Anyone have any idea how (un)wise it would be to try to sell 2 British registered BMWs in Vladivostok?

On entering Russia with the bikes you will be given a Temporary Import Certificate (TIC) which is effectively its local Registration while in Russia and must be carried by the driver/rider at all times. It has an expiry date (up to 6 months maximum I believe) as well as them having your Passport details. So make sure you do it legally if you ever want to return to the country again.

The TIC will be inspected regularly at the Roads Police spot checks throughout Russia. Mine was inspected 30-40 times in 8 weeks, including on a rough unmade track on a remote mountain high in the Caucuses, 25 miles from the nearest town/tarmac! So no-one will get away without having one for very long or very far.

The TIC must normally be surrendered to Customs at the border as the bike leaves Russia, before the expiry date.

Selling the bike to a 'local' should involve the new owner obtaining a Russian registration, a condition of which could be payment of Import Duty - coupled with the surrender of the TIC.

Selling to a non-Russian would probably involve taking the bike out of the country and the new owner bringing it in again (with his new Registration documents) or going to Customs to get the TIC changed to the new owner for the remainder of the validity period.

__________________
Vitim Bridge Clubwww.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533442
www.sibirskyextreme.com

If i want to sell the bike to a local or a motorcycle dealer in Vlad whereabouts can i register the transfer? Local postoffice?

In regards to selling bikes in Vlad, I'm guessing that the odds are not that great to sell a bike and less to get a fair price for it.

As you may know, Vladivostok is the main importation port into Russia for most vehicles from Asia. There are thousands of second hand vehicles brought in from Japan etc. and driven across to western Russia to be sold. Bikes are also imported, although in much smaller quantities.

The number of bike buyers is fairly small and they already have their own Japanese bike that they have imported or bought off an importer. Most buyers that you would come across would offer you a wholesale price as they would likely be wholesalers themselves. So if you want to simply get rid of your bike instead of riding or shipping it back, prepared to take a beating on the price. The only caveat to this might be the fact that your bikes are BMWs and you might, just might find someone willing to pay the high price for a bike that they can't easily get that far east.

Something to consider is to post here and hopefully hook up with someone who also wants to do the ride one way and have them ride it back or vis versa.

Thanks for the helpful and very sensible information MountainMan. I have a feeling that because of time/logistics/price we won't be selling, but instead will be shipping the bikes back to Vancouver.

How did this go Mike? Did you ship back to Vancouver in the end?

__________________
Reality is something you rise above. - Liza Minnelli (1946 - )

For information on if it is possible to sell your bike in Vlavivostok contact Mikhail or Max at Vlad Moto in Vladivostok, phone 8(4232)367514 or e-mail: ßïîíñêèå ìîòîöèêëû èç Âëàäèâîñòîêà, ïðîäàæà ìîòîöèêëîâ è ðåìîíò They are terrific blokes and will give you honest advice and information. Their main business is bike importation, so the would know the law.
chris.

__________________
Chris

hehe i guess it's absolutelly unimpossable. expect problems with documents it's not good area for bmw bikes owner. nearest dealer is in Krasnoyarsk ( abou 5000 km out here) . and here is a country of japanise bikes. i'm r1200gs adv owner and i know this. about 4-5 bmw bikes here only. but, i guess good idea to try to sell it in moscow for example. it's about 9 - 10 days by train and 10000 rubles ( ~ 330 USD).

Hey Everyone,

I noticed that this thread is slightly out of date so I am re posting to see if anyone has got any newer information regarding this.

I have a Yahama XT600e which I have been traveling with since Uk and am heading to Vlad. I am contemplating selling he bike there if it possible as I think it will be cheaper to buy a new bike over in States rather than pay the expensive fee for flying it to Vancouver from Korea.

We know that the company in Vlad do not fly bikes any more over there so our only option is to pay to get to korea and then pay near on 2000 dollers to get it over. At which point Im thinking would it not be easier to sell bike and then get a half decent one in America.

Any tip or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. x

__________________
http://www.youtube.com/user/MunchBunchTravels
My World Tour to Start in July 2010.

im in a simala situation , i have a bike where shiping costs are more than replacement costs, im going to take it to korea, even it it 'falls off the dock' there it wont mean the future refusal of visas like in russia. if you even want to return to russia even to get as transit to Kazakhstan for example you will be refused entry if you have a bike temperary imported that was 'abandoned' excuse the spelling , the Iron tigers told me to drink daily to cope with russia, who am i to argue.