From Port Klang, Malaysia to Long Beach, United States - January, 2012

We collecting the motorcycle from customs/ the warehouse wasn't all that difficult. The hardest part is waiting and the transportation between your hotel, the sustoms, Pan Star (shipping agent) and the warehouse. It takes hours with public busses.

This is how it all went:

1- We arrived in LA December 10th 2012. It took two hours with bus 232 to Long Beach.
2- Checked into a ("cheap") motel. We can not recommend the hotels at Pacific Hwy they are run down and the streets are dangerous at night (homeless people and drugs addicts). Better check in a Holiday Inn.
3- The ship arrived Thursday 13th.
4- In the weekend they scanned the bike at the harbor / customs compound (add. costs 200 $). It then got transported to STD George warehouse.
5- We went to the Customs on Monday 17th. Here we made an informal, personal and temporary importation of the motorcycle that is valid for one year. Prior to our arrival in the USA we had prepared an EPA letter (you can request this at the EPA department, they will reply with an 'exemption letter'.) But we did not need this letter. The only thing that's necessary is: the shipping invoice, the original BL, the arrival letter (from Pan Star), your vehicle registration, driver's licence, passport, you will have to fill out some other declaration
forms like the DOT and the 7501 and some other. They will give you copies there (Ocean drive in Down Town LB). Go there one day to collect the information, fill it out at your hotel and return the next day to complete the temp. import.
6- Then we went to Pan Star office (Mr. Harry) and paid 200 dollars for the x-ray of the cargo (yes, a rip off but then you should have gone with roro via Singapore which has very high red tape barriers that will costs you about a 400 $ additional costs any way).
7- The next day December 18th, we received notice (by email) from Harry that we could pick up the bike at the STD George warehouse.
8- We went to the warehouse by bus the same day. This is a 'normal' warehouse with no crazy security. After paying 70 dollars for storage and 50 dollars for disposal of the crate, we could get our bike. The people in the warehouse were super friendly, especially the Mexican supervisor. They meet with a lot of travelers on bikes, so it's nothing unusual. They help you release the bike from the crate and they even wanted to help us jump start it as the battery was down.

So, all in all we were satisfied with the whole process although the 200 dollars x-ray came unexpected. We were also surprised about the condition of some of our clothing and helmets, they were moist and 'molded' probably caused by the conditions at sea?

Highest costs in the USA are costs of hotels / motels. We managed this by staying in a cheap (not safe) motel and later by meeting friendly people through Couchsurfing.com. They owned a car and were so incredibly friendly to bring us to the various locations.

We did not use a Customs agent at all. We did not have to file a 10+2 ISF document.

Anyway, I think anyone can pull a trip to the US for together. Just don't arrive here too early in Long Beach. It will cost you. In case you will need this port for the return shipment, it's possible to 'keep' the crates and store them for when you get back.

- We bought an insurance through Progressive.com (one year valid, 119 dollars) - used the motel's address as the address where to send the policy to. Customs didn't ask about this though.