The quotes I got were air cargo... More research required.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Some airlines require the battery to be just disconnected not removed and leads insulated with tape, and you can leave some fuel in the tank just to get you going at the other end. The oil has to be drained though.

You seriously think starting in Alaska is equivalent to starting in Paramaribo? Naw, can't be true. You're impulsive, but not ignorant. Either you're joking or you're answering someone else.

You could ship to South America for 500 euros last I heard, which was two years ago. That's cheap--cheaper than 2007, in fact. Suriname is a bit out of the way, sure, but the whole area is fun and interesting and not overpopulated by riders who look just like you. It's not even terribly remote compared to lots of places. You want to go to South America, or you want to go someplace where they speak a different language but basically everything works much like it did back home? Your choice.

Or if you prefer, buy in the States and spend an extra month or more riding through Central America. That's also great fun, and it has the added advantage of making South American borders seem fast and efficient.

Or: If you're short on time and want to see the southern tier, pay the going price and ship to Chile. Buck up.

If your real goal is to spice up your morning coffee with some whining (or whinging, depending on personal preference and national origin), please carry on. Pay no attention to practical suggestions which address your original plaint, because the point is not to find solutions.

safe travels and fun times,

Mark

Mark, relax mate... Its just the internet..

Thing is.. I only have three months to spend in south America. I also have a budget of about £3000 for EVERYTHING inc return flights. I also have to meet some people in bsas, equador and Bogotá on set dates. So, I'm not as footloose and fancy free as I would hope..

So, buying a bike is just too expensive unless I can guarantee a sale of close to what I paid for it.. And it adds a lot of potential drama to an already tight schedule.

I have a lot to consider... I'm constantly flipping metaphorical coins. Trying to make the most out of hard earned money and trying to judge how best to use my time.

First world problems I know but problems all the same..

Thanks for the tip about Suriname.. I will definitely look into it. Any idea if the company ???

Next time I'll have cheese to go with my whine

Cheers, Ted

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I'm relaxed.

Easy search, although it's Amsterdam, not Rotterdam: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...suriname-71635 .

Dunno Ted, pretty cheap to cross the channel to the continent ... what? £50 or so? All those ports are within about a days ride (or so) from Le Harve. Rotterdam and Dutch ports have always been busy coming/going to S. America. I think I've heard of a Ro Ro that bases there? Not sure, maybe worth a look.

Landing in Brazil is a bit out of the way, Suriname would be OK if you wanted to see Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru. if you ride the big roads FAST you could be in Southern Argentina in 10 days or so.

But I totally get your situation and you ARE "up against it" regards your Time and Money constraints. Any way to steal a few extra weeks? Money? Sell off another bike?

Riding down from USA is a No Go IMO. You'd have to rush and that ain't no fun. A lot of your budget would have to go to buying a bike in USA.

You could buy a travelers bike down there somewhere ... then maybe leave it there for next time? Maybe better than being rushed, having to sell it off for nil?

Or ... ship your own bike over ...leave it for another trip with more time in a year or three? I've heard Uruguay is OK for storing bikes long term? Anyone have current info on leaving a bike and not screwing yourself by overstaying your TVIP?

Also heard what Mark was talking about regards Suriname. Must be a few alternate cheaper ways ... somewhere. :confused1:

Yes, but also because of HOW EXPENSIVE any German, Austrian or Japanese bike is there to buy, new or used. Outrageous. Even the Chinese bikes are overpriced. Double of they cost in USA. (import duties)

Sad thing is (but good for you) ... many travelers get badly stuck and HAVE to sell cheap as many are up against a deadline for a flight out. They end up practically giving the bike away just to get out from under it.
But DO be careful about the paperwork and TVIP business. Bit tricky.

Best of luck mate! Hope things work out!

Yip.. I might have yo rethink my whole two year plan. If I'm going to pay for bike shipping then I might as well make the most of the time. Maybe I need to work a few months more and save the extra dough..

Three months is not long enough to warrant costly shipping or the logistics of crossing half a continent just for a cheap shipping deal.

First world problems..

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I thought you were having the year off Ted?

First world problems indeed. Sheeesh! Another reason I should avoid world news. BLOOD Pressure!

You may be on to something there Ted. Maybe hang on to the job for the time being? 3 month long trip and blow all your savings?

Yup... But got A LOT of things to do and a lot of places to go. Can't be spending all my time and money on one continent. I've got a lot that I want to do over the next 12-18 months.

It's not ALL my savings. Just what I've set aside for that trip. I've got another three months planned in South East Asia, a few months in Aus/NZ and I also need to get my arse on a trip down the silk trail to Mongolia.

It's going to be tough to afford it all, that's why I have to be very strict with myself.

It's incredibly tough to try and judge expenses and budgets for a super flexible unplanned trips

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

If your point is to ride around SA and you're short of time & money, going to the USA seems pointless - you still have to pay to get into SA somehow.
But getting to the USA is relatively cheap, buying a bike is relatively easy and there's an awful lot to see there

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Elaine

Striving to live the ordinary life in a non ordinary way

I don't know how to find it, but there is a thread on here about a guy who sells Chinese honda 250 clones in SA, and after your trip he will buy them back. I remember it seemed cheap to me

Every quote I've had to Buenos Aires be it air or see is over £1,500 with most closer to £2,000 then you've got to add on all the port and customs fees at the other end.

None of the companies I've spoken to will even entertain the idea of RoRo shipping.

If we get past the freight forwarders which are essentially just middle men, then it might be better.

Suriname seems the cheapest, but unless you want to go to Venezuela, Guyana, it's 1,000s of miles from anything.

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My blog about touring and adv riding

For me now there are only three options for bringing a bike to south america.

Suriname.. However, I contacted a few companies and they are now not interested in non commercial freight.

Find a container share from Europe.

Buy a bike in the USA and ride it there. For me this is a good idea if you're European as everything is cheaper and you get to see central America too.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Did I get this right – You have actually sent a MC from the UK to Buenos Aires by air for £850 total? If so, then that was quite cheap. Maybe this is no longer possible.

But I also remember back in 2008, when I was looking to send my bike back to Europe from Oz by sea, I got quotes from many companies, and the one that I chose, offered its services at about 50% of the price of the next cheapest company (and the others were not far from each other). First I thought, that it can´t be right, but then luckily I heard of a few others, who had used this very same company, and with positive experiences, so I decided to go for it. Glad I did, as I payed roughly 500 euros at the Australian end, and about 180 to pick up at the port in Helsinki (although that latter one did feel a bit ridiculous, compared to what the ocean freight from another side of the planet had cost me – sort of Welcome to the EU, I guess!!)

Of course I do not know, what they would charge me now. Just meant to say, that the prices can (or at least they could!) vary - a lot - and it seemed extremely critical to be able to find the right guys to do business with. If I had not been lucky enough to get in contact with this one particular company, then it looks very likely, that I would have payed nearly double. Why they were so much cheaper than everyone else that I found, I have simply no idea. Just pointing out, that it could be worth it to still keep searching for a better offer.

....But if you really do have the possibility to fly into the US, and buy there and go, then I´d seriously consider doing exactly that, as looking from the EU, bikes are almost ridiculously cheap over there!