Alois,
iam presently in mendoza and i am looking to purchase a bike. I have heard of the problems of not being argentine and so therefore i cannot get out of the country with it. Is this true, is there a way around it. weare intending on coming back to the country to sell it after travlling for some months. I do not know if you may be able to help us.

Rob and Kate

Hello Rob and Kate, I cannot clearly answer your questions. Some people (even Argentinians) say that it not possible to leave Argentina with a motorcycle with Argentinian number plates. But at a customs point on the Chilean/Argentinian border (Esquel - Futaleufu) I met people crossing the border with motorbikes with AR number plates. I guess that there is some regulation about that but not always enforced. So the best is to try it.
Some people say that you cannot leave Argentina without having registered the bike for at least one year. This may be true, as it seems to be a mesure to prevent exporting stolen vehicles.
As a general rule, as a foreigner from Western Europe you may face generally less hassles than local people (that's my experience). If you get any information about the topic, please let us know about it.


------------------
Alois

Just got this back from the tourist board, who have done some digging for me:

Hello,
It´s not easy to buy a motorcycle and register it under your name. You need a paper that says that you are an argentine resident. But that´s the only way to cross the border and pass the customs without any problem.
Another option is to buy it without transfering it under your name. In Argentina, you have until 90 days to transfer the property from the last owner to the new one. During that period you can travel within the country if you want to, but you can´t cross to Chile.
Kind regards

Giselle Levy
Tourist Information Office.

So it does seem to be the case, you cannot buy an Argentine bike as a foriegner and take it out of the country (legally!).

Rob and kate

Alois,

I have a R 80G/S for sale if you want, in Rosario (300km from Buenos Aires), I I made all the mechanic works on the motor, front fork, and bevel box, the papers are in order, and on my name. I can conected with BMW dealers in Argentina, to get spare part (if you want).
If you are interested.


nicolas_bahr@hotmail.com

I'm planing to get a R100 gs, of a frind, by the way Patricio Adorno, if you read this tell about your bike, or how can I contact you.

Buying in Brazil is easy! IF you plan ahead.
1: You will need an adress in Brazil and have mail sent there to prove you have a place of residence in Brasil.

2: Take the mail on arival in Brasil and go to the closest "Secretaria da Recita Federal" with your passport, visa, and Tourist card. You have to apply for a CPF number, which is given on the spot. The CPF is a Tax registration identity similar to Social Security. With this and cash/credit card, in hand you can buy and sell vehicles or property in Brazil. You will need a Portuguese speaker to help you through the process.
Several Canadian, and German friends have used this process with my Brazilian wifes help in Porto Alegre. Most have sold their bike in Brazil very little under what they purchased it for when they left Brazil. A Much cheaper route than shipping and all the paperwork and exhorbitant "fees". This may take 2 days to get the CPF and find a bike.
You can cross any Mercosul border with the Brazilian registration and the appropriate personal Visa.