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.

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