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Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 12 Mar 2006
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Scotland to South America
Anyone shipped a bike from Scotland to South America (preferably Buenos Aires) recently or have any info on this? Either flying or ship as not leaving till autumn '06. I've had some quotes around £850 flying it from Edinburgh to Buenos Aires however putting it on a ship may be cheaper?

Cheers

mike
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  #2  
Old 13 Mar 2006
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Mike,

I shipped my bike by sea to BA but I had to take it down to England first. Be aware the cost may be cheaper to send by sea initially but the over all cost once you've paid for import and various costs at the other end will make it more expensive.

If you've managed to get the price for shipping the bike by air from Scotland at around £800 your doing very well. If that was me I'd take that quote. Make sure your getting everything for that cost, crating, customs paperwork and such.

Also if your coming back the same way try and keep the crate and store it in BA somewhere.

Costs at the airport in BA are minimal so you should be able to ship the bike for around a grand intotal.

Try doing a search for Fritz on the site, he shipped his bike to BA by air, there's a very good explanation of what to do.

Hope this helps. You'll love the south, I'mabout to fly back after 5 months and it's been truly amazing!

Cheers

Nik

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  #3  
Old 13 Mar 2006
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Thanks Nick

Yeah, the £850 quote excludes costs on arrival but I also got other quotes for £1000 and £1200 so the price fairly varies from company to company. Is 2m3 about right for the bike in a crate (with panniers etc shoved in too)? I'm just guessing as to the size once wheels/mirrors/screen off.

My plan at the minute is to get to BA for October, south to TDF then up west cost to hopefully end up in Canada about 6 months later but not made any plans on how I'm coming back- will just play it by ear.

Have enjoyed reading your blog by the way- looks like a lot of fun! I'm planning on going to the HU meet in June so hopefully see you there (and pick your brains over a pint!).

Take it easy

Mike
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  #4  
Old 14 Mar 2006
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Hi Mike

Two cubic metres seems a bit much to me; what bike? Run a tape measure over it, add the depth of a pallet and compute. When you get a quote, the shipper or agent should be able to tell you the volumetric equivalent of a kg so all you have to do is make sure that you're not paying for air!

When I flew my 1100GS to EZE with a friend's similar bike in a double crate I doubt the volume was even three cu. mtrs. We put them nose to tail with the bar clamps, front wheels, beaks, screens and no. plates off. There were no charges at EZE other than $US75 each for one day's storage as they arrived on a Sunday and the cargo bit was closed.

£850 doesn't sound too bad, unless it's for a Serow or CT200!

Regards, Mick
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  #5  
Old 14 Mar 2006
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FWIW we got two XR60Rs with long-range tanks (v.bulky!) into less than 1.8m3. we had to work to get the height down as they were going on an Ethiopian Airlines 757 with a 1m height limit for the door.
2m3 will be charged the same as 333kg (60 litres is charged as 1kg). I always end up paying by weight and it always seem to surprise the handlers that you can pack a bike so small if you're mean.
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  #6  
Old 14 Mar 2006
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Hi

It's a R1150GS. I gave the shipping agent the standard length x width x height spec for that type of bike and they have used that to calculate the vol but would obviously be smaller than that, but by how much, I'm not sure. I'll also have alu panniers that I'll put in the crate. I take it it might be easier to take the bike over to the shipping companys place in Edinburgh airport and let them take a look to give me a more accurate price?

cheers

mike
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  #7  
Old 15 Mar 2006
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Hi Mike,

Those dimentions sound about right. The crate my 1200GS was in was 3X2X1, I had one pannier, a set if tires and other luggage in with it so there wasn't much spare room.

To be honest you can spend ages worring about £50 here or there but at the end of the day if your happy with the cost and guys your dealing with just go with it...

Yea I'll at the meeting in June, hoping to do a small talk..will have to see! Hope to see you there.

Cheers

Nik

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  #8  
Old 15 Mar 2006
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Hi Guys,
It would be very helpful for all people planning to go shortly to South America if you could post details of company etc you used to ship/flight you bike to SA.
Last postage in section "Shipments by travellers" Europe to SA was sept 2005 by a french guy, then next one was posted back in 2004. I'm trying to get some more recent info on this.
Thanks,

Maria
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  #9  
Old 16 Mar 2006
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Hi Mike

Have a trial dismantle/re-assemble of your bike (you don't want to be doing it first time for real!) and measure up. If you don't trust the manufacturer's weight details (I didn't) ride down to your local weighbridge for a figure. Everything else you're putting in your crate can be weighed on bathroom scales. Don't take separate luggage to fly yourself out, take a pannier (I put an old seat belt through the hoops for a shoulder strap) packed to as near 20kg as possible and have your helmet as hand luggage. Once you have firm weight/volume figures you'll be in a much better position to get accurate quotes.

See you at Ripley.

Regards, Mick
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  #10  
Old 21 Apr 2006
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UK to SA
Along with Maria's request can you please send the details of the company that quoted around £800 as I am also looking at getting mine from London to either Quito or Lima (haven't decided yet).

Thanks,
Annette
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  #11  
Old 24 Apr 2006
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Hi Mike,
I believe you've been talking to Iain about SA in October. I'm also joining you guys for the first month and a bit. (Unfortunately finances and a non-biker boyfriend are preventing me for going any longer - gutted)
I'm currently trying to get prices for two bikes out of London but if you want I can ask about 3 bikes also - if it makes it any cheaper - and if you fancy heading to London before you leave. There would be a spare bed if needed.

NikB - looking forward to hearing your talk in June. Have been following your blog with interest.

See you both in June.

Michelle
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  #12  
Old 26 Apr 2006
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Hi Guys

Yeah, was good to get to speak to Iain the other day. Still so much to sort out! Bike stuff mostly sorted and am now on to getting some decent camping equipment.

Haven't looked at the shipping for a while but the quote I got was from Davies Turner http://www.daviesturner.com/aircargo/

As I said, the £850ish quote didn't include crating the bike or the charges on arrival so I'd expect it might be a bit over a grand or so all told? That was going from Edinburgh to B.A. via Heathrow if I remember right.

Thanks for the accommodation offer Michelle- if you can find out if its cheaper to send three bikes at once let me know otherwise I'll probably try and ship from Edinburgh if possible being a lazy Scot!

Hopefully see some of you guys in at the HU meet in June

Cheers

Mike
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