TCAT Advice anyone..?? East to West
 

I'm planning well in advance here so its broad advice I'm after here. Iv'e scrolled back 10 pages on this N/A thread but nothing mentioned. Anyone done the whole shaboodle East to west..?? Iv'e very briefly touched base with the guy who started Gravel Travel and he has offered advise when ever called which is great for finer detail but..... My initial query has to be where to ship the bike too from the UK..?? I'd like to get as far East as possible without retracing the steps I would take to get there...!!
The bike and travel gear is more than adequate and fully sorted, it's the timing aspect and the Do's & Dont's from previous conquest's that I would like to here from especially any 'Bear' Stories...!!


Mez and Sue

Hi Mez,

I laid out the last 900 or so km to the Western end of the trail on Vancouver island so am a bit far from the eastern end.. I would say that St John Newfoundland would probably be the farthest east that has a major airport.. You could try messaging skibum 69 on adventure rider as he laid out the eastern end of the trail and is classy character who is always willing to help out and give advice... Some fellows from New Zealand were the first to run the trail, but stopped short in Vancouver a short while after a couple Brits rode the thing from start to finish so they were officially the first to complete it...

Hello Mr Hopper,
Thanks for that, i will follow up on that connection you mentioned & log you as a 'Route Planner' & tap into your knowledge at a later date ok..!!
This is a good start, thankyou

Actually probably Gander would be the airport to research as they handle a lot of international air traffic and are one of the farthest east...

BC will be a real treat for you ,feel free to pm me if you have any queries...

Top Man thanks & thankyou HU..!!


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Hi,

I am planing to ride the TCAT this summer and will ship my bike with Wallenius Wilhelmsen from Bremerhafen to Halifax:

http://www.2wglobal.com/globalassets...-route-map.gif

That is not the eastern edge, but not that far away.

Martin

Yeah Id think Halifax would be the best place to ship.....

What motorcycles did you pick for this task?

Hi Maddin, thanks for posting. I'm building a very bespoke bmw k75gs. I'll post a photo when on my laptop next.
Mez


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TCAT bmw k75gs
 

Here you go......

I will take my XT660Z Tenere from 2008.
Martin

Well, Halifax is still 1.500km away from St. Johns.
Montreal 2.500km....

I am worrying how to get the bike to St. Johns...

Did anybody think of buying a motorcycle in St. Johns? That would make things much easier.

Cheers,
Wauschi.

If you are from the UK speak to James Cargo, I have used them for shipping to North America and although some they may be a bit expensive they make it mega easy, no need to make up crates etc.

I am planning a trip around Canadian Maritimes in 2016 and am thinking of shipping to Halifax. Beware with shipping by sea due to the high costs of getting the bike out of customs/port. It can make air freight look a good deal.

Tcat
 

Hey guys,

Planning to ride a big part of the TCAT next year. I was wondering or anyone is interested to ride together. I would get to Canada beginning of May.
Didn't find any shipment yet! :-/

Have Fun and enjoy the ride!
Bossit. :-)

In Canada, 1500 kms is just a short trip up the road, we ride/drive that far to go fishing for a weekend :)


Bossit, which direction are you riding?

I had to change plans, due to my wife´s concerns:(
So I´ll be in BC in May, instead of russia an then Mongolia (which I´ll visit on my way home:cool4:)
So maybe we could share the road!

Some BC sections of the TCAT through the passes may be still snowed in for May, especially with the way winter is going out west this year...

I took this picture just over a month back in mid November, and now there is over 7' of snow where the bike is parked...
http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogall...0/IMG_4954.JPG

Hi Gipper,

I'll ship somewhere to the East and head West on the bike!
Don't know exactly which Port i can ship to as i didn't find a shipping agent yet.

What you're up to?

Have Fun!
Bossit.

So let´s skip the start to mid June! For me that´s not a problem.
I´ll be in Spain and Morocco from Easter to ....whatever suits best. And then ship from Madrid to toronto. Which would be my starting point. I don´t care if I did the complete TCAT...
For shipping:
I just phoned to Air Canada the other day, the nice lady told me, that it´s almost certain that there will be a "fly your bike" program in 2016.
The new flight plan will be published around march/april. since it´s not official yet, she couldn´t commit herself to saying it´s certain...which means,there will be a program :thumbup1:

Hi,

As i'm thinking of shipping around 3th week of May, so could be possible to meet! :-)
I phoned to air Canada for a quote. But the price was too high for me, so looking around for seafreight.
Do you know where to get Canadian motorbike insurance? It seems hard to find! Or unbeleivable expensive!

Keep it safe!
Bossit. ;-)

Hi Bossit,

you can try a US insurance. Most of them will cover Canada too. Evtl. You might need a US address to get it, but you can ask here or on ADVRider for help.

I uses Motorcycleexpress for insurance (I'm from Germany) and it about ~330US for 6 month but full coverage for my Tenere.

Martin

Hi Maddin,

I'll have a look at that! Thank you! Will you be around there as well in summer? :-)
It seems quiet expensive for 6 month insurance, no? It must be espacially for Germans!! ;-)

Talk to you later!!

Bossit!! :-)

Hi,

it was not only liability. Theft, fire and such things too (fully comprehensive coverage).

Shure my german insurance is cheaper, but I think you won't find anything which is significant less, unless you only want liability.

My trip ended in December ;-) I spent 6 month in North-America.

Martin

For the shipping:
wait until the new flight schedules of Air Canada Cargo are published in Feb./Mar. !!!!!
There will be most likely a "fly your bike" program.
I´ll fly from Madrid to toronto, and stay there for 5. days. I´ll be heading up to Sudbury and start the trail.
I´ll land on 1st June 2016.
Maybe that´s an option to you!

For the insurance: For me too, Motoexperts is the best choice, I pay 455 U$ fpr 4 months, max. cover.(which is compared to Germany really low!)

P.S.: I´ll ride through the Ibericas and Marocco in April and May.
Someone around for a chat, a smoke and a drink? Maybe a ride?

Bossit:

$330 US for 6 months of insurance is so cheap it could be considered a GIFT!

By way of comparison:

1) It costs me CAD $2,800 (approximately €1,800 per year) to fully insure my Canadian plated ST 1300 here in Canada. I've been riding for 45 years with no accidents. There's snow on the ground here 5 months of the year, the insurance company knows that the bike will only get about 7 months of use each year.

2) When I need to insure my Canadian plated ST 1100 in Europe - with liability insurance only - it typically costs me between €80 and €100 a month to do so.

$330 for 6 month's liability insurance is, like I said, a gift. If you can get your bike insured for that price, grab it fast before whoever is selling it changes their mind. I almost wonder if Madden made a typing error and is in fact paying $330 a MONTH in order to obtain full coverage (liability, fire, theft, collision, etc.). That would sound more 'normal' to me.

Michael

nope, with fee and everthing exactly 367,75$ for 6 month !

Liability 250,000/500,000/100,000$ (per person/per incident/property)
Comprehesive and Collision (fire, theft, collision or vandalism) with 500$ deductible

+ roadside assistance

value of bike: 5,600$ (yours might be more expensive)

Martin

Hi Maddin:

Wow, that's a great deal. If someone was lucky, they might be able to get bare minimum liability only insurance for Europe for the same price.

Michael

I got the same liability. For a beemer ´89 built, worth 3000€ I got the offer of 455 € for 4 months.

I don´t understand the difference....

Hey guys,

Thanks for the info!

@Kurvenfieber: I have a quote already to ship airfreight with Air Canada, but too expensive in my opinion. :-)

@PanEuropean: If that's a normal insurance price, then it's like that. I was just wondering cause it's a lot more expensive than here. ;-)

@Maddin: I just asked a quote for insurance with Motorcycle express, i'll see what price they come up with!

Cheers! :thumbup1:
Bossit!

Hi Bossit,

Unfortunately i plan to start a little bit later in July.

Shipping plan;

From Zeeebrugge, Belgium to Halifax, Canada - July, 2010 ...
From Zeeebrugge, Belgium to Halifax, Canada - July, 2010 | Horizons Unlimited
They are very helpfull coincidentally when delivering the bike (zeebrugge Belgium) and receiving (halifax, Canada) both days were on National holidays ( yes ...

I'll fly Condor from Frankfurt to Halifax ( 399 EUR )

cheers

vic

Too bad you guys are starting out early. I'm just looking into maybe doing the eastern portion starting in July. It all depends where my summer vacations will land this year.
If you guys need a place to crash, I'm in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Ca.
Just PM me if you're in the area.

Hi

Just got a quote for Halifax. ( prices are going up ....... :-(
-------------------
Dear Vic,

We can ship your bike from zeebrugge to Halifax

Price €. 950,00

Including:
Oceanfreight
BL
Export document
Port Charges Zeebrugge

Excluding:
Insurance
Port charges in Halifax (aprox $200)

Schedule for June is not available yet but we have 3 to 4 vessels per month. Sailing transit is 8 to 10 days.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Best regards,


Hischam Mekhchane
B&B Expeditie BV
Tel: 0031 (0)20-4481180
Direct: 0031 (0)20-7052514

---------------------------------

Thinking about flying in on July 12th. Would be great to catch up with u somewhere. I'll keep u updated once I have the exact dates!

cheers

vic

Insurance
 

@ Madden,

Hi,
I asked motorcycle express for a quote on the bike insurance. They can only give me the liability and the roadside assistance.
As my bike (Honda xl600v Transalp) is not on the Nada list and not listed in the Glass's guide. So they don't have a value of the bike. Which means they can't give comprehensive and collission.
The bike is a '96 model.
Do you know how to get a value?
On the other hand i question or it's all neccessary?

Grtz, Bossit! :-)

Hi Vicreuter,

Let's see. Maybe we can meet somewhere.
Meanwhile i've got some good shipping quotes and also a very good priced ticket to Montréal. So i'll be shipping the bike to Montréal.

Hope to keep in touch and hear your plans!

Grtz,
Bossit. :-)
P.S.: Where you're from in Belgium? :-)

I could send him my bill for my bike (because I had bought it new couple of years ago) and I stated a value for it now, based on an offer for sale for a similar bike.

Martin

Insurance
 

Hi Maddin,

It could be an option. The point is that my bike is from '96 and yours is much younger so they wouldn't except it i guess.
Anyway i think i just go with the 3th party insurance and liability wich are both compulsery.

Thx! :-)

Hi Vicreuter,

I've got a ticket to Montréal on the 25th of May! So maybe it's possible to meet somewhere as i'll be riding more East towards Saint-John's to start the TCAT.
Keep me posted what you're up to!

Grtz,
Bossit! :-)

Hi

I'll let u know once I have the exact travel dates. ( and leave some SPOT breadcrumbs ...... )

p.s. living in Saint-Hubert :-)

vic

Bossit:

Jeepers, if the bike is 20 years old, it's kind of pointless to put comprehensive, collision & theft insurance on it.

It's highly unlikely that anyone will steal a 20 year old bike. As for collision & comprehensive, the general idea behind insurance (at least, as far as I understand it) is that we purchase insurance to protect ourselves against incurring losses or liabilities that we can't afford to pay out of our existing net worth. Given that a 20 year old bike is probably not worth more than a few thousand dollars at most, it strikes me as pointless to insure it for collision & theft.

I have two bikes, a 2001 ST 1100 and a 2012 ST 1300. Both are paid for. I don't insure either one against theft or collision, because I figure that the odds of either one getting stolen & the odds of me having an at-fault collision are pretty low, and if either of those events did take place, I could withstand the loss of either motorcycle. I wouldn't be happy about it, of course, but I could withstand the loss.

If I had, for example, a $50,000 car with a $45,000 bank loan on it, for sure I would insure the thing to the hilt, because if it got stolen or if I ran it into a tree, I would not want to be on the hook for the $45K still owing on it.

Hope this gives you a different perspective to consider.

Michael

@Vicreuter:

Keep me posted if you want. It would be fun to see you.
I'm living in the north, Moerbeke-waas.
Mais enfin, on doit parler francais ou ce n'est pas necessaire?

:-)

@PanEuropean/Michael:

I know what you mean! And i guess you're right. The only thing is that i rebuilded the bike and it's a lot more worth to me then it's on the market.
But than again you're right. Even if it would be possible to insure it, i won't get the money out of it which i spend to rebuild it in case of accident as it's still an old bike.

Thanks!

Greetings,
Bossit. :-)

Anything goes....... German...Dutch....French...... ;-)

@Vicreuter,

Have you got an email adress? maybe easier to stay in touch. :-)
So you come in by Toronto somewhere in June?
What bike are you riding?

Cheers!
Bossit. :-)

Hi,

Old man, big bike ( GS1200 ) bad combination........ :-)

Normally bike arrives RoRo July 4th in Halifax.

PM sent with e-mail @ tel

vic