Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Trip Transport
Tips on crating a motorcycle Tips on crating a motorcycle
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Trip Transport Shipping the vehicle and yourself.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 28 Oct 2001
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Here and there
Posts: 44
Tips on crating a motorcycle
Hi

Anyone tell me what the ins and outs are to crate a motorcycle for shipping by sea or air especially assuming you are in some far off place and need to make up your own crate somehow.

Thanks
__________________
Grant March
"Live as if your life depended on it!"
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 28 Oct 2001
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Innsbruck, Austria
Posts: 11

Dear Gmarch!!

On our trip we crated our bikes 3 (yes, three!!) times. What we discovered is, that wherever you want to ship your bike from, there will be someone who can build the crate for/ with you.
In Indonesia we got beautifully hand-crafted boxes made from some kind of mahagony wood, really too bad we had to leave the things behind in Singapore. I think it's going to be a lot easier if you use the help of the shipping company to build the crate. They'll have the right people, tools and materials. And if you'r not shipping out of Japan or western Europe it won't cost you an arm and a leg.
We left both wheels on the bikes and strapped them down to the (rigid!!) base grid. But you'll save some volume (=money) if you take the front wheel off, even much more if you take the bike apart even more. In Mongolia we met some Guys who had flown their BMs from Austria. They had taken both wheels and the fork off, total volume of the crate less than two qms.

Hope that's good for a start, please feel free to ask lots of questions.

Greetings, Patrick www.transasia.at


------------------
__________________
Check out the whole story on www.transasia.at
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 2 Jan 2002
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 2,134
I can send you a photo of a simple wooden pallet that I used as a base when I shipped my motorcycle by air from Canada to Europe this summer. It would not cost more than about US$ 20 to build such a pallet from dimensional lumber.

Generally, you don't have to 'crate' the motorcycle per se if you are shipping it by air. It just has to be affixed (by straps, tie-downs) to a pallet that can then be handled by a forklift. The airlines will put the motorcycle and pallet combination inside of an aluminum cargo container which they supply.

Regards, Michael
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 2 Jan 2002
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 2,134
About those photos of the pallet and crate - if you go to the link below, then scroll to the very bottom of the page, you will see 5 links that lead to pictures of my motorcycle on the pallet, the pallet itself, and the LD6 aircraft container.
http://www.micapeak.com/~marcl/pages/shipbike.html
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 14:06.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top