ORIGINAL: Gadget

07RG - Buying a new bike from a Japanese dealer will be an international spec bike. The $$$ I mentioned did NOT include shipping.As far as active duty folks go, if it's an international spec bike, it must be shipped as a POV and can not legally be put in HHG cause it has to go through the customs process at the POV port of entry. Bikes bought here in Japan through AAFES are US spec; active duty can ship the bike back in HHG if it's US spec. But lwyr isn't active duty so shipping the bike back to the US will be at his cost unless he's civil service with HHG entitlement and/or his company pays if he's a contractor...and as a reminder - the shipping is separate from the $4K I mentioned earlier...two good friends of mine shipped int'l spec bikes back as POVs and paid through the nose to be able to ride them back in the US. The only reason they paid the $$ was cause the bikes were 100 year anniversary bikes - otherwise they would have sold them and used the customs money to help buy new ones.

If I were lwyr, I'd buy the bike through the Japanese dealer if he wants it now, then sell it on the Japanese market before leaving. Hogs over here keep their value well - it's not uncommon to see 10-20 year old hogs going for $20K...otherwise, if he's gonna be here a while, I can hook him up with an AAFES rep who can sell him a Rocker as soon as AAFES gets their allocation for Japan delivery...he'll have to wait until next spring to get it but if it's a Rocker he wants...

Enjoy...