selling a bike in mexico or the states
 

Hello all. im from Australia and bought a 2006 Honda XR 250cc in Panama City around a month and a half ago for $2300. I am looking to sell the bike in either mexico or the United States in a month or so's time...im not sure where would be best and easiest to sell the bike in relation to getting a decent return on the bike $$$ and paper work wise....

Any info or knowledge on the matter would be greatly appreacited.


Cheers,
Mitch

It's probably worth more in Latin America than the USA. Also, depending on where the bike was originally imported to, it could be impossible to register it in the USA. If it's off road only, than that is not so important.

While selling directly in most of Cent. America and Mex, is illegal unless lots of paperwork nightmares are waded through, that does not mean it's impossible. Locals always seem to have "creative" ways to get this done.
So ask around at dealers, see what they offer. (Ask double over what you actually expect to get)

Maybe try in Mexico City? Or to a Bike Rental business somewhere?

A good used XR250R in the US is worth about what you paid, or a bit less.
Is your version the Euro version? Street legal with all the lights, signals and such? Some US states you may be allow you to register it, but maybe not. Certain US states are more lenient but lately US Federal EPA regs trump state laws. It's all in flux, making it harder to bring in "foreign" bikes or cars of any kind. They use the VIN to determine if it was legally imported to the USA. A foreign VIN may trigger a red flag.

No problem riding it around of course, just selling it on and registering it legally.

selling
 

If you are a foreigner you can ride a foreign bike into USA but can't sell it unless you can prove it meets all stringent USA emissions etc requirements. If you are Us citizen you can't (supposedly).
You can sell legally in Peru if bike isn't from neighboring countries ie Chile, AR, Ecuador,Colombia and maybe Bolivia but not sure on Bolivia.
In CR you can sell but buyer or seller must pay high import duties probably not worthwhile.

Zig

You can sell your bike in Guatemala ; the buyer pays the import duties and the paperwork is pretty easy and should not take more then a couple of days

I'm not sure about registration, but if you are willing to take a loss on it, you'll be able to sell it as an offroad only bike in the US easily. As the used bike market is kinda in the toilet, you'll probably only be able to get USD$1500ish for it.

I recommend selling it in the southern USA like California or here in Texas as Feb is still cold up north. Unfortunately Feb isn't really the best time of year to be selling bikes in Texas either. If you're in a hurry, you'll really have to move the price around. Plus people will be freaked out by the thousands of miles on a 250cc bike as your average gringo looks at a 250 as a small trail bike. Check out craigslist: houston classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events for bikes in Houston. If you want to look at prices in other cities, check out the links on the right.

If you want to sell it in Houston, Texas, let me know, and I'll help you out where I can.

Point of information:
Even a brand new, Euro 4 approved bike cannot be sold in the USA by anyone, citizen or not. There is nothing to prove regards emissions, if the VIN shows other than US origin, it cannot be registered, period.

BTW, no state in the US at this time emissions tests (Smog Test) any motorcycle. But that is coming in the future. The VIN says it all.

Mc D

panama moto
 

Thanks heaps for that everyone..it seems like the consenses would be to look at my option of selling the bike in mexico first as it sounds a little eaiser.. if all else fails head to texas or somewhere in the deep south and try and sell it around there to someone with a bit of land as an off road bike.

I beleive the bike was built in brazil by the way..not positive though..

THe bike is street legal with all the lights, signals and stuff, ill drop you a line if i need some help in texas...thanks mate

Many thanks all

any other input is of course welcome

Cheers,
Mitch

Just to be clear here.. Offroad dirtbikes are pretty common here. People can ride them in offroad parks and various types of trail systems of which there are many in the USA.

When entering Mx. through Belize at Chetumal 2 years ago I did not have to register the moto. Customs/iduana told me that Quintana Roo is a "free state". If I wanted to register I could do so at Punta Sam just north of Cancun. In order to travel into different states of Mx. one would need to register the bike.
I do not see why you could not sell the bike in Q. Roo. Naturally, who ever buys it might have some explaining to do to the "Hacienda" which is the customs dept. if they try to register it without paying tax.
There are many many bike shops in Playa Del Carmen and Cancun.
brian