Opinions wanted
 

So currently i'm living in NY/NJ and going to school. I graduate soon and I'm moving back to Western Canada in a couple of months. Where I come from there is 6 months of winter and it's pretty unbearable. My dad and step mom live out in California where it's sunny and 70 all year round. My dilemma is whether to 1)ship my VTR(which I bought for $1800) out to Cali for $700 and leave it at my dad's place and enjoy it while Canada is snow covered or
2) ship it back home to Canada for more $ and own that and the RC51 (and additional bikes in the future to add to the collection)
3) sell it here in NY/NJ and pocket the money and put it toward a machine in Cali (used S1000rr, RSV4, RSV1000, RC51, 1198 whatever...)

The other question /problem is how to have a California license. Currently I'm here under a student visa and have my NJ license. I was not required to get a SSN which was normally needed when applying for a license because I am exempt under my student visa. Thus I have no SSN. If I was to leave a bike in Cali, how would I get a Cali license without a SSN after my visa expires. I would be the title holder, need insurance (but nobody would want to sell me insurance under a Canadian license if I have a bike that is located in Cali but I reside in Canada), have no SSN to get a license, and thus no way to apply for registration....? anyone understand my conundrum?

any suggestions pertaining to either problem?

I would send the SuperHawk to dad. Transfer the title to him, and let him insure it. Probably the cheapest the insure of the bunch. Then you should be good to go.

I would sell it in NJ if you can get a decent price. then you'll be free to get something where you end up and save yourself and others from having to screw with any shipping bullshit.

OR.....register/insure the bike in Canada and ride it like you would normally, even if it is left at your dads place in CA. Canadian citizens need to return to Canada every 6 months to avoid hassel from the US government. No need for a California lisence either - Canadian lisence works perfectly.

Be prepared to pass a CA smog/vehicle inspection. I would look to sell and get another bike in CA when the time comes. There's plenty o' bikes in sunny CA. By the time you get around to it you may find a completely different bike appeals to you. Maybe even a Harley. What the heck. Good luck with it all.

+1 agree on all except the Hardly Sportster idea, don't go that route, you will be lost in the world of chrome, gimmicks and fake riders that cannot lean!

I think I'm leaning toward selling the vtr and buying there or riding the RC down and leaving it there....

bikes are a dime a dozen down here man, sell it up there and just get another VTR here (or whatever else)...get your parental units to title/insure it and just pay the cost for them.

Hey I'm from England, been living in in California for years and years now. Whats this SSN thing you keep talking about? insurance what's that?

Hmmm? you have strange idea's about California!

Only people who have insurance here are doctors and lawyers?

My advice, just sell the Superhawk and buy a bike here, bikes are cheap as chips in Socal and very plentiful. Hmmm Canada or California? I know which one I would choose.

I get to lean the Superchicken and my FZ1, the Skirtster 1200 is my "put-put" bike when I'm ridin' lazy :-)

ssn is the social security number, equivalent to the SIN social insurance number in Canada. This allows you to file taxes, and is used as a form of ID for applying for licensure etc.

Canada for work and family.... Cali for sun and play!

Ride it to California take old route 66 where you can. Then go get the rc51 and ride the coast highway from Washington thru Oregon and into California. It's an amazing ride love those Tsunami warning signs!

If you have a NJ license you should hold onto it and use it to apply for a CA one. Here in NY you can just walk in and get a license with one from a diff state.

some states make you forfeit all other licences though. NJ let me keep my Canadian license. even if I tried to get a CA license I would probably be asked for a SSN.