Hey Raul,

had a nose around your blog - very impressive! Would be great to catch up at somepoint & hopefully our paths will cross out there somewhere!

Realistically I won't be going far or fast enough on a daily basis to get across in time to join you for your jaunt along the Dalton but I wish you well!!!

Ride safe,

Smudger

Shipping with whom?
 

Smudger.

I'm an Aussie on the way home across the US too, hoping to leave the UK in late August and just now going through the paperwork hoops needed to ship the bike.
Was wondering who you were shipping your bike with? I have approached James Cargo as they seem well regarded on the HUBB. Hope they are up to their reputation but email responses do seem a bit slow.

@Smudger,

I was considering Wallenius myself, as they are £300 cheaper than airfreight via James Cargo, but in the end I opted for airfreight.
I spoke with them by phone and they indicated that I dont need any documents other than rego and passport. The EPA form seemed to be just a fill-in once you know the shipping details - so I am a bit worried out the EPA Approval letter you mention, I could not find anything on the EPA site that could explain how to actually get it, it only refers to EPA Form 3520-1.

Can you advise where you can apply for such approval or more info about it? The EPA site is scant with information.

The other document I believe that I need is a DOT HS 7 form - which did not appear to be difficult to complete, again it only required shipping info.

Also what is the ISF form you mention?

I think I'll ask James Cargo about the ISF. After some searching for info about it I thought maybe it only applied to sea shipped fright, not airfreight, but would be safer to check.

Reference to the DOT HS7 was via several other sites which had info about import regulations - seems to be quite hard to find everything in one place, tho the EPA site mentions DOT requirements somewhere or other.

At least there doesnt appear to be too much else in the way of forms and docs. As you say, may not be as complicated as it sounds.

My next challenge is bike insurance, HUBB is a good source of info on this too. Plenty more challenges to come......:cool4:

Had a reply back from James Cargo (helpful lot) about the docs.
Giles says that he will give me a pack of documents to be completed only when I drop off the bike with them. The EPA 3520-1 form can be completed on the spot and does not require a letter from the EPA to go with it, in his experience of shipping 100s of bikes.

However, in the next breath he added that just once recently, an owner was asked for such an approval letter when the bike arrived in Anchorage.
His conclusion is that it depends on who the custom agent is at the time - grrrr:thumbdown: I hate that kind of inconsistency.

Unfortunately he didn't mention anything about ISF.

So not entirely satisfactory. At this point I am going on trust that he knows what he is doing.
I have successfully negotiated the first layer of Australian officialdom and have obtained my Import License for entry into Oz, which makes me happy. All I have to do now is get over there :mchappy:

NYC - Prudhoe - Ushuaia
 

Hey Smudger, I'm planning to do exactly the same trip and for the moment it's just me. I'm from Colombia so my Spanish can be of help. I do plan to make it in 6 months to Ushuaia so please reply or email me to see if we can arrange something. I think I can be in New York 1st week of August.

See ya!

Hello Juan,

I'm in Weehawken NJ at the moment waiting for my bike to arrive next week. When I clear Customs I'll then be heading off towards Alaska. Company on the road would be good, sharing the miles makes life so much easier.

All being well the weekend after next should see me heading North West.

Let me know your plans & I'm sure we'll be able to sort something out. If we don't leave New York together we'll definitely catch up on the road.

Smudger

Hi Smudger,:welcome:
Welcome to the USA. Hope you and your bike are happily together and enjoying the open road headed north to Alaska. Looking forward to your RR and meeting you when you come through Washington State on your way south.
uggawish

After finally getting the bike on Friday afternoon from port New York I took to the road Saturday morning calling in on family in Pennsylvania then on to Ohio & now I find myself in Illinois. I'm doing my best to avoid the Interstates & smile whilst wearing my biking gear in 33 degree heat. All the other bikers in shorts & t-shirts think I'm crazy.

From here I'll be heading through Iowa & then to South & North Dakota. Anyone out there riding in the same direction drop me a line.

Bikers I have met on route reckon I have to call in on the Sturgis Rally which starts in two weeks time. I'll give it some thought. 500,000 bikers in one town???

Uggawish - hope to see you in a few thousand miles time!

It's actually not that bad. Assuming that you don't have any overnight accommodations reserved in or around Sturgis (camping or otherwise) at the time of the rally, you can easily make Sturgis a midday stop. It's well worth seeing. It's all civilized and well organized.

My riding buddy and I stopped by in 2008 on our return trip from Alaska (...on dirty BMW's :biggrin:).

Enjoy and have a safe trip,

Crossing into Mexico - 26th Sept 10' - Tecate
 

Made it from New York to Prudhoe & I'm currently in LA about to get the bike some love & attention prior to crossing into Mexico with Uggawish next Sunday the 26th.

From Tecate we're taking the 'Wine Route' towards Baja - I'm relying on Rich's superior knowledge as he's been there, done that. Anyone heading the same way & wanting to cross together, feel free. Just drop Uggawish or I a line.

I'm a few weeks behind you as I've got to head back to Bend OR to get the title for the bike then down to Mexico, currently in Flagstaff AZ

might see you on the Baja peninsular