Shipping back to N.A. from Europe
 

Hi All, I've contacted seemingly all the cheaper options listed in our shipping help guide, but without very positive results (in my view). I've been away from home for about a year now and origionally shipped my bike one way for over $2,000, thinking I could proably find a cheaper sea option back home for at least half the price. I thought I had read something about a slow sea option going from Germany to New York for something like $400 a while back.

So my question is this: at this day and age, is there really nothing cheaper than the $1200 Euro I was quoted (+$500 if I want him to create)!!! This just seems crazy. I can ship from just about any port in Europe to just about anywhere in north eastern U.S. and Canada, time is really not an issue, and I'm not worried about security. If I spend another whack like this on shipping home, I will have spent more on shipping both ways than the cost of the bike was. Anyway, if anyone knows a nice option I'm missing, don't be silent. Cheers, Tom

Been looking some more and still nothing solid... I guess I might just be up the creek. Anyone with some ideas feel free!!!

Try HC Travel. They'll ship your bike to the US (NY) from Southampton (UK) for GBP575 (US$942). HC doesn't require crating. They just tie down the bike in a platform.

I'm also looking for more convenient options (from Rotterdam, since I'm Dutch) for my planned road trip in the US next year. By plane seems to be more expensive, so I don't want to do that.
In other topics Wallenius Willhelmsen is mentioned as an option, but I can't seem to find any useful information on their website. I guess they only operate through agents for consumers.

If you found something, please put your experience here in this thread.

Have you checked Knopf Tours in Heidelberg Germany BMW F650 insured cost $1,100.00USD no crating, just remove mirrors and windscreen. Email knopftours@aol.com or www.knopftours.com great BMW guy Stefan runs the place.

No personal experience with Wallenius, but their website, www.2wglobal.com, is pretty clear that the WW RO-RO service to NA picks up only in Bremerhaven or BE/ Zeebrugge, not Rotterdam.
If you're not happy with info/ feedback from the Rotterdam agent,
you might try a direct call or query to the Zeebrugge WW office.
Others report getting good feedback by email query or filling in
WW online rate request.

Stefan is going to call me. I have a BMW R850RT, so that'll be a bit more expensive since it's heavier (280kgs). But I'll see what happens. If it's $1100, it's acceptable. The trip to Southampton (and back) is going to cost me too.

I can't seem to find the information I need on their site. Maybe because I don't know where to look. It seems that it's designed for people who know the business or I'm very clumsy. But I did send an email to both WW and the Dutch agent, so I hope some information will come my way.

[edit]I did spot a link 'shipping your private vehicle just now' Why didn't I see that earlier? ;)