Not shipping but sending the bike.

[timae]

Hey there,

I just wanted to ask this question as it has been spooking around my head for a while now and I only found 1 big problem and a minor maybe issue so far. But I guess that is just out of a lack of knowledge.

But I'll have you hear my idea before I bash it down myself.

DHL offers something they call a DHL EXPRESS EASY PALLET.

Basically a massive box on a pallet that allows you to send 75, 80 or 100kg for around 300 US. Now I have a bike that only ways 105 kgs. So I thought, huh, why not take it apart and pack everything besides the frame, too bulky, in the box and send it home, to my door. And take the frame as a sport equipment on the plane which should come in at around 50 bugs.

Now my first big concerne is the carnet. As the country I was thinking of doing this from is either Australia or NZ I will have a stamp.

Second issue was that the bike is in parts when entering Germany. But I am German and it is registered in Germany, so I'm not sure if it actually is THAT big an issue. As I willl put it back together than, after some repairs.


I guess the carnet thing will be the biggest issue, but anything else I missed that makes it totally impossible?

Just a strange idea I had. I have no experience with shipping or stuff like that, so be not too harsh with my little idea.


Cheers
Tim

[JGBYJ]

Just curious about what kind of bike it is at that weight?


EDIT: No dice, used bikes qualify as dangerous goods, they won't ship em.

[timae]

Why are motorbike parts considered dangerous? It's just metal.

I will obviously drain all petrol, oil and give it all a nice clean.

Also, by this logic would it not be illegal to send spare parts? But they send them around all the time.

but thanks for the answer
tim

PS: Bike is a Minsk. 125cc two-stroke, tiny little beast

[ta-rider]

Hi,

I dont know if you can legaly export motorbike party from the countrys you said but why not. You might have to pay import tax for germany as if you have bought them somewhere At least if the engine number is written in the carned you should not have problems with this part.

Dont care about the carned if you are going to put the bike back together again (same frame number!). You go to the german customs and get the stamp profing the reimport of the bike. With this stamp you can also proof its not in another country anymore and will get your carned deposit back.

The best way would be even to get the carned stamped with the frame in your hand at the airport but im not shure they will do so if all the parts are missing...

LG, Tobi

[UKbri]

Sounds very interesting. Even if you had a heavier bike and split it into 2 pallets it would still work out very cheap.
Please post your results if you are successful.

[mark manley]

A friend of mine shipped a bike into the US doing something similar, the engine went as one part, cycle parts another and he took the frame as luggage, although this was pre 9/11 so things might have changed. It worked for him.

[JGBYJ]

I told them I could clean and rinse the engine, and the tank.
They still said no.
Let me know what you find out, I'd much prefer to do it this way!

[TurboCharger]

Originally Posted by timae

Why are motorbike parts considered dangerous? It's just metal.

I will obviously drain all petrol, oil and give it all a nice clean.

Dangerous Goods are classified by serveral categories. Petrol and flamable gases and liquids one category. Batteries and devices containing chemicals are another. If you could prove that the bike (in Parts) contains no dangerous goods then you have a chance in making this work but you would probably need to leave the battery behind and definitely get this passed by DHL and customs of the countries you are sending to/from.

Good luck and let us know how you get along.

[pecha72]

I´m no expert on this stuff, and could be wrong.

But I don´t think you will be able to send a used motorcycle as goods, that are not classified as Dangerous Goods. Or at least you _SHOULD_ not be able to do that, if everything is done "by the book" (... keeping in mind of course, that maybe they dont know, or follow the rules 100% everywhere!)

The reason why most spare parts can be sent as non-DG, is that they are new (unused), and so for example fuel system parts have absolutely no fuel in them. Used components will always have something left, no matter how hard you try to empty them. A good example is, how risky it can be to weld a used fuel tank, even when it has been drained if you don´t know what your doing. And batteries cannot be sent as non-DG even when new.

To me it sounds a bit complicated, having to dismantle the entire bike, to be able to freight it! But maybe, if it´s very simple technology, it could be done.

But I would not try that with a modern FI-bike, especially if I was still planning to continue the trip after that shipping - possibly lots of troubles after re-assembly, and something I would not want to have to sort out somewhere far from home.

[beddhist]

The problem is mainly the fuel tank. No matter how well you clean it, petrol fumes will remain in it and with lots of air in the tank it's an explosive mix. But, if you simply put "used m/cycle parts" on the manifest maybe you can get away with it. Or, pack the tank and carb separately and ship them as dangerous good in a box. Or, sell them in NZ on Sella or Trademe (assuming the bike exists here) and ship the rest.

But, by the time you have done all this, is it really worth it?

[timae]

probably need to leave the battery behind

my baby ain't got a battery

To me it sounds a bit complicated, having to dismantle the entire bike, to be able to freight it! But maybe, if it´s very simple technology, it could be done.

It is indeed very very very, and one more time, very simple. It takes me only about 3 hours to take it all apart, down to the last screw. And only about 4 to build it up again.

especially if I was still planning to continue the trip after that shipping

the idea was to ship it to my front door.This way saving me a trip to and from any harbor. So it would be the end anyways, and it will need work done on it as well when I'm back as I've been a little mean to it sometimes.

The problem is mainly the fuel tank.

That's something I'm starting to realize as well. I also guess to take it onto the plane won't be much appreciated by the airline.


But back to the problem I found myself: The carnet.

How will I be able to get an exit stamp from NZ while doing that?Is it really simple enough to show the frame and the receipt from DHL?

But, by the time you have done all this, is it really worth it?

Maybe. Depends on how much cash I will save this way. The other option is shipping to spain and do a little holiday. So that is not that bad an option either. But I just wanted to know if/how it might work, so I might not attempt it if it proves to difficult. But the idea itself sounded nice to me. But I guess peoples ideas always seem good to themselves.

[beddhist]

So, you are basically putting all of the bike, except the frame into the DHL box? To get your carnet stamped out you will have to ship the frame as well, as that is what the papers are tied to. I can't see them stamping the carnet when the frame is not in the box or being shipped at the same time by other means.