Shipments done by Travellers

Recommended by Air New Zealand - had not done this before but was brilliant. We had a whole aircraft container for the two bikes which meant we could leave the bikes whole and just strap them in. In New Zealand we paid NZ $28.70 (paid for one bike only) - this included fumigation of our tent but no requirements for the bikes.

The shipper was ok and, having had the experience of sorting my bike out, should now be completely up to speed with shipping a bike.

A couple of things to note:

- On arriving outside the cargo terminal (which is just opposite the passenger terminal) you will get accosted by people offering freight services. I suggest you ingore them and go inside.

- Get several quotes, the cargo terminal is full of freight companies.

- Ensure that the quote you get includes everything, i.e. the freight, all the airport and airline fees and the dangerous cargo fee (no getting away from that one I am afraid)

- If they do your crating, watch the guys doing it carefully as otherwise they will make the crate too big and you will pay for airfreighting air;

- Customs will not stamp a carnet until they physically see the bike being loaded onto the plane. This means that if, like me, you are leaving before your bike, you will have to leave your carnet with the freight company to get stamped. They will then send it along with the airway bill documentation and you collect it at the destination airport. Mine arrived safely. Bald Git

We shipped 2 bikes on the roll-on roll-off ship. We paid U$250 per bike plus U$25 for one bill of loading plus U$30 each for the police clearance. If there is only one bike the price is U$350 for the shipping. Shipping to Chile was hassle free, some damage to the bikes but no problem getting them out of the port. This method saves building a crate but there is the possibility that your bike will be damaged, things not locked up will be stolen and if you don't pick the bike up from the ship when it arrives, expect a big charge for storage.

In Dec. 2002 I was looking for a firm, to transport my xt600z Tenere from Zurich to Buenos Aires. I chose Tibbet and Britten, because I won t spend more than 900 dollar. I also won't build a box.

So I delivered my bike just on a constructionboard (160cmx55 cm with 3 additional parts of wood below the ends and middle nailed for transport vehicle fixed. Also removed my front wheel, fork, handlebar, light. 0.869m3 (world record) and 191kg. for saving money. But too much work just for 60 dollar less.

The whole fun costs me 1180 Swiss francs (780us$). I think it's cheaper go direct to the cargo of the airline, in my case British Airways.

In Buenos Aires I paid 120us-dollar for storage and clearing. To prevent the high storage costs it's important the bike will not arrive on weekends or late on day. To get the moto out of the custom took me 3 hours. Without carnet - depends - you have the good or the bad guy. I had the bad one with a tie. He didn't believe the value of my 90,000km vehicle in Switzerland is just US$200. He suspected me to sell my moto in Argentina. Even when I was putting my bike together, he was interrupting me to check the frame number. What a jerk. This was the first and the last time for me to ship a motorcycle. For the costs to send a moto from Europe to South America and back, you can buy a used xr, dr, xt in Chile or Brasil.

I have unlocked the mystery of shipping bikes out of Bangkok. It is very easy. These guys are excellent. English spoken very professional and they move a lot of goods Easy access to their office. They have safe storage at their office for at least 2 bikes. There is a Fast Rail Service across the street to go to central Bangkok. There are 2 carpenters on hand to build crates (and will build them out of good wood for furniture if you ask) for the bikes. They will feed you and take care of you, very friendly. I sent my bike within 3 days. Basically I could have rolled the bike in given them the documents (I had no carnet and a very dodgy homemade document that caused them no problems) and returned a day or two later to sign them and then the bike would be sent. Too easy. I will send the email and address later since I don't have them with me. The bikes arrived in excellent condition about 5 weeks later. Getting the bikes out of Canadian Customs is another story.