Thinking about buying a VFR ....

Ok, another thread about joining the VFR Clan ...

My wife has given me the go-ahead to get a new bike ... bless her heart ...

I'm currently looking at a 2003 vfr with 31000 KM on the dial ...

Is there anything I should look out for, and what price range should I be looking at?


Thanks,

Matt/soop

 

:wink:Soop....yes look out for moose,deer,bears...dogs and cats...and some squirrels...Check NADA for approximate values in your area....

 

Go for it if the price is right. Check NADA/Blue Book for values. Of course, a test ride is mandatory. Check all wear items and make any offer reflect what needs to be replaced. Biggies are tires, brake pads, and when last valve inspection was done. Also chain and sprockets might be due with that many miles. Personally, I might consider looking for a lower mile bike.

 

Nah, that's only 19262 miles...there, that looks better!
Still don't understand the difference with the CDN dollar better than parity but that'd be a $ 4000-4500 bike in the US and $ 6000 bike up here....edit, I think these guys haven't sold their bikes because they're too pricy

http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-sport-touring-Honda-VFR-800-W0QQAdIdZ275877247

http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...3-Honda-Interceptor-VFR800-W0QQAdIdZ274210056

http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...touring-2003-Honda-VFR-800-W0QQAdIdZ268635821

And there's nearly always a guy who "got a really good deal" on a 3 model-year-old bike and now needs to sell it...ouch
http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...7-25TH-ANNIVERSARY-VFR-800-W0QQAdIdZ271109075

 

There was a wiring harness recall for 2002-2005 models so check with a dealership to see if that was done. Here in the U.S. a stock VFR with comparable mileage would be selling for somewhere in the $4500 (U.S) range.

Rollin

 

Hey soop Welcome to VFRW.

Where in Canada are you located and what's your budget? The reason I ask is if your near the border you could look south for a VFR and import it. The selection of VFR's is usually much better down south, And normally cheaper with lower mileage than the bike's listed up here.

 

I'm with Woobie on that. Don't buy here in Canada unles syou find a real sweetheart of a deal. You can find VFR using Craigslist and search tempest all over the States much cheaper and usually with extra goodies that cost real money and you will want them. I found a fifth gen bike in Pittsburg (back in 2005) with only 6k miles on the clock for $3600 and it was spotless with exhaust and a cover. It really pays to look and you can turn it into a real adventure by flying down and riding it home like I did last year when I bought a 2002 in Dallas. The import is really easy so don't be intimidated.

Good luck!

 

Or you could buy one from Aust and really make an adventure of it (Haha)

Check it out, get a good price, change the fluids and Enjoy!!

 

Hey, Jethro...I've heard that it's a PITA at the border and that you can't just declare the purchase and drive across (after paying taxes of course).
Is that true? One fellow told me that the bike has to remain in the US for 3 days after the date of purchase for customs to inspect it (or something?)...
Could you give us a quick few lines on what your experience was? That'd be great.

 

The process apprears to be complicated but when you break it down, it really isn't that tough. You should go here Registrar of Imported Vehicles before you begin to make sure that the vehicle you wish to import is admissable and to famiarize yourself with the documents and process involved.

1. Find a bike that meets your needs and price expectations (worth the cost of recovery)
2. Do the research to make sure the title is clear, the bike doesn't have any open recalls etc
3. Negotiate the deal (how and when will you pay)
4. Get a scanned copy of the title (critical step)
5. Send the scanned copy to the US customs office located at the port where you intend to export the bike. This is where they will need three days with the title to make sure there are no liens against it. The don't inspect the bike, they inspect the title! If you don't buy the bike you can just inform them that the deal fell through. If you do this correctly, you can check in with them, they stamp the title as clear and OK to export and you are on your way. If there is a lien on the title you must have a clearance letter to show that the lien is paid to get through.
6. So now you are off to Canada customs, woo hoo!
7 Report at Canada customs with your bill of sale and title. They will suspect that you are a criminal as this is what they are trained to do. Be sure you have proof of payment and the method so they can clearly see how and how much you paid. This is tough when you pay cash! They will initiate the import documentation (Form 1) and collect tax. You are now on your way again.
8. When you get home you need to obtain and send a recall clearance letter from Honda to the registrar of imported vehicles. Once they have this , they will send you (Form 2) which is what you take to Canadian Tire for the import inspection. This is where they check the serial number against the documents and give you a thumbs up or down to proceed. make sure your docments match the bike. You should have done this much much earlier anyway. Note that this is not a safety inspection so if your are going to register and plate the bike , you need to request a safety inspection as well.

To obtain a recall clearance letter for yor Honda, visit the Honda owners link, (https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/login.asp)register yourself as the owner for a specific serial number and it will provide you the recall status. This is a good step to do before deciding to buy the bike! On my last VFR I found the wiring harness recall still open so I arranged to have it done on the bike when I arrived in Dallas for free. As it turned out I needed a new front tire too so I had one put on at the same time.
9. Go to your local department of motor vehicles and finish the process by getting a Canadian ownership in your name.
10 Ride!

So that is the quick and dirty process. I have imported half a dozen cars and several bikes with no problems at all and I have had a few nice road trips along the way. My last trip was in the fall of 2010 to pick up a 2008 Audi RS4 in Minneapolis. That was fun except for the deer all over the darn highway:crazy:.

 

Great Post Jethro, Just and FYI when I imported my 06 in Dec of 09 I didn't need the recall clearance letter. I called RIV to ask about it (because at the time Honda USA would not give recall letters to us Canadians) And they already knew Honda USA wasn't giving them out and told me I didn't need it. Anyone reading this should call to confirm it's still the case before importing!!!!

 

I've taken a car into Canada, had to do all of the above... It really wasn't too big of a pain, make sure you have all the listed documents etc...

I went through montana into alberta and they were very friendly and helpful at the border.

 

Don't know if I have anything to add, but here goes:

1. That mileage is nothing for this bike. Much more important is service history and an inkling how the bike was treated. Sloppy cleaning, bad chain, dirty fluids indicate careless maintenance - which is MUCH WORSE than the mileage we're talking about here.

2. Tires - is this owner a piker who rides crappy tires? Again, a red flag.

3. Recalls - have they been taken care of? Again., if they haven't, who the hell has been servicing the bike? Any reputable service center - and even disreputable service centers - will perform the recall work (wiring harness, etc.). Only a brain-dead owner wouldn't have gotten the necessary recalls. A brain-dead-owner is a red flag.

4. Is the bike the right color? RED!

 

I too am looking and decided that the best place will be south of teh border!
I've bought a bike in the US before and imported it!
Not a big deal really!
Good luck!
John

 

Hi there,

I'm new on this forum but I've been reading for a while thinking of buying a VFR within the new few weeks. jethro911 have explained very well how to import a motocycle in Canada.

I am wondering if you just pay in cash the bike in the USA bring the title (at the old owner name) and bring the bike and the title at the usa custom? Do you need any paper or proof that you did buy the vehicle? Like notary paper or something like that?(of course I would have send a copy of the title 72h before) After that you are ready to import the vehicle at the Canada custom?

thank you

 

I got mine off ebay so I had a print out of the ebay auction closing, a receipt signed by myself and the previous owner and the title. And they still sent letters to me after the fact questioning my price I submitted!!!

BTW if your paying cash make sure you declare it when you cross the border to avoid any hassles.

 

Oh I see, so you don'T have to go to any department of motor vehicles you can just cross the border and keep the old US plate to go to your local SAAQ or Driver and Licence Issuing Office

 

Short answer no.

Long answer

Depends:wink:
You need to google and make some calls. Riding back with the US plate is no good since you would be riding on the sellers plate and more importantly his insurance.

You might be able to get a temp plate in the US, but then you need to find a Canadian insurance company that will insure the bike for the ride home. Some won't do that until after the bike has been imported.

There's a huge sticky thread over at www.gtamotorcyle.com on importing bikes. Just remember it's aimed towards Ontario residents and I'm guessing your from Quebec?

 

Yeah I'm from Quebec, I've call a few insurance company and none of them want to insure a bike that doesn'T have a quebec liscence. I need to get one from the USA.

I do understand all this process, but does everyone that import a vehicle go through all this process? What did you do? Get a temp plate without insurance?

Thank for your help

 

I got mine mid December, so we made it a family trip and trailered her home. I got a new bike, the wife and daughter hit the big malls for some shopping.

these guys will do all the work for you
TFX International. Specialized Vehicle Transport - Motorcycles
but the extra costs may eat up any savings had by buying south of the border.