Air Freight / Shipping Motorcycle from India to Kyrgyzstan...Found cheap option
 

I figured some people out there might be interested in this. I'm in Delhi and have been hunting down prices for air freighting a motorcycle from Delhi to Bishkek as an alternative to going overland. This was by far the best quote i got:

By Air Freight for ex Delhi to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) (Port to Port):-
Air Freight: 3.25 USD per Kgs
Handling Charges: 60.00 USD per shipment (pick up include within city limits)


By Air Freight for ex Delhi to Tashkent (Uzbekistan) (Port to Port):-
Air Freight: 3.50 USD per Kgs
Handling Charges: 60.00 USD per shipment (pick up include within city limits)


By Air Freight for ex Delhi to Dushanbe(Tajikistan) (Port to Port):-
Air Freight: 6.00 USD per Kgs
Handling Charges: 60.00 USD per shipment (pick up include within city limits)


Activair Airfreight India Pvt Ltd.
E-63 , South Extension Part One
New Delhi - 110049
Ph : 91-11-24619915
Direct Ph # : 91-11-24607607

ok great. But you sure that quote has everything?

Just one example of things that could be missing: your motorcycle will not become airborne without a Dangerous Goods-certificate, and this needs to be done by a certified agent, who is allowed to do it. They usually charge something for their work. I´d be surprised to get that paper for under 100 USD.

And India + freight = bureaucracy... I once airfreighted out of Chennai, and I had a freight agent AND a customs agent to sort out all the paperwork. But I STILL had to spend at least 12-14 hours at the airport customs, with my customs agent running here and there with my carnet in his hand (the actual customs inspection, where I had to be present, only took like 20 minutes, but that´s India for you!)

And then there´s costs at the receiving end of course. My friend was once forced to freight his bike out of Kazakhstan, because he´d broken a few bones in a fall, and that freighting ended up costing him dearly, and arranging it caused him a major headache. Both India and Central Asia seem to be a bit problematic when it comes to freighting stuff. So beware & good luck!

All great points Pecha...and I was thinking the same. The quote he sent me seems too "thin". He sent me that quote a month ago. I responded with this message:

Rajiv,
I wanted to ask you if there are any additional costs or fees for customs, taxes, etc.? And I am assuming that I would be responsible for packing the motorcycle in a crate? Do you know how much that might cost? I just need to know the total for ALL costs associated with the shipping so that I will know if I have enough money to do it.

Also, if you could please send me a list of any documents/paperwork I would need to ship the motorcycle so I can begin to gather that.

Thank you,

Jordan

He responded with this:

Dear Jordan,
No other cost or fees for in Indian Customs below rates are still applicable. Packing of motorcycle in a crate from your side.
We need the following documents:-
1. Purchase bill of Motorcycle.
2. Encasement certificate.
3. Copy of your passport.
4. Copy of Indian Visa.
5. If you have registered your vehicle in Indian Transport Authority then No objection certificate required for export from Transport Authourity.

I did not know about this Dangerous Goods Certificate...thanks for bringing that up. As I am seriously considering doing this I am going to just make a trip to this guys office and have a face to face to get some more assurance about other costs that might pop up. Kyrgyzstan does not require Carnet so that is one less thing to worry about.

Im not in Delhi anymore but will be back in a few weeks. When I return and talk to this guy I'll post my new findings. Thanks again. And if any other readers can recommend specific questions to ask him please post them here.

Got it done
 

SUCCESS, BIKE SHIPPED, ALL WENT AS PLANNED.

I write this from Dushanbe, Tajikistan after having successfully air freighted our bike from Delhi to Bishkek, so yes, it can be done. The guy was professional albeit a bit expensive (because Bishkek is such an obscure location the bike had to go all the way to Istanbul first). He pretty much only ships motorcycles so knows the drill. He can ship by sea or air anywhere.

Has anyone used this company to ship the bike from India to Bishkek or Tashkent recently? Would be really helpful to know about it or any other agent and the details on the cost. Thanks!

I did end up shipping my bike from Delhi to Bishkek, it cost about $2250 total...including crating, pickup, etc. But this was a couple years ago. The company that gave me that first post was a flop...too good to be true. I did end up shipping ht e bike but it was through another company called Sri Sai Cargo in Delhi. It was actually all pretty smooth, no complaints.

I do wonder how you get to $2250. In your original post you said the shipping cost was 3,25 USD per kilo. I suppose a bike weighs around 200 kg which makes it 650 USD. Together with pakking, which I estimate at around 200 USD, it should be around 800 USD. How did you get at 2250 USD?

The reason I ask is because I''m planning on shipping a motorcycle from Delhi to Bishkek in May as well.

Regards,