Wood or steelframe fore transport?

[Mikethebike Sweden]

Hi!
I am planning to ship or fly my bike(harley)from Sweden to New York.
Ride around fore 3 mounts and then back home.
At he moment i am welding a steelframe for the bike,but most people seem to use woodframes/boxes for transport.Is it only for to get less weight?
I have heard that us customs are wery strict regarding wood.They dont want any kind of forign bugs coming in to the country with the wood.
Does anybody have a comment in this matter?

[SeanF]

Hello and welcome to the HUBB! chug

I would use a metal frame crate for the following reason:
1. It is what is used by many motorcycle dealers, and they will let them go very cheaply or for free.
2. Easy for shipping & customs people to inspect, as they can just peek through the plastic wrap (downside being that it could be considered slightly less secure for the same reason).
3. Simple to disassemble on the receiving end, just two wrenches.
4. Less weight = lower freighting charges.

Oops, just noticed that you are welding your own. No idea if yours will weigh less than a wood one. Have you tried to get a crate from a motorcycle dealer?

I don't think you could go wrong either way. Some freighting companies will even do the crating for a (possibly hefty) fee. But yes, if using wood it must be certified bug-free by the IPCC (or something along those lines).

Good luck
Sean

[Mikethebike Sweden]

Thanks for your ansver.Since I have started welding the frame i will go for that plan.I have kontakted two airline-companies aboute the transport,but got no clear anwer yet from them.(holidays maby).The idea is to store the frame at JFK in new york and use it for the return trip as well.
Hopefully it will work.....

Regads.Mike Stockholm.

Originally Posted by SeanF

Hello and welcome to the HUBB! chug.gif" border="0" alt="" title="chug" smilieid="249" class="inlineimg" />

I would use a metal frame crate for the following reason:
1. It is what is used by many motorcycle dealers, and they will let them go very cheaply or for free.
2. Easy for shipping & customs people to inspect, as they can just peek through the plastic wrap (downside being that it could be considered slightly less secure for the same reason).
3. Simple to disassemble on the receiving end, just two wrenches.
4. Less weight = lower freighting charges.

Oops, just noticed that you are welding your own. No idea if yours will weigh less than a wood one. Have you tried to get a crate from a motorcycle dealer?

I don't think you could go wrong either way. Some freighting companies will even do the crating for a (possibly hefty) fee. But yes, if using wood it must be certified bug-free by the IPCC (or something along those lines).

Good luck
Sean