Hi All,

I'm currently weighing up the costs of transporting a 250cc motorcycle from Australia to South Africa, and trying to decide whether air or sea is best.

I'm tempted to try air freight, as I'm not keen to wait weeks for the bike to materialise at my destination - but worried it might be a lot more expensive. Does anyone know any good air freight companies that would safely transport a motorcycle from Australia to South Africa? I'm in Melbourne, but could get the bike to another location if need be (eg Perth/Sydney). Similarly, at the South Africa end, I'm open to Cape Town, Johannesburg or Durban if it helps logistically or costs-wise. Any indication of costs and timeframe would also be much appreciated!

Alternatively, if anyone's used a good and/or cheap shipping option from Aus to SA, I'd love to hear about that too!

Thanks, guys.
Jeanie

Jeanie,
We are flying 3 F800gs & 1 XT250 to Egypt with Qantas from Brisbane, Cost for the lot is $4800 (900kg) plus about $400 in charges. Who knows what it will cost to get them from customs in Egypt. When are you going over, why don't you buy one there they are quite cheap and you would save on bucks !
We will be in Capetown around Aug next year, my wife is talking of selling her bike there as we are going onto Sth America and she also has a F650gs that she wants to ride over there. However I think she just may keep the XT250 as she is only 5'2 and weighs only 48kg. Riding it down from Cairo she may be just hooked on it.
I would fly your bike rather than shipping just my opinion.
Thanks
Paul

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....rather Die Living.....than Live Dying !
www.globetrekkers.net.au

Hi Paul, thanks for your speedy reply!

Yeah, transporting bikes from Oz to SA seems to be an expensive business whichever way you do it!

I just rang FreightCare - they quoted around AUD $1,800 to transport a 250cc bike from Melbourne to Joburg by ship, PLUS customs and wharf charges (indeterminate, so who knows how much extra that really is?), or about $3,200 to do it air freight. Shipping would take 5 weeks and the bike would have to be crated.

You're the second person today who says I should maybe buy in South Africa (!). So I'm already starting to wonder if that really would be a cheaper/better plan. The attraction of buying at home is that I could then spend the coming weeks/months kitting it out at evenings and weekends (I work fulltime) and get used to riding it loaded up with gear before tackling the wilds of Africa. But money is a real issue (isn't it always?), so I'd happily truncate that prep process if it meant I could get out on the road in Africa cheaply AND quickly!

Just not sure at the moment...:confused1:

Jeanie

Hi Jeanie

If you want to buy a bike here, look at the following site.

Wild Dog Adventure Riding - Index

It's an excellent site, with good members. I'm sure someone will be able to help you on there. There is a 'for sale' section, and you'll get a good idea of current prices.

Cheers

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www.seeyouwhenwegetthere.com

Jeanie,

If you decide to Fly it, don't go near forwarding agents, we were quoted uo to $7000 for ours. All you have to do is get a dangerous goods cert. leave a 1/4 tank of fuel, then take it to Qantas and they even put it on a pallet rack for you. Should cost about $7-$8 a kilo for a sml bike. Plus fuel surcharge of about $1 and a couple of other charges. You will get out of it this end I would think around $1500. Qantas try to tell you to go thru an agent but don't you will save plenty. Send me an email and I will get a price for you off the Qantas bloke who is doing ours as he is really helpfull.
We are shipping ours for the same reason you are we set them up and did some trips to get used to them, as it will be many years before they return to OZ if ever.

Cheers
Paul

__________________
....rather Die Living.....than Live Dying !
www.globetrekkers.net.au

There is a myth on this site, I think, about sea freight prices. So, just to sum up:
air freight:
- easier
- less charges
- what you pay is what you get: very little extra charges.
I've only done two shipments so far, but got great advices here and there. Both of them were by sea. And I discovered that: As long as you pay the destination charges before hand, and that you don't send your bike to a dodgy port, there is no worry to have. Port klang, Malaysia, to Vancouver, Canada = 750 euros by sea, for a 6 cubic meters crate (it's a side car). All included. Freight itself is around 75$ by cubic meter. The rest of the price is everything related to port handling, storage, fumigation, and all that sort of things. I can get you all the details if you want.
So, if you're curious how things work, if you have a bit of energy, and costs are a concern, you can ship by sea. You can MP me if you want details, no problem. If money is not your concern, don't bother. Plane is an option.

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Paul,

Sounds like you don't have to crate them with Qantas. Are the bikes just secured to a pallet?
$1500 is a real good price for Europe, can you give me some details so i can get a price to Singapore or KL.

heya there Paul just wondering if i can get the details off those people you dealt with at Qantas cause i want to ship my KTM over to India early in the year , much appreciated
cheers
Pat

Hi Jeanie

i am a customs broker who works for a freight forwarder in Melbourne and have a bike myself

I would suggest you minimise the size of the crate (and thereby reduce the freight/port charges) by taking the front wheel off the bike

I may also be able to provide you with a crate at our depot

Happy to give you a quote (with air & sea comparison) if you like once i work out if you are prepared to take the front wheel off and whether you are prepared to take the time to reassemble at the destination

Please feel free to contact me on 0433 070 059 or on my private email address ismoljko@y7mail.com

Cheers
Ivan

Hey Jeannie,

It is funny but I am too in the process of getting quotes for sending a bike from Australia to South Africa for my tour in August. Living in Sydney I found that shipping a bike from Perth is a lot cheaper so I will do that and add another 4000km of great touring to the trip.
Shipping by air might be better for your finances if it means you can work during the time you would otherwise be sitting around somewhere, waiting for the bike to arrive. Airfreight from Australia seems to only go to Johannesburg though.
I contacted pretty much every single airline flying from Perth to South Africa with max. one in-between stop and none of them accepted the bike any other way than by a cargo forwarder, not a single airline would do it! Even Qantas said, they can't do it directly.

I narrowed down the options to two small cargo forwarding companies, qouting about AU$3500 for air freight sending my DR650 to Africa. Once I've got a more detailed quote I can let you know. I have not decided yet because of two open points: the need for crating and the option to leave panniers and equipment on the bike which both cargo forwarders are about to investigate right at the moment.

Which time around will you start in South Africa?

Cheers,

Marco

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no risk - no fun

Hi Marco....

$3500 .... at that price I'll be buying my DR in South Africa.... (not my preferred option.... I really would like to ride over to Perth and fly me and the bike from there).

$3500???

Flying by Qantas is the way to go!

Go directly (in person) to the cargo desk at the airport from which you intend travelling a few days (2-3) before you leave, and speak with them, trying to sound as if you know what you are doing. Bluff works. It helps to already have a Dangerous Goods Certificate (available close by at most airports through DGM company). Do NOT phone Qantas, as the little desk jockeys will tell you to get an agent. This is incorrect.

Bikes are placed on a pallet and put into the aluminium containers then into the belly of the plane. All loading and strapping down is done by Qantas, using their tiedowns etc etc. Have less than a quarter tank of fuel (less is better) and the battery leads must be disconnected and taped. THAT IS ALL! All of your camping gear etc goes on the bike. My riding clothes (less helmet) go into a bag strapped over the seat, leaving almost nothing as carryon luggage.

I have now flown my bikes 5 times - 2 BMWs x BNE to LAX; 2 BMWs x LAX to BNE; and one WeeStrom from SYD to Frankfurt. It is really SOOOOO easy!! No dramas anywhere. Even in Frankfurt, where I spoke no German at all, it took only about an hour, most of which was spent waiting in queues or wandering off to get a coffee while waiting.

When the current leg ends in South Africa late September, I'll fly the bike home from JoBurg to SYD, a direct flight - with Qantas.

PM me if you need further info.

__________________
Margaret
"twenty grand and twenty miles don't make you a biker"
www.ridingtoextremes.com

Thanks Margaret .

BTW - I followed your South America trip with interest.....