Cheapest way to get a bike to Europe for touring
 

Hey guys! I've gone thru the first several forum pages and MOST of the info I can find on the internet of direct references of people shipping bikes to Europe are either older (late 90's to mid 00's) or air freight.

I got a quote for roll on / roll off at $950 via shipping freight and it's still more than I want to pay. I mean I just paid $800 for my 00 Shadow so . . .

I want to go from Houston to anywhere in Europe then I'll drive to Montenegro. I've been putting in Rhotterdam after finding it was the busiest port.

Anyway. My questions are

1.) Does anyone have an recent shipment quotes / contacts for US to Europe in the $500 range?

2.) Is there anywhere that co-oridante sharing a shipping container from USA to Europe. I'm seeing prices for $2K - $4k for a full container that could do a dozen bikes in easy. I'll drive my to anywhere in the US.

3.) I got a quote from International Shipping Online, Ocean freight & Air Freight | iContainers based on me building a box & calculating the volume / weight in a shared container for $300 from Houston to Rhotterdam. Any idea of if it's going to be an issue to have a motorcycle? Price included picking the box up in port, unloading it and clearing it thru customers.

I figure I can just tear my box apart in the parking lot as soon as it's cleared thru customs, make a little fire to burn it all and then be on my way.

Think I have a pretty good handle on the paperwork but what customs is going to require to clear the bike is a little fuzzy - only reference I can find is just insurance & title.

Any other pointers? I'll have $1,200 sunk into my recently purchased Shadow as soon as I replace the brakes, clean the carbs, change the oil & put new tires on it. I'm trying to get to Montenegro as cheap as possible. With my own wheels.

Briefly:

Talk to Stefan Knopf about his container shipping services. It'll cost more than $500, but that's life.

Talk to Air Canada, too.

Expect port/customs charges to add up no matter where or how you ship your bike.

Expect storage charges to REALLY add up unless you're alert, flexible and already in the neighborhood.

Once you've accomplished whatever it is that you end up accomplishing, post here to help others who follow.

Finally: if your planning has progressed only to the stage of thinking you're going to burn your shipping box in a parking lot in Rotterdam, you've got a ways to go.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

buy or rent one there.