HOLEY MOLEY..

I've been collecting some quotes to try and get my bike to Buenos Aires from the UK.

£1500 plus £250 clearance is what I'm getting. £1700....

In 2007, it cost me £650 plus about £200 in clearing.

What happened ??????????

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

Sounds about right. No clue to the cause of the big price rise ... other than "Because They Can".

I've seen a lot of rates posted on forums, then someone will claim they can get a bike from EU to B.A. for $1000 USD. No idea how.

Maybe rates are better from a Euro port? Isn't there a Ro-Ro that goes over?
Try Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Le Harve. Also, going to Brazil may be cheaper than B.A.

Other option is a shared container.

Good luck, I look forward to reading responses here.

I think if you're prepared to sail from a port in the arse end of nowhere to a port in an equally crap place, you can get it for $1000. But by the time you've got to that port and left the other one you're probably on the same money.

Bikes sold by travellers used to be dirt cheap in south America. Jeeez, people used to give them away. Now everyone wants crazy money. Probably because they know shipping is so expensive...

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

Can't speak for Europe, but here in the States, when fuel prices hit around $4/gallon, shipping prices went up like a whore's hemline. Most of our product is moved by truck

Look up PDP freight services in the UK - PDP Freight Services .. ask for Malcolm, tell him Gwyn sent you. Cost us 1000 EURO from London to Chile. (plus destination costs) for a 20ft container

They have been the cheapest agent in the UK for us


Expect to be stung at destination. They screw you for all kinds of storage and whatever other fees they can


The Overlanders

Hope that helps and saves you some money
Gwyn
The Overlanders

G'day Ted,

Seriously consider buying a bike in the US. Shipping as you've just realised is just wasted time not to mention the cost of a carnet, a shite load of cash! You don't need a carnet in South America for US registered bikes. K'n bewdy mate!

Cheap good bikes are plentiful in the US. Registering a bike in Arizona couldn't be easier (it took me 10 minutes flat) or cheaper for that matter, have contacts Flying into the US is going to be cheaper and quicker than going to South America from the UK as well.

Knowing you'd keep it in good nic and improve it, you'd pass it on easily enough, not only that you'd have wheels till it sold! IMHO mate, a no brainer!

Start looking here.

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Cheers Dave

Because RTW travelling by bike has become very popular and those who pay it, have probably not questioned the cost, so now it's become the norm...
We are the creators of our own fate.

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Elaine

Striving to live the ordinary life in a non ordinary way

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!

Then I might as well buy a bike in Alaska and start there..

Moaning is great. It's goes well with my morning coffee

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

The days when you could take it as hand luggage have long gone

Would it be cheaper if you broke it down and posted it as a crate as spare parts? The Chinese seem to be able to get ebay stuff here for next to nothing.

If you remove the battery fuel n oil from the bike then will be allowed to cargo by air.

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.

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

__________________
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