Clean motorbike for Canadian customs
 

Hello
In a few weeks I will be shipping my motorcycle by airfreight from Korea to Canada and import it there temporarily. From other travelers, I heard some stories about heavy fees while importing in Canada because of little dust on the bike. As I understand the bike must be properly cleaned before crating - but to what standard? What are they looking at the customs?

It would be great if someone could tell from his experience or even point me to some official sites describing the matter. I already searched a lot, but couldn't find reliable information.

Thanks a lot
Janosch

Clean means free of dirt rather than shiny and polished, get it pressure washed and make sure you do all of the out of the way places, remove the bash plate, side panels and clean underneath them as well as under the mudguards. It won't hurt to give it a polish at the same time, the more it looks like you have made an effort the better.

Air cleaner too. Check the air inlet track too.

Any seeds will attract attention. Seeds can hid in dirt - but only larger bits of dirt.

Is this just "foreign" seeds they're concerned about? Nobody was bothered at all about this stuff when I rode my US plated bike into Canada a couple of weeks ago.

The airport customs people - everywhere in the world - are more concerned about importation of agricultural pests than land border crossing people.

That makes sense: If you are crossing by road from the USA into Canada, there's nothing to stop an insect from flying into Canada 10 feet above the same road you are riding on. But, if you are flying in from another continent, the possibility exists that you might be unintentionally bringing with you insect eggs, insect larvae, or soil fungus that is not native to your destination continent.

Based on my experience flying my (Canadian-plated) moto back to Canada from Europe several times in the past, I suggest you do a super-good job cleaning it at a coin-operated power wash. Make sure that there is not a single bug-splat anywhere on the front of the bike (including the forks, behind the front wheel, etc.), and make sure that the underside of the fenders are completely clean and free of any soil residue.

Personally, I don't think you have to go so far as to change the air filter, unless you are flying into Australia, which is a whole order of magnitude more challenging than flying a bike into Canada.

Michael

Janosch:

I have sent you a Private Message - I am in Kloten, CH at the moment, give me a phone call (number is in the private message) and I will explain the whole process to you on the phone.

Michael

Thank you everyone for this helpful information. Now I think I understand how the bike should be cleaned and what they are looking for :-) It seems that including my stuff I will put in the panniers (camping/moto stuff), I will spend a whole day cleaning...

Best
Janosch