my personal motorcycle shipped from USA, Los Angeles area to Manila

Hello earthking1961,

Welcome to expat.com!

Do tell us a bit more about yourself on the thread New members of the Philippines forum, introduce yourselves here - 2023

Cheers,

Yoginee

Expat.com team

Auto dealers have a complete lock on new car sales, probably motorcycles the same way. Seen it in Africa also,  they don't like it when you circumvent the auto dealerships and import cars. Also, pay cash, the loans here are different than other places. See video about Tim K and his Cruiser.

I've been checking out car prices. A normal Philippines model SUV or truck cost 1m to <3m, and cheaper than US, but engine outputs are lower or don't offer the higher output, which I think is due to lack of demand? Higher end vehicles and luxury models are much more expensive than US, Range Rover is 50% more for instance.

The duties (import taxes) are very high on vehicles manufactured outside the ASEAN region. Those made within, such as Toyota, KIA, Nissan, Mazda etc are considerably less expensive. A German car or motorcycle are about 50% more in the Philippines than the US, mostly from the tax. Just like your British Range Rover, and it is probably the same with a Harley.

Ford makes cars and trucks that are specific to the Asian market within the ASEAN area, such as Thailand for pickup trucks, thus making them more cost competitive. Chevrolet has stuggled recently due to their lack of manufacturing footprint in the region and poor sales.

@greenetravel what a rude response!

@greenetravel what a rude response!
-@Morgacj2004

Who made a rude response and back up your claim please,

Cheers, Steve.

@greenetravel what a rude response!
-@Morgacj2004

Hello Morgacj2004,

I would like to inform you that the member greenetravel has been absent from the forum since the past 6 years. I doubt that he will see your message now....

Cheers,

Yoginee

Expat.com team

Hello fellow riders , is it possible to send my motorcycle from US to philippines? I have multiple bikes here in us and i'm rarely using that bike that's why i'm thinking to send it there. TIA. cheers

Welcome to the forum Chris. Did you read through the thread? Not a good idea to ship a bike (or car) here generally. It isn't so much the shipping, as what happens when it gets here, mostly with Customs. They may hold it, they may want a lot in duties, they may dismantle it. The better the bike the more it will cost you to get it out of Customs.

Really not a good idea, and bikes are cheap here, due to the exchange rate, especially Asian brands like Kawasaki, Suzuki, etc.. Even "big bikes" as they call them (over 200cc). Just stay away from non-Asian brands as the duties add 80% to the price (BMW, Harley, etc). I just enjoy my 1200cc BMW when I am home in the States.

Thank you for your response, appreciated.

@colin wright

How will you get it registered

There is 100% tax on vehicles

There is 100% tax on vehicles - @Okieboy

This. Unfortunately not worth it to bring your bike over. But you can buy a 113c.i. lowrider here from the dealer for $20k usd or so. But then where can you really twist the throttle and enjoy it?

This. Unfortunately not worth it to bring your bike over. But you can buy a 113c.i. lowrider here from the dealer for $20k usd or so. But then where can you really twist the throttle and enjoy it? - @Larry Fisher

That's the problem. When we lived in Cebu City we had a Kawi 650 ER6N (naked Ninja) and we would often ride over the Trans Central highway, which has spectacular curves, but even with that bike I could rarely open it up for more than a few seconds before running out of road. I must say, that bike would have been great on Negros, where we live now - there are some very nice open roads going around the island.

Japanese bikes are very reasonably priced in the Philippines. I think that one was built in Thailand and many Kawasakis are now made by Bajaj - their co-partner in India. Such as the Dominar 400. Quite decent quality.

I keep a 1200cc BMW here in the States though, where I can enjoy it, haha.