Hello Everyone, first post on Horizons Unlimited

I'd Like to ask some advice on shipping a bike to the US:


So my brother is getting married in San Diego the 29th of April and it seemed like the perfect excuse to finally ship my bike over to the US and spend multiple months exploring the BDR routes and maybe or should I say hopefully explore South America!

My bike is a Tenere 700 and I would like to ship it from Italy or somewhere in Europe I guess to LA or somewhere in the US...

I can miss the bike time in advance for the shipping without a problem as its not currently my favourite riding season for the adventure bike and I prefer dedicating time to enduro riding and training and races...

The plan is to ride in and out of the US so not a permanent imported bike but just for overlanding purposes.


Thank you in advance

Hugo

PS seems like quite a laborious process from what I've read around here but I think it should be worth it, cruising with my own bike...

the other option would be to buy something cheap and try to sell after? (not as fun to ride maybe?)

third option which I'm considering the least is selling mine and buying something proper in the states, but seems like this would be a loss because stuff like custom suspension setups etc

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Have you considered local ride-sharing services? I know for a fact there is a dirt-ready T7 in Phoenix that's already here and kitted for BDR routes.

https://www.riders-share.com/listing/EwPKk4No6gGj9JL8i

I'm not affiliated with this renter but I know for a fact they're allowing BDR style offroading.

The amount it will cost you to send both ways will be more than its worth, not to mention the stress, delays and time taken. I would sell yours and buy something there. So easy.

Hi Hugo:

Welcome to the HUBB community.

I've shipped my motorcycles (Honda ST 1100, ST 1300) back and forth between Canada and Europe numerous times. Based on my experience, I don't think the economics make sense for you to ship your Tenere to Los Angeles.

Air freight charges for a motorcycle roughly correspond to the price of a full-fare economy passenger ticket on the same route. But shipping in and out of the USA introduces headaches that don't exist when shipping Canada-Europe. The Americans are scared of everything, and the difficulties you would have to go through at the American airports would be burdensome.

Given that you have a brother in the USA, and hence the ability to have someone register and plate a moto you purchase in the USA in their name, it would probably be a lot less expensive - and certainly a lot more trouble-free - to just buy a bike in the USA and have your brother register and plate it there. You could then have him make up a notarized document giving you permission to ride it if you head south out of the USA.

If you want to explore shipping further, call the folks at Mototouring in Milan (https://mototouring.com/) - chances are they have some knowledge about Italy - North America shipping.

Michael