I was born in the US but have Brazilian citizenship because my mother is Brazilian. I am planning on riding from Michigan, USA to Sao Paulo, Brazil in late 2009. I have invited my uncle (that is from Brazil) and a few of his Brazilian friends to join me on this long distance ride. The question that I have is there going to be any problem with with all of us if we buy a few KLR's here in the States and ride them to Brazil? Will they try to charge us duties on the bikes even if we are coming into Brazil by land? Also, are there any laws restricting foreigners from buying bikes here in the US? Will they need an international drivers license to be able to ride in the US?

Thanks

mococaman

I'm not sure how Brazilian aduana would deal with Brazilian citizens bringing in US origin bikes.
Could be a problem. Not sure.

For you, as a US citizen, I think you are OK as you can enter Brazil as a tourist and should be given an import permit for your bike. Not sure how long this is for. (3 to 6 months usually?)

Many Brazil experts here on HU ..... keep trying and asking for help.

Buying in the US should be NO problem for Brazilians
as long as they have a US address (you don't have to LIVE there, you just need something so the DMV can send bike paperwork) The Moto dealer does not care .... he just wants the money. You buy the bike, the dealer sends in the paperwork to local DMV and the DMV then sends out the new title and registration to address you have listed. If you buy from private party, you should go to DMV and do all the transfers for your relatives. Should be OK. In some states they want to see insurance before they issue a new title.

They cannot discriminate against non US citizens in buying vehicles as long as you have a legal, valid Tourist Visa.

Getting US insurance is another matter for non US citizens. Once across the border in Mexico US insurance is useless (invalid) but you can buy local insurance as you go, country by country. Different in each country.

I'm sure I've missed some things and I hope those who've traveled in Brazil and imported bikes can jump in with corrections and more info.

Good luck,

Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Thanks Molly Dog!!! Your answer was very much helpful. Thanks Again.

Hey Mococaman you may need to get in touch with an importer in Brazil that is familiar with vehicle imports as the lay on importing vehicles indicated "no used vehicles!".
I got caught up in this when I tried to bring my motorcycle to Brazil when I moved here in 2002. My motorcycle was new, 12 miles on the clock, but it was considered used do to it being titled in the US.
Also there is a HUGE import tax, somewhere around 90 to 100%.
Be very careful or someone my be stuck with a motorcycle they can not import.

Blaze out

Hey Blaze,
Is there a problem for NON Brazilians entering as tourists on US origin bikes?
Everyone here seems to manage it OK. No?

I think for a Brazilian citizen the import laws may change? Probably for a bike that has originated in Brazil, ridden by a Brazilian citizen,
no problem. But a foreign bike ridden by Brazilian resident .... different story and the govt. may want their 100% tax (very common rate).

I think getting hold of a Brazilian moto plate & papers for the same or similar bike "might" be possible unless they check VIN numbers. But some creative work in Photo Shop and a Laser printer may solve any problems.

Good luck,

Patrick
(things like this were so simple in the "old" days .... like 15 years ago!)

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

100%

And I thought Costa Rica was high, 100% is outrageous!!!

Honda have a factory in Manaus! They produce a bike every 50 seconds and export to eighty countries. I bought my 125 Cargo in Veracruz, Mexico, for the ride to Ushuaia. I stopped off at the factory on the way back north to NY. The head of production had the bike overhauled while I did a tour of the factory. They replaced the rear wheel and shocks (not good after being run down by a truck in Tierra del Fuego) and the tank because it had a dent! (BLOG at home) Mechanically no problem in 45,000 Ks. Real quality...and spares available everywhere south of the Rio Grande. I met many riders with bigger bikes waiting for spares.

That was very informative Simon, I will take that into consideration. I guess my only question is how difficult was it to ride a 125 cc bike up the mountains of SA?

Thanks

Mococaman

Honda sells a lot of bikes in Brazil including this little beauty

Honda Tornado

And this

:: Honda ::

But please be aware that as an American citizen you will NOT be allowed to legally enter into the states, no if's, no but's no and's. Just NO

Take care

PS: Next time you talk to your friends can you ask them how much a new Yam XT660 costs and if there are used XT's available and what are the costs of those, preferably a low mileage 2003 ?

Thanks again

Buying locally and touring is a hot topic. We purchased a new XR250 Tornado and a new NX400 Falcon (both manufactured in Brazil) from an authorized Honda dealer in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Elisa has now traded in her well used Tornado, 20,000 K through 6 South American countries, for a new Falcon. She had zero mechanical problems and required only suggested maintenance.

I had to replace the clutch on my Falcon, this after 20,000 K fully loaded and having done everything from ruta 40 in Argentina, over the Andes, up the coast to Lima and then through the Central Andes, up to Cuzco. La Paz and back to Buenos Aires.

We strongly endorse both of these Brazilian made Hondas. please see previous post for web pages on each bike. We pulled the air filters at Paso de Hama 4,500 plus meters altitude , and lugged on.

On a more recent ride, traveling on my US passport, I was required to obtain a visa (cost $100.00 US dollars) before entering Brazil. This, even though I am a permanent foreign resident of Argentina. Elisa is Spanish and entered on a free tourist card.

And a question, anyone ever bought a motorcycle registered in Brazil as a foreign tourist and crossed out of Brazil with the bike registered in their name? thanks xfiltrate

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

Mollydog, we will be back in Buenos aires in 2 weeks.

Meanwhile, please contact GENAMAX S.L.R. the very first Honda agency in Argentina, located at Av. Juan B. Justo 7550, Capital Federal tel/fax (from USA) 011 54 11 4671-2558 speak to Jorge Nakadakare himself Offical Honda agent...or Louis for exact cost of a new Falcon in Buenos Aires. Also, they will have a handle on the used market for this bike. Jorge will be more than helpful and might even offer you a buy back deal when your ride is over... this makes buying a bike and touring Argentina more economical in the long run.

I would guess the cost of a new Falcon today is less than $7,000.00 US dollars.............. this would be approx $21,000 Argentine pesos @3 pesos to 1 US Dollar. Not sure of exact exchange rate.

I believe the Tornado NX250 is selling new for around $5,000.00 US dollars. Google Honda motorcycles Argentina to get more accurate info and pecs on the two bikes.

If you want to fly in to Buenos Aires in September 08, we can assist you in legally buying a new or used bike or any other motor vehicle.

Keep reading Buy in Argentina thread for the next update on the Harley Sportster.

A young Frenchman recently had a Falcon for sale in BA (see my thread). Don't know if he sold it or not. xfiltrate

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

Riding was no problem - 4700 meters in altitude in Bolivia was the record. Not fast, but never a hiccup. Riding into a head wind seriously slowed me. Crouching over the gas tank helped. And I would have enjoyed electrically heated clothing! Coldest was the last week riding north along the Appalachians (Blue Mountain Parkway) after staying with Possum.

Did you ever take the trip?