Shipments done by Travellers

Don't know if we're taking the fun out of the trip but here's a bit of detail on our shipping!

We shipped our two BMW airheads with Qantas freight. Costing a total of $1340 with Qantas and $150 for our dangerous goods declaration. The DG declaration included the extra $50 for our multi-fuel stove in its own carton. We had our super smooth DG check with the below company, conveniently located near the airport.

DGM Australia (ask for Tony)
www.dgm-aus.com.au
32 Ricketty St, Mascot, NSW, 2020, Australia
PO Box 244, Rosebery, NSW, 1445, Australia
Tel : +61 2 9669 4811
Fax: +61 2 9669 4822
Mobile: 0407 231 093

We came to a total of 485kg including our riding gear (boots/helmets/pants/jackets). We carried our other gear in our checked luggage.

Australia side:

1. Get your DG check done. Up to 10 days before departure.

2. Go to customs house at the international terminal and get the carnet stamped out.

3. Ride to Qantas freight terminal (not in the airport itself, in the freight area nearby) we then did the paper work, weighed the bikes and paid some money.

4. Goto the pub. Easy as that. Was a pleasure. A cold beer wasn't required after all but we still forced ourselves to do it...

We also were asked what was the preferred day of shipping. Not guaranteed, but for us it shipped when we wanted it. We called and got an airway bill number five days before taking the bikes in and asked for David. He knows the correct info, we got told many false requirements including draining all oils, having the engine cleaned and no battery.
First get the DG check, then go to customs house (international terminal car park, big building) for the carnet stamp, then to Qantas freight.

We cleaned the bikes to a high standard. Noting though that a quarantine inspection didn't occur in Singapore.

Singapore side:

It was approx $1400 singapore dollars to ride the one day out of Singapore into Malaysia from the airport (directly there). This was for TWO bikes. The ride is Approx. 40kms.

The alternate we had was $530 singapore dollars for bikebulance (motorbike tow truck/van) (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bikebulance/180491758685100) and Leo's number is 90673491 (thats calling inside Singapore).

The quick breakdown was the AAA would not give us an ICP (international circulation permit) to ride out without insurance - $300SDG for 1989/650cc bike, $360SDG for 1995/1000cc bike. Dependant on year/CC.

You also have some road tax to pay apparently, can't remember the cost.

We also were not allowed to go through without electronic tag machine ($170 each, partly refundable at the Malaysian border when returning it).
Which you then have to go and purchase/rent from another office in the city, a taxi ride's distance form the AAA. The ICP was about $50 each on top of all that. They will not give you just the ICP without insurance or the ERP (electronic road purchase?) tag machine. Most bikes we seen had this tag machine attached in various manners. Mainly brutally using screws into a fairing. We tried arguing the fact that there is a toll free route out of Singapore but this wasn't sufficient.

The AAA did ring Leo from Bikebulance for us. He will take you through customs in singapore on exit and drop you on the top of the bridge into Malaysia in no-mans land. We used the western link, less traffic at peak times.

You will travel in the van with your bikes with Leo. Make sure you ask for Leo himself as the driver as he knows the deal for the airport etc. The $530SDG was all in all not bad for a days run around that he did.

We initially went out to get carnets (with the bikes), back to AAA, then found it too expensive for the 1 days ride (and a stuff around to boot). Then called Leo to pick us up, take us to the airport (terminal 6, SATS centre) to get the bikes (I unwrapped/strapped the bikes off the aircraft pallet myself) then loaded into Leo's van.

The AAA assured us we HAD to use the official tow truck company (bikebulance) otherwise it was illegal and we would not be able to get through customs. This was negligent as we had no clue were to start for a similar service for cheaper.

Doing it again Im sure you could save money finding a guy with a truck privately. But you would need your own straps and also need a loading ramp. That's the beauty of the bikebulance as its specifically set up for this. We fit our two BM airheads in the back of his van. Our bikes are reasonable narrow including panniers. Two 1200GS Adventures with panniers may not fit without removing panniers from one bike.

Summarised version to get into Malaysia from Singapore

-Dont goto AAA.

-Grab some Malaysian Ringgit for the toll booth, first and last time though. As all other Malay tolls are free for bikes.

-Wait for call from terminal 6 (if you used Qantas freight from Aus) to let you know bikes have arrived (they called the hotel number we gave when we originally shipped from AUS). The qantas freight online tracking showed nothing happening and we slept in as we thought the bikes had not left on the day we were told/asked.

-Call Leo @ bikebulance on above number (or contact through Facebook)

-Get him to pick you up from hotel, take to bikes at SATS centre, Terminal 6 at the airport.

-Give the freight people the airway bill and complete their paperwork to release bikes

-Unwrap/tie bikes and load them with your gear before putting bikes in Van.

-Leo will take you through to get carnet stamped to leave airport (near where you will have to sign in and surrender passports for an ID card).

-Leo take you and Van/bikes to exit point customs for singapore, including translating and handling your carnet

-You will be dropped off on the top of the bridge (be careful with traffic!)

Ride through to Malaysian customs. You must use truck lanes on left for Carnet/temp import, not motorcycle lane.

-Go through weigh bridge, tell them you have ATA carnet and need it stamped, this will allow you to ride Malaysia for free effectively. We didn't buy any insurance and had no issues with this.

-Get your passport stamped!

-Get carnet completed. We had to walk them through this. Double check it.

-Go through bike lane at toll booth (on the left) and make sure you take the last booth (it takes malaysian ringgit, get some before you leave Singapore) all the rest of the booths are electronic pass and you will get stuck.

-Enjoy Malaysia!

ps. if we could do it again we would ship to Bangkok and then ride down to Malaysia.