Shipping a bike both directions for a couple of months is going to be marginal no matter where, when or how. If you really like your own bike it might be worthwhile, but there's no way around the expense. In my rule-of-thumb-prone mind, three months riding is the minimum--otherwise, buy or rent locally, or think about the possibility of shipping into a country, then selling the bike at the end of your trip (although this presents a whole new set of potential issues).

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Thanks Mark. I am going to airfreight a bike both ways. I have looked at rental, and there's a couple of reasons why I don't want to rent. Firstly, I can only find KLR's and BMW's for rent, and would prefer a smaller bike. Secondly, I can buy a Royal Enfield Himalayan second hand, and ship it there and back for almost the same price as a rental, but, of course, I then still have a bike when I get home. Original plan was a CCM GP450, but the Himalayan is cheaper, can be welded easily if it breaks, and I really liked the one I took for a test ride. So that's now looking like the plan, to airfreight to Buenos Aires and back. The quotes I have had for sea freight, when you factor in local agents charges, seem much higher. Also, with airfreight, I can pick up the bike the same day I fly in.

I have a deal where I still get half pay from my company for the two months, so it's not as big a financial hit as it could be. Plus it's the only way to get in a really nice long ride somewhere beautiful and remote, and still have a job to come back to. I can only get enough time off in UK winter. I also have the first half of March as leave, so it actually gives me 2 1/2 months for the trip. I am hoping to do a trip to the Stan's, Mongolia and the Road of Bones sometime in the next few years, so will also already have a bike when I get round to that

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Yup. Sounds like you've thought it through and made the best decision considering your preferences and tolerance of uncertainties. Just don't be too quick to discount the input you get here--many of us have direct experience doing the sorts of things you're planning, and if someone suggests something you've considered and discarded there might be an applicable reason...or not.

I would never consider sea freight on the beginning end of a trip, especially when time-limited. I often rent at destinations, but have shipped in and out of several places when having my own bike seemed worthwhile. But I've no interest in ever owning an RE (so far), particularly on an extended trip. Your mileage obviously varies.

Your trip is still a ways off, so I hope you'll let us know how your plans evolve and how it actually goes.

Mark