Anyone got any recent experience of bringing a bike to the UK from the USA for a short (couple of months) trip? More specifically:

1. Transport and shipping from the East Coast to UK (anywhere in the south)

2. Insuring the bike - which will be on US (NJ) plates - with a UK insurance company.

We're looking to do a two bike trip in August starting in the London area and riding down through France / Spain / Morocco. One bike (mine) will be on UK plates (as am I) so there shouldn't be a problem. The second bike and rider will be coming from the US. His options seem to be:

1. Bring it in on US plates and try to find an insurance company here (or presumable while EU rules still apply, in another EU country) that will cover him. This is vehicle insurance we're looking at, not travel or any other kind which he has sorted.

2. Import the bike (cheap as it's an old one), put it on UK plates in my name and have him added to my insurance policy.

3. Don't bring any bike over and use one of my other ones. That still leaves the insurance issue of US rider on UK bike.

Any suggestions as to helpful companies (almost a contradiction on terms )
or where to start. I've had a look through the archives here and via Uncle Google but nothing beats personal experience.