USA to Argentina/Chile
 

We have a 950 Adventure we want to get from the US down to Argentina/Chile for mid-late November 2008 - We live in Colorado and can ride the bike to a shipping point. Bike will stay in South America. Any shipping referrals for us?

How about any Dakar racers going early that have room in a container?

shipping direct to SA ??
 

I'm in COSTA rICA and will be leaving for Dakar - BA -and a lot of side trips in 2-3 months. Crossing to Columbia and driving down - maybe shipping to Valparaiso instead - but probably,driving.
Are you planning to ship direct to SA or part way ?
Jim:helpsmilie:

Hi Jim,

Shipping from USA direct to Argentina/Chile.

Air OK for upto $1,000, but not likely at that price. Argentina has some advantages, but much higher port charges.

Cheers!

Chris & Erin,

First I want to thank you for your web site journal it has truly been inspirational, to see what one can do if they want to break out of the box. You have shown a lot of people what could be done, after finding your web site we have been to Alaska, Mexico and New Zealand, not long trips but we are working that way.

Now back on topic, My current plan is to ship moto to South America and start riding m/l first of January ‘09. So if you find a good way to ship yours down sooner (and it works out) I would be very interested in details. I have also picked up on others that were planning on shipping down this winter and thought that if we had the right number of bikes and could coordinate all the details maybe we could fill a container. I know at least one tour company that ships a container out of Texas to Santiago for a tours, maybe they would coordinate for a fee or tell us who does it for them.

Second question, you said you planned on leaving you bike in SA. My plan is to do South America on the installment plan, six weeks this winter (summer down there), more next year then ride it all the way back in the third year. Where and how can I store bike without going crossways of the temporary import rules.
Road Hog:scooter:
AKA Bob Thode

Thanks for the reply and kind words, Bob. Hope your upcoming adventure is as fruitful as you desire.

Any info we gather on shipping you are more than welcome to, and I would love to hear about anyone you know shipping down for late Nov 2008 that would like to share a container. At this point, we can gather the bikes in BA or Valpariso - makes no difference to us. I am in the preliminary phase of this, but hope to know more in the coming weeks. A lot of the tours ship a little later, but certainly worth asking the question(s).

As for storage, etc, again, haven't gotten that far and may not get it sorted til we're actually down there. There's always options, just have to get enough whispers out there and something will happen. :-)

I have kind of came to the same conclusion on storing, just go and see what happens, The worst that could happen is I would have to take a month or two and ride it back. Have always said planning is just so you know what your not doing that you were suppose to be doing.

As for who else is shipping down this winter, I have not kept a list but will see if anyone answers in this thread and see who is willing to commit. I have some flexibility in when I go down and it could be cost effective to ship down early and fly down to get it out of port ride for a week then fly back to grind till the first of the year.

Road Hog
AKA Bob Thode :scooter:

I'd be happy to ride it for you!

Any luck yet?
 

Have not got any commitments for putting together a container load to SA. Got one price quote, would ride it at there price. Have you gotten any leads..

Road Hog:scooter:

Bob

Still On?
 

Has there been any follow up on this?
Bob, I like your way of thinking! I was planning something just like what you described - Fly down for 5 or 6 weeks the next couple of winters then plan to ride back in 3 or 4 years time.

Were any of you (Erin, Chris, Bob) able to find some more container partners to split the cost? I would think a 20' container would fit 6 to 8 bikes with gear. I am also located North West, (Alberta), so getting the bike to a common rendezvous location likely wouldn't be too difficult.

Mike.

Nobody was going the same time as us (arriving mid-Nov), so we're on our own. We're going by air, about $1,800. More then I woudl normally like to spend, but that's life.

Justification - about $4-500 to ride/hotel/find a crate/pack/fly back to Colorado. Or about the same to just transport from here to a coast. Figure $5-700 to actually ship it. $400 to receive it in Buenos Aires. Total of $1,300 - $1,600 by boat, and lots of potential hassle. For the extra few hundred, we're only going for 2-months and don't want to mess around.

Hi again Erin and Chris,
$1800 sounds do-able. What outfit did you get the quote from? Would that be putting the bike on a pallet from Denver? Would you be flying it then to Buenos Aires, or Santiago, or ?

Do you have any idea if Argentina uses the standard 6 month import permit, or could that be extended to a year or more?

Thanks for letting me pick your brain, I appreciate the information.

Mike.

Hi Mike,

My best friend works for Lufthansa and set it up - getting broker pricing. If you go same day as me, you can join in, otherwise you can you a broker and pay their price.

Bike needs to be crated. It will travel from Denver to Chicago via truck, then Frankfurt, Sao Paolo, Santiago (Chile). Could also go to Buenos Aires direct from Frankfurt. Why the many legs? We are "unknown shippers" and have to fly on a cargo plane out of the USA. In USA, only known shippers can fly cargo on passenger planes.

No idea about the permit. Probably best to not get the "white paper" when bringing the bike back into Argentina. :-)

Chris

Mike (and anyone else following this thread)

What are your time lines for getting down to SA. I am still working on transport but will find somthing (or just start riding south). I am working on being in Santiago m/l Jan. 1st then go east to see some of the Dakar race, then head south till I run out of road. From there not sure. Maybe we will meet up somewhere on the road. have you got leads on storage? There is a place in Buenos Aires to store, but there is the 8 month temp import limit. Somewhere on this site I read about a place to store bikes in LaPaz but now can not find it.
Bob:scooter:

Nosiglia Honda Shop in La Paz, Bolivia

Check out: LA PAZ (PAGE 313) TYNDA

Good Luck!

Erin and Chris,

I have heard of these problems with "Unknown Shippers" before. Sounds like a bit of a milk-run they've got you going on! The more I look around at transport options the more I think it might be best to just ride down in stages as work allows. I've ridden through Mexico and Central America this way 2 years ago, so know a bit of what to expect.
Also, what is this "White Paper" you speak of when re-entering Argentina?

Bob,

Sounds like you've had no luck yet on filling a container for shipping. If you end up riding South how would you do the Darien Gap crossing? Boat, plane? And were you thinking of Dakar Motos in Buenos Aires for Storage? I actually wouldn't mind leaving my bike in Lima Peru, but I've no idea where I'd be able to safely store it there. Somewhere in the Miraflores or Barranco areas should be safe, but then again, how long is the import permit in Peru valid for?
The Honda shop in Bolivia as recomended by Erin and Chris looks interesting as well.