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How clean does bike need to be for Australia? How clean does bike need to be for Australia?
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  #1  
Old 30 Dec 2009
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How clean does bike need to be for Australia?
Hi, we will be shipping our bike to Australia, probably from East Timor in the next couple of months. I'll clean it until its shining but the rubber gators at both ends of the drive shaft have developed pretty big holes. I don't carry any as spares. I've taped it up and that's good for keeping out the dust, but I know that if you were to poke around you'd soon notice the inside of the swinging arm is filthy. Do they expect me to take it off and clean it out / renew gators etc. Are they likely to go sticking their fingers in holes to try and find dirt?

If people think they will then its a job worth doing as I really don't want any expensive troubles over there but its not something I want to be messing with if I can possibly get away with it.

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Old 30 Dec 2009
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If it looks like it had dirt on it or in it, Aussie customs will clean it for you at cost. I have headr of people having to remove air filters. If you can clean it please do so, our quarantine is there for a reason, to stop bugs and stuff from entering the country.

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Old 30 Dec 2009
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i know its not a bike, but we shipped some equipment over last year and Aquis ended up rejecting it because of dirt in the cracks of the tyres, they made us replace over 120 tyres !!!!!!!!!! they found dirt in places even the manufatures didnt know about, and believe me they are very good at their jobs, dare say a bike will be treat differently but after my experiences i wouldnt risk it
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Old 30 Dec 2009
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I believe any clearly visible dirt will subject the bike to more extensive cleaning at shipper´s cost. The advice on AQIS website is ´clean as new´.

We washed our bike for several evenings in Indonesia before sending to Perth, taking off all fairings, fenders, fuel tank, etc., and I actually renewed the air filter at the same time, making sure it wont give us trouble.

Actually I think we got lucky, because the inspector at Perth airport seemed to be in a kind of hurry, and so checked the shipment, while it was still inside the crate, lifted up by a forklift... but we got a notice about the tyres, that had just a very very minimal amount of sawdust, which must´ve attached to them, as I pushed the bike about 5 meters from where we washed it for the final time, to where it was put in the crate! But he still let it go without more cleaning.

So yeah, it seems quite thorough, and I believe usually they are in no hurry. So I´d get rid of every trace of any visible dirt no matter what, and also clean everything from the inside, that you´re able to clean without major overhauls.
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Old 30 Dec 2009
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I've broght in 4 vehicles to Australia over the past 30+ years, 2 absolutely filthy bikes and 2 so-so cars.

I have never had a problem passing quarantine inspection - I don't even think they looked, and my most recent import was 14 months back.
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Old 30 Dec 2009
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Ain´t it fun, when all advice points so clearly to one single direction...

Seriously though, may be there is no 1 answer, how strict they will be. Could depend on where you are, who´s doing the inspection, what mood does he/she happen to be in... maybe even where your coming from.
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Old 30 Dec 2009
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Hello!

I've taken my bike in to Australia twice, and they were very strickt, had to pay 120 aud to wasch off a teaspoon of dirt! I think it is strickter if your non ozzy! New Zealand is even worse!

Tom
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Old 31 Dec 2009
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O.K thanks. It looks like we'll spend a few enjoyable evenings dismantling and cleaning the bike in East Timor then. I'll get some spare gators sent and replace with new at the same time.

This is of course if I ever get the visa. Just applied online and as we have spent over three months in India I need to get a chest X-ray to check for TB. This is to be done at my expense in Indonesia. Never considered the Australian visa might be the hardest to come by!
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  #9  
Old 3 Jan 2010
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gators
ping me back if I can help obtain the gators.

james
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