Triumphrat

dmorris

I bought my T100 earlier this year and since then I have received a set of orders for my family and I to move to Okinawa for 3 years in January of 2010. Not a bad gig really, but as far as my Triumph goes it will not be going with me. It is authorized to go, but the kicker is that it will cost me an additional $2,000 to have it shipped to mainland Japan for the various dollar sucking tests that have to be done to make sure it is safe and environmentally friendly enough for Japan (laughing...). Only one testing site, and that is on the mainland. I had to say *** on that one too. So into storage it goes...

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dogtired

At least the $2k will go a long way towards some sort of ride over there.
Bit of luck you might pick up a bargain from someone shipping out looking to unload a bike.

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Can a storm be officially designated as a tornado without touching down at a trailer park?

HiDesert

Yes, that sux. We sincerely appreciate your sacrifice.

Have you thought about hopping a cheap flight to Thailand, and riding one back?




What?

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I won't stop riding because you tell me about someone who died in an accident, just as I won't stop eating because someone died of e.coli.

HiDesert's ride photos

koifarm

It would not surprise me if you could easily find a Triumph over there.....buy, ride, sell and come home to your bike....

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Sitting on a cornflake waiting for the van to come!

Irishguy

Japan has some really cool smaller displacement bikes over there that we can't get here. Look at this turn of events as a positive.

Start researching really cool Japanese only bikes that we can't get over here. Find a decent one used over there and ride the heck out of it and enjoy it. Then try to bring it back with you and sell it in the States for a nice profit.

For instance: Honda makes a really cool 250 over there called a VTR. It looks like a Ducati Monster. It would make a fun bike. Remember that Japan taxes bikes based on displacement, and a 400 is a pretty big bike over there.

dmorris

I know there are Triumph dealers over there, but I don't know how readily available used ones are. Besides, since I can't take my cars with me I will have to buy two when I get there. Maybe i'll get lucky and find something that I can swing for a couple years.

Never thought of riding to Thailand to get one, but that would be quite an adventure.

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steventhechef

I don't think that they have finished the bridge from South Korea to Japan yet!

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steventhechef

Eggs & Bacon. A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.

Bonnie06Tangerine

I have spent a total of ten years in Japan. I am not too sure about Okinawa but used vehicles are actually one of the cheap items over there and trust me, there are not very many things that would be considered cheap! A cool thing is that you can license a two stroke on the road...yup, a KX250 could be rolling down the road fully legal. I would bet a pay check though that a Trumpet in Japan is going to pricey...very pricey. There is a strong following for Triumphs in Japan but they have a real strict tarriff for imported goods. I will be leaving the UK and moving back to Japan here shortly and my Bonnie is coming with me. It will ship household goods and I will suck it up and do what I need to so I can have her back on the road. I know the cost is going to be up there but the riding is insane on the mainland. Good luck with your PCS.

hypervista

I'm assuming you're in the military, otherwise you would have an allowance for such expenses. Thanks for your service! You will likely find some nice prices on used bikes there since, as you know, many servicemen sell their bikes/vehicles as they ship out.

Check out this link of used motorcycles in Okinawa. Good luck and keep us posted once you get there on your bike purchase experiences.

Make sure you get on the MSF course list at Kadena AB ASAP. No matter how recent your current MFS course is or how experienced you are, everyone in the service on the island has to take the MFS course at Kedena and the wait list can get pretty long. Also check with your command because some branches have restrictions as to who can ride on the island and who can't.

HiDesert

Vfr400.... :d

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I won't stop riding because you tell me about someone who died in an accident, just as I won't stop eating because someone died of e.coli.

HiDesert's ride photos