Hi there,
It's my first post here and I was hoping that the community could help me. I need to ship my bike from Toronto to Moscow. Was considering shipment by sea first, but now it looks like shipping by air has its advantages. Right now I'm just sitting on the phone and trying to figure out what airlines can arrange the shipping. Looking for any sort of advice/brokers/useful info

Thanks,
Serge

I'd try Air Canada, Aeroflot and Turkish Airways. I was actually very very pleased with Turkish Airways the last couple of times I used them, although never for cargo purposes. I have no doubt about their capacity on that front.

We've used Air Canada Cargo in the past with good success. Last time we contacted them though they said to go through a freight forwarder so it might depend on who you contact at AC.

We're shipping our bikes to Moscow as well but a slightly less direct route. We've flown the bikes with Motorcycle Express from Calgary to Frankfurt and now we'll just ride to Moscow.

__________________
Ekke Kok

'84 R100RT 141,000 km (Dad's!)
'89 R100GS 250,000 km (and ready for another continent)
'07 R1200GS Adventure 100,000 km (just finished Circumnavigating Asia)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

www.ekke-audrey.ca

thanks for your replies guys, keep them coming!

I contacted several brokers today and got my first quote from Fast Freight Forwarding:

1) $2800 + airport fees by air
2) $1800 + seaport fees by sea via Rotterdam

Kinda pricey if you ask me. I'll contact air carriers directly tomorrow

Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo: Schedule & Routings, offers airfreight service Toronto-Moscow (via Frankfurt or Dusseldorf). Lufthansa Cargo is known for "expertise"/ experience in airfreighting bikes.

Not all carriers allow customers to book directly; some require booking
through brokers, depending on local gateway rules & market conditions.

Above broker dollar quote is not out of line at all; although it's understandably
"pricey" if you haven't done a lot of overseas shipping.

As important as pricing that fits your budget, you MUST learn in advance Russian Customs rules, procedures, + costs for vehicle entry/ clearance into the country via air or seaport (vs. crossing land borders). There's very little experience reported here--on HUBB--of non-RU vehicle owners air or seafreighting vehicles into Russia; and RU has a general reputation for arcane/ byzantine procedures. You could be horribly surprised--or not--on arrival.

If you do this scenario, get as much info as possible in advance about the
"official" RU rules, and the actual practice on the ground for importing non-RU vehicles thru sea or airport. For example, do not rely on local Toronto broker info; get in contact--by tel, in addition to email--with local Moscow office of
whichever carrier or agent you might use.

Assuming you intend to ride this bike yourself in Russia, your personal visa
status and timing must also "fit" with whatever RU Customs vehicle import permits allow/ require.

good luck

This is excellent advice and could prevent some real problems.