We used Mr. Gaston Etchart, a freight forwarder based in Miami. He was on top of everything we needed and got the job done. Here is the breakdown of the costs for one motorcycle (1983 Honda GL650), with panniers attached, battery disconnected, 1/8th tank of gas. We shipped two motorcycles, same year, make and model, and both arrived at the same time, so were able to share some costs like airport delivery.

Air Cargo (computed using volume, not weight) - $1060.00
UN Fee - $200.00
DG Certification - $50.00
Airport Delivery - $55.00
US Customs Validation - $62.50
AES Filing (USA) - $22.50
Crating - $300.00
Freight Forwarder - $100.00
Miscellaneous costs (Notary POA, Fed Ex delivery, bank transfer of funds) -$85.50

Total Cost per Motorcycle - $1,872.00

The carrier was Lyn Cargo. Included in the "air cargo" cost was the help of a Lyn Cargo employee (Veronica Moscera) who met us at the Lyn Cargo warehouse in Bogota and escorted us through all the paperwork at the Bogota Air Cargo Terminal for nearly seven hours, plus drove he personal car to lead us to an insurance company well away from the airport where we purchased the required third party Colombia insurance (not included in the above costs). There were some minor costs for copying documents in various offices at Bogota air cargo.

We took the motorcycles out of their crates in the warehouse of Lyn Cargo and the broken down wooden crates were hauled away by a recycle company for free. The motorcycles were dead engine rolled out of the warehouse and down a set of stairs to the parking lot where we attached the battery, turned ON the gas and drove through the Customs gate (exit) where they took some of our stamped papers.

One misconception that was dispelled was that we could have done the paperwork and shipping ourselves. Maybe 20 years ago, but not today with all the government requirements. Also, US Customs held the motorcycles for three days to verify the US titles and VINs.

One wrinkle was we physically had to arrive and be stamped in at Bogota Immigration before the motorcycles arrived, some Colombia government rule. We also had some delays due to shipping during the Christmas and New Year holidays when government and airline offices were closed, but that was our choice and no fault of the freight forwarder or air cargo company.

On January 2 we collected the motorcycles, having taken a taxi to the airport. The second stage of The Great Around The World Motorcycle Adventure Rally was off and running. Reportage can be seen here:

www.rtwmotorcycleadventurerally.blogspot.com

Regards,

Dr. Gregory Frazier
Chief, World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine
Adventure Editor-at-Large, MOTORCYCLE USA