How Much More Expensive Is A Harley Davidson In Thailand?

[ricku]

First of all I apologize if this question has been posted before, but I could not find anything.

Anyway, I am thinking about buying a Harley Davidson in Thailand, so that I'll have something nice to drive around with! However, one of my friends just told me that the price tags for HD-bikes are insanely high in Thailand. He told me that I will have to pay almost twice as much as in Europe!

I have not been to any HD-retailer in Thailand yet, so I have no idea about the price.. But is my friend correct? And in that case, why the hell? I mean, I do have money but I am certainly not made of it.

Cheers!

Edited January 4, 2013 by ricku

[bazmlb]

All big bikes are expensive here, but with HD's a popular model will not loose money over time, some models actually increase in value, yes, some may disagree but the anniversary models do keep their value well and they are a nice bike in my opinion

[ricku]

Well you are right about that! But anyway, the prices here are seriously turning me off. What happend to "everything is cheap in Thailand"? I am now thinking about buying a used HD in Europe, and drive it through Russia + China and into Thailand. It will be a long ride for sure, but I got plenty of time on my hands.

I guess it will be a one way trip for the bike, but thats fine with me as I am planning on hanging around here for the next 20 years or so.

In the end, it will feel way better than dishing out 1.5 million baht.

Edited January 4, 2013 by ricku

[ajahnlau]

Well you are right about that! But anyway, the prices here are seriously turning me off. What happend to "everything is cheap in Thailand"? I am now thinking about buying a used HD in Europe, and drive it through Russia + China and into Thailand. It will be a long ride for sure, but I got plenty of time on my hands.

I guess it will be a one way trip for the bike, but thats fine with me as I am planning on hanging around here for the next 20 years or so.

In the end, it will feel way better than dishing out 1.5 million baht.

You will buy it cheaper but when you arrive and want to reg. then you will be hit with the taxes likely more than the bike shops who do it for a living. Not sure of the current tax but just making the reg. is about 100,000 baht.

[justcruisin]

Well you are right about that! But anyway, the prices here are seriously turning me off. What happend to "everything is cheap in Thailand"? I am now thinking about buying a used HD in Europe, and drive it through Russia + China and into Thailand. It will be a long ride for sure, but I got plenty of time on my hands.

I guess it will be a one way trip for the bike, but thats fine with me as I am planning on hanging around here for the next 20 years or so.

In the end, it will feel way better than dishing out 1.5 million baht.

Good idea BUT when you come in to Thailand you must have a temporary import permit, meaning you have to do a "visa" run for the bike every 3 months. I have a friend who takes his Harley of the country every 6 months and pays a 2,000Bht overstay fine on every trip, Oh and you must show them current the registration and insurance from the country you rode the bike in from.

Buy into this inflated market and sell into the same market..put up or shut up is my verdict!

[khwaibah]

http://www.harley-davidsonbangkok.com/

[Spoonman]

http://www.harley-davidsonbangkok.com/

lol prices are in USD.

[poanoi]

Dont bother with trying to register it here.

Anyway 2nd hand big bikes generally keep their value, so just come and buy something in your price range, and sell it for the same when you got fed up with police crooks & traffic jam,

say nothing of drivers with no clue with regards to traffic rules

[Langsuan Man]

http://www.harley-davidsonbangkok.com/

lol prices are in USD.

That is because you are being re-directed to the US site. Go here to get used Harleys, priced in Thai Baht:

http://www.harley-davidsonbangkok.com/usedbike.html

See this chart for import duty into Thailand for Harley Davidson motorcycles parts (60% import duty, plus 7% VAT)

http://www.dutycalculator.com/dc/10296389/cars-motorcycles/motorcycles/engine-capacity-more-than-800-exceeding-800-but-not-exceeding-970-cc/import-duty-rate-for-importing-bike-parts-harley-davidson-from-united-states-to-germany-is-6/

One can assume that the duty for a motorcycle would be similar

[Neilly]

That is because you are being re-directed to the US site. Go here to get used Harleys, priced in Thai Baht:

http://www.harley-da...m/usedbike.html

Links aren't working...any ideas?

[transam]

If you want you can PM me and l will give you a contact number of an English speaker who can help with your inquiry.

[moe666]

I got to see a vintage MG-TD a few days back that was imported in to Thailand legally. It took Mike 2 years to get the permission to import from the ministery of commerce. He says he didn't pay one baht in backhanders but just kept his head down and furnished all the paper work they wanted. When they requested something he didn't have and they hadn't requested before he just said o I am sorry my mistake got what they wanted and returned for anothe round.

In regards to importing a harley good luck with that. The small shop here in Ching Mai had a used Harley that had been imported and was for sale at 400,000bht a bit of a premium for a sportster. It can be done but unless you are really patient a pain in the ass.

[BirdsandBooze]

If you`re not brand conscious you might consider the Kawasaki Vulcan 900. Really nice bike, made in Japan, and much cheaper than the entry level HD Sportster. Some members on here are owners and are pleased with their bikes. You can check the bike out on the Kawasaki Thailand website.

[VocalNeal]

What happend to "everything is cheap in Thailand"?

Don't know who ever said that and if anyone did they obviously don't live here. Basic necessities like rice, beer and rented female companionship maybe. Everything else is more expensive than wherever anyone calls home. Especially if it is imported .

As for the price of a Harley. As someone once said "If you have to ask , Sir. You can't afford it."

[poanoi]

Not quite, if you're american, then yes, many americans say its pricey here,

but i have yet to hear one single person from northern europe that think its expensive here

[ricku]

Thanks for the info everyone.

Well, I guess i'll forget about importing my own HD then. It seems that Thailand is a very tricky country when it comes to importing stuff, even if it is your private property.

Birdsandbooze: I have looked at the Vulcan 900 before, and it is definitely a good alternative. I'm gonna have to think things over and then we'll see.

.. Kinda sad when I do have the money for a HD (normal price).

Edited January 5, 2013 by ricku

[BirdsandBooze]

Not quite, if you're american, then yes, many americans say its pricey here,

but i have yet to hear one single person from northern europe that think its expensive here

The OP and myself to get your list started

[Neilly]

If you want you can PM me and l will give you a contact number of an English speaker who can help with your inquiry.

Cheers Trans...was just being nosy really and wanted to see what they went for 2nd hand

[Phronesis]

Rather than buy a HD you can just buy a Kubota tractor and hack saw two of the wheels off.

Same ride and handling at a fraction of the cost.

[Langsuan Man]

That is because you are being re-directed to the US site. Go here to get used Harleys, priced in Thai Baht:

http://www.harley-da...m/usedbike.html

Links aren't working...any ideas?

Try Internet Explorer

[qdinthailand]

Well you are right about that! But anyway, the prices here are seriously turning me off. What happend to "everything is cheap in Thailand"? I am now thinking about buying a used HD in Europe, and drive it through Russia + China and into Thailand. It will be a long ride for sure, but I got plenty of time on my hands.

I guess it will be a one way trip for the bike, but thats fine with me as I am planning on hanging around here for the next 20 years or so.

In the end, it will feel way better than dishing out 1.5 million baht.

You will buy it cheaper but when you arrive and want to reg. then you will be hit with the taxes likely more than the bike shops who do it for a living. Not sure of the current tax but just making the reg. is about 100,000 baht.

Not to mention, you will have a trouble getting into China with your bike. If you do, you'll have to hire a 'minder' who will escort you across China; all of his costs, transport, lodging and food, at your expense.

With these hurdles to overcome, the price of a properly imported bike in Thailand is sounding pretty cheap, and easy.

[Ticketmaster]

I've had two Harleys in the States, and after the last one, swore I'd never have another. I have been told that they are much more reliable now than then.

If you have the money to buy a Harley at Thailand's inflated prices and you really want one, what's stopping you? As said above, they hold their worth. If you decide to sell it, you get most of your money back. As they say, you only get one go round, so why not enjoy yourself with money you can't take with you. the Vulcan is nice, but it is not a Harley. For some reason I cannot understand, the Harley has some kind of mystique around it (probably the result of successful marketing). If it is that mystique you seek, buy the HD.

[YipYipYa123]

Well you are right about that! But anyway, the prices here are seriously turning me off. What happend to "everything is cheap in Thailand"? I am now thinking about buying a used HD in Europe, and drive it through Russia + China and into Thailand. It will be a long ride for sure, but I got plenty of time on my hands.

I guess it will be a one way trip for the bike, but thats fine with me as I am planning on hanging around here for the next 20 years or so.

In the end, it will feel way better than dishing out 1.5 million baht.

You will buy it cheaper but when you arrive and want to reg. then you will be hit with the taxes likely more than the bike shops who do it for a living. Not sure of the current tax but just making the reg. is about 100,000 baht.

Not to mention, you will have a trouble getting into China with your bike. If you do, you'll have to hire a 'minder' who will escort you across China; all of his costs, transport, lodging and food, at your expense.

With these hurdles to overcome, the price of a properly imported bike in Thailand is sounding pretty cheap, and easy.

riding halfway accross the world will probably be the easy part ............the hard part starts when you try and register it over here

you would probably need to pay an import shop to do all that part anyway because they have the connections to register imported

bikes

take it to the DLT office on your own and you wont get very far

[BirdsandBooze]

Before you buy it might be a good idea to have a look at used HD prices and compare with new. I`ve seen some with book that actually have depreciated quite a bit in value from the new price. Of course, if you intend keeping the bike for many years depreciation won`t be a concern for you. I once owned an XR1200 back in England and although it wasn`t a bad bike to ride it did have quallity issues with the finish. I`d never buy another because at the end of the day for me they don`t live up to the hype, or the price tag here.

[ricku]

Thanks for all the input and suggestions. Very helpful!

It seems the world and it's endless bureaucracy is against me, so I will obviously have to think very carefully about this before I make a decision.

Besides the Vulcan, what other good alternatives are there to a HD? What about the classic style bikes from Honda or Yamaha?

I guess I have some reading to do!

[blackpanda]

I guess you can always buy an older phantom or a SR400

[poanoi]

There are plenty of Honda steed here, i'd pick the 600 over 400,

then if you want bigger there is Yamaha virago, 1000 or 1100, or the successors from 1100 up

[BSJ]

I have a Honda VTX1800. They just like a Harley except the go harder stock, very reliable and handle well for a cruiser. There is a very nice one for sale on Baht and Sold. Something to consider.

[macknife]

I've noticed a lot of Harleys in Bangkok recently. I saw two beautiful matte black bikes(different models) just the other day, and a couple more a few days before. I've never seen the same model twice, do HD have that many different models?

Not my type of bike but I can see the attraction. If money was no issue I think everyone would take a HD over any other cruiser, but in Thailand it definitely is an issue.

[bazmlb]

The prices cant be too bad, was in a mates shop today and two sold whilst I was there, he still has a lovely street glide 2012 model well priced, lovely orange colour.