Australia to South America

[Hare]

I am planning a trip through South America and Central America next year on my Honda Shadow. Fairly open to suggestions at this stage but any advice/hints on firstly shipping a bike to South America (from Brisbane) and tips for the trip. Hoping to end up in Mexico. I am looking at 4 to 6 months travelling starting March/April 2010.

[delta8]

Hi Hare,

I shipped my bike from Sydney to Buenos Aires three weeks ago. The shippers were C.T.Freight. I got a bike crate from a dealer and cut it down to minimise volume. I wrote a full report with details of contacts & costs for the 'Getting there - Shipping Bikes' section on this site, but for some reason it hasn't appeared there yet.
Maybe you can get a copy of my report if you write a letter to the editor.

[gjw1957]

Originally Posted by Hare

I am planning a trip through South America and Central America next year on my Honda Shadow. Fairly open to suggestions at this stage but any advice/hints on firstly shipping a bike to South America (from Brisbane) and tips for the trip. Hoping to end up in Mexico. I am looking at 4 to 6 months travelling starting March/April 2010.

i AM DOING THE SAME TRIP FROM BRISBANE
PLAN ON SHIPPING BIKE TO VALPARISO CHILE
SO IF OYU GET ANY RESPONSES
CAN YOU FORWARD ON TO ME
I AM ON THE GOLD COAST
GARY

[Hare]

thanks for your feedback guys. Delta8, did you go by air or sea? I'm weighing up both at the moment. Am having some trouble getting anyone to respond or the details are a bit thin. Will also check with the editor.
cheers

[Hare]

Hey gjw1957, have had a few quotes etc. will let you know more when i know more.
cheers

[delta8]

Hi Hare,

I shipped by air.

C.T.Freight have a Brisbane office, but if you telephone their Sydney office and speak to Wade Bollard you can get some info. He's very helpful and made the whole episode very easy compared to a lot of the other shippers I spoke to. He says they ship quite a lot of bike all over the world.

As described elsewhere on this site, shipping by sea can be subject to delays. I was speaking to a german couple in BA a couple of days ago, and their bikes (from Hamburg) are already a week late. They had another experience where 3 weeks turned into 3 months.

My bike ended up being on the same flight as me, which all turned out very well.

[KevOK]

Hi Guys,
I also shipped with ct freight before to Malaysia and found them to be perfect.
hey Delta
how much did it cost to ship to Chile
thanks

[gjw1957]

thanks
will wait for your contact
lots to plan and think about
if i can also assist you then no probs
i travel alot in out of the way places so not daunted once i get there
will go to a language school first for a few weeks
and will be in no hurry to go anywhere
at the moment i am organizing lockable panniers and camping gear
i will be going on a Suzuki dr 650 Paris to Dakar type
anyway thanks
can you contact cc me direct
on
gwoodmanagement@optusnet.com.au

gjw

Originally Posted by Hare

Hey gjw1957, have had a few quotes etc. will let you know more when i know more.
cheers

[Hare]

Good stuff from all, its good to have some input from like minded people. Delta8, how was the customs etc. at BA. I've heard chile is better but would like to hear direct. will contact your guy at ct freight monday, thanks.

hows south america, have been to peru and chile before but cant wait to do it all over. whats yours trip plan from here?
safe cruising...
Hare

[delta8]

Hi KevOK,
CT Freight charged AUD1760 to fly the bike to BA. The total weight was 290Kg (the volumetric weight was about 260Kg).

Hi Hare,
Customs was easy because I paid Sandra from Dakar Motos to clear it through. I paid an additional USD92 for airline handling, and 275 pesos (about AUD80) to customs. I reassembled the bike in the customs warehouse, whilst Sandra went from office to office doing the paperwork. I rode it away after about 3 hours.

[MikeThomas]

Hi. I am from Brisbane and researching heading off to Sth America soon. I just finsihed 3 months in Europe and Asia.
Can anyone advise why it makes sense to fly or ship a bike to Sth America rather than buy one there. I have a BMW 1150 gs in Brisbane but am considering leaving it there in storage or selling it and heading off to Sth America and buying a bike.
What is the downside of this other than the fact that I cannot take the Sth American bike back to Oz.
I know I will lose on a buy and sell transaction but freight return to Oz will be around $3000 and that is a fairly large offset.
Is there an insurance trap or legal trap in buying a Sth American bike

[Hare]

Hi Mike
I have heard that crossing borders with a bike bought in another country can be a hassle. I looked at buying, renting etc. but the border crossings always came up. While the cost of shipping your own bike is a bit up front at least you have a bike you know and from what i have read borders are not that big of a deal. Guess you have to weigh it all up.
cheers