover how to legally Buy, Tour and Sell a motorcycle in Argentina