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24 Jan 2013
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Motorcycle on narrow body aircraft?
tHi,
I've read contradictory advice about whether an adv bike can be freighted on a narrow body aircraft. If somebody could put their hand up and say "yeh, did that", it would settle the matter once and for all. Specifically I'm interested in 737 for this trip, but happy to hear about experiences with any other narrow body that's currently in service..
thank you
Last edited by ColinD; 24 Jan 2013 at 03:58.
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24 Jan 2013
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[QUOTE=ColinD;408947]tHi,
Specifically I'm interested in 737 for this trip, but happy to hear about experiences with any other narrow body that's currently in service../QUOTE]
Worked in aviation for decades and never saw a bike on a on a 737 IMHO you wont get a bike on anything smaller than a 767 as they have pallet loading systems where 737's dont.
Good luck.
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24 Jan 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drwnite
Worked in aviation for decades and never saw a bike on a on a 737 IMHO you wont get a bike on anything smaller than a 767 as they have pallet loading systems where 737's dont.
Good luck.
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What an excellent answer! Exactly what I wanted. Thank you!
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24 Jan 2013
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I sent a DL650 by air from Bali to Perth with Quantas 5 years ago, but the bike could not fly on the direct route, because the loading doors on the narrow-body plane were too small. Or that´s what my freight agent told me, I didn´t have the chance to check them myself. So, the bike flew Bali-Melbourne-Perth, and its flight time went from 3 hours to about 9-10 hours. You can imagine, what that did to the costs....!
But Quantas´ service was still better than Garuda Indonesia´s – they said that my 220-kilo bike has to be put into boxes of max 50 kilos each... getting it back together ever again could have turned out a bit of a problem... 
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24 Jan 2013
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Yeh Bali is my planned destination, but from Sydney. I think Jetstar flies 767 on that route. Not sure about Virgin - maybe 737.
Can easily sea freight to Sarabaya, but no flights there from Australia. Not keen on internal Indo flights at all.
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24 Jan 2013
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G'day Col,
You could do worse than ride up here (Darwin) then ship the bike to Dili for about $500, always a spare bed and freezing cold  in the fridge !
Cheers Dave
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24 Jan 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drwnite
G'day Col,
You could do worse than ride up here (Darwin) then ship the bike to Dili for about $500, always a spare bed and freezing cold in the fridge !
Cheers Dave |
Dave,
Offer noted and "locked in"! I really want to do that trip one of these days.
The part that kills it is 7 days Darwin to Dili, when you take into account all the overheads imposed by Perkins. They've told me the bike has to be there 2 days before sailing, then 3 days of sailing, then I can get the bike 2 days after sailing. Only got a month so can't give up 7 days of it 
So I'm back to sending the bike on a trip by itself, to wait for me. Bali is just a side-trip (hopefully), Borneo is the main event.
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24 Jan 2013
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G'day Col,
The question begs, why fly your bike when you can hire so cheaply in Asia? I'd understand if you were going for 6 months ......... Last year I hired an almost new honda 200 in Bali for $6 a day, save yourself a bucket load mate!
Cheers Dave
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24 Jan 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drwnite
G'day Col,
The question begs, why fly your bike when you can hire so cheaply in Asia? I'd understand if you were going for 6 months ......... Last year I hired an almost new honda 200 in Bali for $6 a day, save yourself a bucket load mate!
Cheers Dave
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Dave, fair question. As far as I know Bali is the only place in Indo you can hire a bike. I will be in Bali for only a few days on the way to Kalimantan, then Sabah. I doubt if the Bali hire guys would be keen on me taking the bike to another country. The hire guys in Sabah are OK with it so long as I give them a deposit for full value of the bike. However, I would not like to base my plans around trying to get through a back-water Indo customs office on a rented bike. It would likely take weeks, if it can be done at all.
From a logistical point of view, I'll be travelling two-up. Add luggage, tools, spares etc into the equation and a small bike doesn't work.
Container is by far the most enconomical way if there's three or more bikes but I couldn't get any travel buddies for this trip. Hence weighing up the other options.
Colin
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25 Jan 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ColinD
I've read contradictory advice about whether an adv bike can be freighted on a narrow body aircraft. If somebody could put their hand up and say "yeh, did that", it would settle the matter once and for all. Specifically I'm interested in 737 for this trip, but happy to hear about experiences with any other narrow body that's currently in service..
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Hello
I would say you have to contact the airlines directly.
Just because the bike might fit in the plane doesn't mean they will do it.
Also if somewone did a transport a week ago it's not sure you get it as well.
I had offers for airfreight for $7000 due to dangerous goods,while some airlines charged the actuel size other charged the space above the bike as well. Some need a crate , some put the bike in a corner between the other luggage. Nothing is certain in airfreight.
I also wanted to go to Indonesia as well ( http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...rth-asia-65944),but decided not to risk the hassle with Indonesian bureaucracie.
I met some biker who did Darwin-Dilli and on the other side the Onion-Boat to Malaysia. These are the easiest ways to enter Indonesia.
There was a break in the service of the Onion-Boat but as of today it runs again (only the word on the road).
sushi
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25 Jan 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sushi2831
Hello
I would say you have to contact the airlines directly.
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Hi Sushi,
Sure I'm not making any assumptions about who would carry my bike or how much it would cost. But if I know which airlines fly narrow body to my destination, I can avoid wasting time on them.
Unfortunately north and south entry to Indo aren't an option for me as it will not leave enough time in one month to do my intended journey of a circuit around Borneo. North entry could probably be done, in a great rush. South entry ... no chance. From Sydney to Dili would be two weeks, then maybe another 10 days riding to Surabaya.
I am undecided yet about airfreight or sea freight. If I go by sea I have good agent there who can take care of the "issues" with customs. The main disadvantage is that it has to arrive at Surabaya, which is inconvenient (also a horrible city in my opinion!). I prefer to avoid internal Indo connecting flights.
cheers
Colin
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25 Jan 2013
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I met a guy who lived in Bali, and was bringing his bike there from Europe. Sure enough it was firmly stuck at Surabaya seaport! But maybe this was more of a permanent import, that he was trying to do. Also met a German biker, who was having his bike stuck for weeks at Jakarta airport, with carnet and all, and he said customs demands from him an approval letter from the United Nations!! He certainly was only planning to visit Indo.
I would not count on clearing customs there very quickly, unless you go Belawan or land border from East Timor.
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25 Jan 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pecha72
I would not count on clearing customs there very quickly, unless you go Belawan or land border from East Timor.
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Yes Indo is an "interesting" place when it comes to getting bikes through. I knew a guy who moved to Bali from Australia, lived there for a few years, then moved back to Australia. In all that time he was not able to import his antique motorcycle. I guess he got it back when he returned to Australia.
If I ship to Sub, I will use a shipping agent there who says he can sort it out. In fact he says I must go there if I want to be certain of getting in without drama. I would not even attempt to do it myself
I got over the border at Nunukan (first port south of Sabah) in three days. The customs manager said I am supposed to have an invitation from an Indo motorcycling club. I hope to have that one covered for the next trip. As to getting a letter from the UN, that could be quite difficult.
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25 Jan 2013
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Just a thought
Col,
Have a think about giving your negotiation and search skills a burl. Even if it costs a small bribe here and there, you will save a small fortune and quite a few head aches more importantly time!
2 up on a 200, yep a little cramped but still good fun and you dont need to carry much at all, thats the beauty of Asia. You will find mechanics, clothes, food and good accommodation everywhere, better still it's all cheap as chips and and about 1 10th of the hastle!
A word of caution:
Offer half of the bike value (do your homework) as a deposit and not much more, heard about scams where your bike gets pinched by the vendors mate, a nice little double whamy!
Just food for thought mate,
Cheers Dave
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25 Jan 2013
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Don't Girag and Copa use 737s on the Panama-Bogota route? Lots of bikers, me included, have used them with no problems often flying on the same a/c. Ride safe.
__________________
Mike
---------
Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky
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