Pennsylvania man who bought 40ft shipping container filled with motorbikes banned in the USA for $80k tries to start them up
- Pennsylvania-based YouTuber paid $80K for a shipping container
- It was filled with Japanese motorbikes that were banned in the USA
- However, he then had to wade through to determine their condition
Published on Jan 06, 2025 at 4:28 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jan 07, 2025 at 1:03 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
If you saw the story of the Pennsylvania-based YouTuber who paid $80,000 for a shipping container of Japanese motorbikes that were banned in the USA – you’re probably keen to know whether the investment paid off.
The loot included rare models from the Honda Motocompo to the Honda Z series of Monkey Bikes.
However, they had been stored in the 40-foot container for months.
So he was unsure what condition they were in and if they’d even start.
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The shipping container
Sean Kerr, the host of the YouTube channel, Bikes and Beards, was lucky enough to get his hands on the container.
The video followed the journey of unpacking the 40-foot container filled with unique motorcycles imported from Japan.
“It’s like Christmas morning every time we open one of these containers!” he said.
The focus of the initial video was on assessing and attempting to revive these bikes after they had been stored for months – although not as long as this Chevrolet Nova that was inside a shipping container for 30 years.
Now it was time to find out if his seemingly risky investment was a wise one.
Japanese motorbikes banned in the USA
While the Motocompo and Silver Pigeon started without issue, as you might expect, many of the motorbikes faced issues like fuel leaks, flat tires, and mechanical problems.
The Honda NSR250 and Kawasaki GPZ1000RX in particular required significant work – so Kerr and a friend decided to go head-to-head to revive the bikes and eventually race them.
“Some of these bikes look like they’ve lived a thousand lives, and they’ve got the scars to prove it,” he said.
There were some gems in the lot too.
“The Monkey Baja might just be the crown jewel of this haul—less than three miles on the odometer!” Kerr enthuses.
Another highlight was a stunningly preserved lime-green XJR400.
“This may possibly be the first bike of its kind in America!” he said.
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
