Hello lovely peeps. Hope everyone is keeping well and still doing lots of wonderful planning for post Covid! Can't wait for the world to reopen

A question for those of you that might have done this.... or will know a little more about it than this Aussie planning an adventure from the other side of the world! I am planning my trip from Columbia to Ushuaia, to Bunos Aires, and then back to Columbia, with the desire to also travel through Central America after tackling the South. From what I've read and researched, Columbia looks to be the best place for a foreigner to legally purchase a bike and obtain everything necessary, and also a good point geographically to hit start on the treck! I've also read that it must be re-sold in Columbia and cannot be sold elsewhere in South America. What I am having trouble finding out, is IF this Columbian bought motorcycle (that will be registered to me) can be taken over to Central America and taken on an adventure through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and part of Mexico? Would I have trouble with authorities and borders as a foreigner on a bike purchased and registered in South America (Columbia). Can I re-sell in Central America or would it have to be done in Columbia?

Just trying to work out how possible it would be to find a bike that I can do as much of the America's as possible. As mentioned, because I'm in Australia.... shipping over my own bike would be an impossible task (and fee). This is my first big overseas trip (on the bike) so any insights or advice anyone could offer would be incredibly helpful and useful. Looking at taking off at the end of the year.....

THANK YOU

You have to be careful when we talk about selling the bike.
And what we define.

In one way, you can sell it wherever you want.
But. The change of ownership can only be done in Colombia.
So you will still be the formal owner of the bike, if you sell it some at some other place.
Until if and when this transfer is done, it is still yours.

I would not define that as sell/buy a bike.
As long as you do not transfer the ownership.

So to make it easy:
If you buy a bike in Colombia, you need to sell it there.

And avoid discuss special cases as sold for parts. Or sold with permission to use without transfer ownership. Or sell it and hope that the paperwork will be done later or... whatever creative ideas are proposed.

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There is no problem driving around SA on a Colombian bike.
I do not have information about Central America.
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Here is an excellent example of a trip done the way you are describing

https://www.amazon.com/TWENTY-THOUSA...0775170&sr=8-1

I think it would be worth thinking if it is actually worth shipping a bike from South America to Central America. Drive around in CA. And ship it back to SA.
Instead of selling the Colombian bike in Colombia.
And buy another one in South America-

This passing of Darien Gap is hard enough for people heading to Alaska.
To pass it twice, to get a possibility to tour CA, does not make sense to me.
Especially if it a"temporary" bought bike.

But this is my personal opinion.
Just for you to consider

LalaBarlow,

Welcome to Horizons Unlimited.

I can't think of a reason why you can't take a Columbian plated and registered bike to Central America. As long as you have all of the paperwork to prove you own the bike, you should be fine.

The only country that is quirky is Argentina. I believe you can't buy a used bike and leave the country with it. Rules change all the time. There was a time when you couldn't take a Peruvian plated bike into Bolivia, but that restriction may have changed or there may be a paperwork solution, I can't remember.

The reason people say you "can't sell" a bike in a country other than the country registration is the cost. Many countries in Latin America levy high importation taxes when the new owner seeks to formalize ownership with some form of registration or plates. The importation taxes can make the transaction unattractive.

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

It's true that it's quiete easy to buy your bike in Colombia, but if you plan to ride from Argentina all the way to the USA or Canada it would be a bad choice strategically. Why would you start from Colombia to the pantagonia, and then from the pantagonia to Colombia.

Coming from Austratila your best bid would be to start from the north going south. There is not a better place to buy a motorcycle than the US. Canada is second best. It's hassle free great choice and lowest price. Craiglist is the place to look in the USA and kijiji in Canada.

check also advrider.com for your planning.

When did USA and Canada became a part of Central America ?

If you import the bike to another country. Than it is no longer a Colombian bike. And import has to be done before the change of ownership. => Sellers problem and cost.

I'm going to try to answer the question that I suspect OP wanted to ask...

Yes, you can buy a bike in your name in Colombia, ride it around South America, ship it across the Darien Gap and legally ride it around Central America as far as Mexico.

What to do with the bike after that is the problem. The easiest solution is to find another moto traveller who is heading from Mexico down South America, sell them the bike with a Poder (notarized bill of sale, essentially), so that once they get to Colombia, they can go to a government office there and change ownership to themselves.

This is a lot of hassle, so you'll have to discount the bike significantly, but I believe it can be done.