Shipping motorcycle from Brazil to Dakar by airplane
 

During my trip Round The World 2013 described here http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...r-2013-a-67083 I have to ship the bike from Brazil to Dakar (Senegal).
I found here on HU an address of a freight forwarder in Rio de Janeiro (Perseus - Rua dos Andradas 96 SL 304 and 305 - Centro - Rio de Janeiro - (Marcos Soares (55) 21 2108-4859) - www.perseus1.com.br), but the website is non-existent.
Does anyone have information but also other shippers between Brazil and Dakar?
thanks

brazil has a bad rep for shipping might be best to head down to BA

Even BA (Buenos Aires?) has a bad rep for shipping.
Also I come from Chile and I go to Dakar: I do not want to stop in Argentina and then jump Brazil.
I need to find a plane for the bike from Brazil; if nothing is strange: the Atlantic is closer between eastern Brazil and West Africa.

so just go for it and post up your findings for us all to read . I also think you will find distance is of little importance .ie I can ship a bike from england to suriname for the same price maybe even less than panama to colombia

I do not understand your sentence "I just go for it." :confused1:
Regarding the price of flights, I know that they are very variable, but for me is not so much a question of cost: the flight must be, then how much is a subsequent question and, in part, less important.
Of course, if I arrive in Brazil and I can catch a flight to Dakar, I will post here what you find. :)
But I do not start even if I do not know Italy BEFORE I find a flight to Brazil to Dakar. I'm leaving Italy for my RTW only if I already have contacts with all the shippers I need for the 4 flights during my RTW: I can not risk too many unexpected, because my tour lasts only 2 months, so I have to program the flights before leaving.

Keep in mind, that sending one vehicle one time on a certain route, must be like charity work for the freight companies. Not much money to be made out of it for them. Plus it may be a lot of work for them to arrange it, your shipment being dangerous goods and all.

Only my observation, but most of the companies I've dealt wit, did not seem to want to do a whole lot, before I was personally there with my vehicle, so they could see I was for real.

They probably also get lots of inquiries of the same kind, most of which never turn into real shipping jobs (people just getting quotes from many different companies). So on the other hand, it is sort of understandable, too, if they seem slow to respond to calls and e-mails.

Some sort of pre-payment might speed up things at their end... but naturally that will have its own risks, like losing the money, if it turns out they weren't dependable. In fact I probably would not pay up front myself, or I'd pay only a very small amount.

It 's true what you write at the beginning.
But here is another problem, because, as I wrote before, I do not own any contacts in Brazil, no email address to which to send my request.
When I made a similar request in Nepal (for a flight to Bangkok), responded immediately in 4 (not all, but most of the spedizionieir which I wrote), I have selected one of the four, if he had asked me a small advance I would have sent him (not asked), and everything is ok.
But here in Brazil I have not found anyone to ask!
I do not claim that I may accept red carpet, but at least you know that when I get there, there is someone who can do the job of shipping my bike. :)
So let's go back to the first problem: who to contact in Brazil for a flight for my bike to Dakar?

But I do not start even if I do not know Italy BEFORE I find a flight to Brazil to Dakar. I'm leaving Italy for my RTW only if I already have contacts with all the shippers I need for the 4 flights during my RTW: I can not risk too many unexpected, because my tour lasts only 2 months, so I have to program the flights before leaving.[/QUOTE]

can i ask WHY you would want to go on a RTW trip if you expect everything to only go to plan ? IT WONT . Also if you only have 2 months all you are going to get is stress and not see or experience anything . If I was you I would be looking into doing a different trip

another thing I was just thinking . Some shipping agents like to have your bike a few days before shipping for inspection, customs clearence loading ect. then a day maybe 2 to clear customs at the recieving end . So if your shipping your bike 4 times I would expect to "loose" about 2 weeks . that then gives you 6 weeks riding time to ride RTW. rather you tham me mate

Yes, you can ask, but then do not be surprised of the answer too :)
I start by saying that I do not think this is the most appropriate topic to discuss certain issues "philosophical" about why you traveling by motorcycle and why you do it in a certain way.
Who wants to ask the reason of my trip, I believe we must do so in the topic of my trip, which I mentioned at the beginning, ie here http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...r-2013-a-67083, and not in this topic, that topic is a "technical", where you try (and give) information on how to transport a motorcycle from one point to another.
However, I reply.
Why? It 's easy to make a trip around the world in motion. All you need is a bike, passion, time. If you have a LONG time, you can also do it with very little money. You stop to work, earn some 'and then allocation.
But if you want to tour the world in motion and you're a "normal" person with a normal family, a normal job, who do not want to give up for a motorcycle trip (because my family is more important than my bike, despite I have a great passion for motorcycles), then it is difficult, because you have to travel during the holidays, or a little more.
Thus, as the maximum time that I have is 2/3 months, I'll do the RTW at that time, not more. Sure, it's a harder time, but I, more than a difficulty, I see it as a challenge. And the challenges are made to be addressed. But to do this we need a plan, well prepared: you can not leave to chance, if you have limited time.
I should add that, however, I like to travel "fast" (not as km / h, but as "rhythms Travel"), so for me there is no stress in such a trip. Last year I went to motorcycle from Lecce (Italy) to Vladivostok (13,000 km) in 15 days: no stress, even a lot of fun. Then from there, embarking for Korea, I shot for a week, then 8 days in Japan and then back again through the whole of Siberia (with deviation in Altaj, on the border of Mongolia): 34,000 km in 59 days, which less than 50 days motorbike trip (the other 9 are served by ferry and stop customs in Vladivostok: look at this report http://www.gold-wing.it/moto/2011-06...ne/indice.html . No stress, but so much fun, so many meetings, so many places seen, monuments visited, lived experiences.
I travel by bike: if I only want to see a particular place, I would go by plane, I would stop there a week and would visit. But that's not my goal: I travel by bike.
If the weather is just that, the time will do.
There are people who, faced with the lack of time, gave up a trip: I did not.
And I enjoy it as well.
And now let's focus on finding this blessed airplane! :)

No experience, but a Google search suggests, try this:
SnailTrails - Pages (2010)
-->
RIOPORT Assessoria Aduaneira (customs broker)

Paulo Baceelar
AV.Rio Branco, 135 GR 814 - Centro
20040-006 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - BRAZIL
PH +5521-2505-9650
FAX +5521-2505-9696
DIRECT LINE +5521- 2505-9661
MOBILE +5521-97969955
paulo.bacelar@rioportaduaneira.com.br
RioPort - Assessoria Aduaneira

Above website in Portuguese & English.
You may have to CALL to get detail/ accurate info.
Lufthansa & Air France, among other airlines w/ aircargo services, may have direct aircargo service GIG (RIO)->DKR,
OR
aircargo may have to go from GIG to EU gateway before onward flight to
Dakar

thanks of info. I just sent an e-mail :)

There's a good reason why Courtfisher's post said to "CALL" rather than email.

Why?

Because you're far more likely to get what you need using the phone. Emails are rarely responded to. Even an email works in this specific case, you might as well get in the habit of phoning instead if you're determined to arrange everything in advance.

Probably you'll find that you need to actually show up to accomplish anything, but I'd be happy to be proven wrong about that. You sound like you know what you want and are accustomed to getting your way. This might not work very well in Latin America or Africa.

Good luck.

Mark

I do not speak English well enough to hold a phone conversation.
In addition, the email remains a trace of a phone no.
In an email I ask exactly everything I need and I can get a precise answer: in a phone no.
I've always organized my travels by email (eg ferry from Russia to Korea and Japan), even for visas to take my Italian travel agent I use the email (over the phone) because there are so less chance of errors .
Just because I do not trust the accuracy of people who do not know, this is one more reason to use the email. If a person does not answer me by email, for me it is not reliable and I waste.
Finally, I can be very insistent. :biggrin3:
PS: From Brazil today has already received a response. :)

Fine with me. I'll look forward to hearing how it all works out.

Worth consideration: folks here are answering your questions based on their direct experience. When someone tells you Buenos Aires is easier, you argue. When someone tells you to phone, not email, you argue. Now, maybe you're right on all counts and everyone else is wrong.....but then again maybe not.

I argue with people more experienced than myself all the time. I've found that very often they're correct, and I do better when I listen. That's just me, so take it for whatever it's worth.

Mark

In here there are people who have more experience than me in travel outside Europe and thank you for the advice.
My experience as a road trip is limited to all the countries of Europe, half of Asia and North Africa.
I do not pretend to teach those who have traveled to South America what is best.
But one thing I've learned in 14 years and 750,000 km of Gold Wing, I have to understand what I do. I should not do something just because someone told me.
I have to understand. And that someone has to explain it to me.
Once, in Kazakhstan, a Russian biker friend showed me the path "best" way to cross the border with Russia (I came from Samarkand).
He was a trusted person (a friend), expert (motorcyclist for years), lived a few hundred miles from here, had passed that line several times.
He did not use the gps and showed me the way of a Russian paper, and my map was better and I noticed that the road indicated that he was not, in my opinion, the best way, he insisted: "This is the best way, the safest and quiet for you and your bike.
I was incredulous, but how can you not trust a friend, expert rider, a resident of the region?
I trusted and I ended up here:
http://www.gold-wing.it/moto/2009-06...s/IMG_1275.JPG
I came out alone on my own.
Then he excused himself, mortified. Since then I do not trust anyone, if someone tells me that one way is better than me to explain and argue. I trust only what I see and I can explain with logic.
PS: I do not take the plane to Argentina because I want to arrive in Brazil: my round the world will be decided not only shippers.

Thanks; he responded to me and is making a quote for my bike. :)
Now the biggest problem remains the Indonesia (another topic).

If you dont trust anyone and want to argue with everyone what the hell are you doing on this site ? And then you go on to say you have friends . I would be surprised at that doh

"Why the hell are you here?" :nono:

Well, I thought this was a place to seek and provide information, where in fact we will exchange experiences, reflections on travel, especially on a motorcycle.
But most of all I thought that this was a place where we confront in a civilized manner, respect different opinions and preferences of each.
Not a place where, in front of a motorcyclist who manifests a different way from the majority to go on a motorcycle, a different way of understanding the motorcycle trip, it has different times (I will not say better, but just as fast), in short, a different way to travel, someone will come up with a "why the hell are you here?".
Do not take it, but your "why the hell are you here?" Denotes arrogance and narrow-mindedness, and above all lack of understanding of those who think differently from us. :nono: Because we are not all the same, but the tolerance and respect that should guide our lives (especially here, a forum of bikers who travel around the world), should teach us that not all want the same things and not all we want to same way.
You see, as I have often written, I like to travel fast and still I can not afford to drop everything and leave for a year or more. I can not and I will not.
Into the issue that started your inappropriate "Why the hell are you here?", It is not true that I do not believe anyone, I believe from what I can see, even with evidence crossed, I believe that has its own logic .
I think a lot of what I read here, because they are argued and not contradictory. And in any case, no matter what I believe, read here or elsewhere, that information must be evaluated according to my needs, which are different from those of others. If someone refers to a forwarding agent, says he has done a great job, fast and accurate, and then I read that it took a week, then I understand that "fast" for that person has a different meaning for me, because a week for me too.
If someone says that the flight to the bike cost too much (for a bike of 400 kg) and then says that he was EUR 1,000, then I understand that his idea is too different from mine, because I pay for ONLY € 1,000 for the bike we immediately put the signature!
The news must be examined and evaluated critically, which is why the good God (or nature, for those who do not believe) gave us the good of the intellect. :)
So, my dear kito, if you have something useful, logical or interesting to say, speak, if you want to express your different legitimate opinions in mutual respect, do it, but if you just want to express your intolerance and impatience with those who have a way to travel other than your own, do not follow you on this way and prefer to ignore.
P.S. In Italy (and not only) I have enough friends, perhaps more than any you have there in New England. :biggrin3:

No amount of arguing is ever gonna change the fact, that shipping motorcycles across the oceans does not happen very often, in fact it is very rare, especially if you're not sending between Europe and US, for example. And that means you have no readymade services available.

Also reality is, that if the brown stuff just decides to hit the fan, then you're easily stuck for days or weeks, and there may be nothing you can do about it. I hope it all goes fine, but there's a hundred things, that just might turn out more problematic in reality, than what you now think. You can't tell the customs you're in a hurry (or you can, but they'll probably just laugh cos they'll think you told a joke!) I've shipped my bike 4 times, and each time it was a big project in itself. Glad I was not in a hurry, because shipping and hurry do not mix very well. But good luck on your ambitious project anyway.

Thank you pecha72, yours are reasonable discourse. :)
I know that there may be many setbacks, I know that mine is a difficult project, but also along the dirt roads of Mongolia with a Gold Wing and it was difficult to 10,000 km from Mongolia to Italy with the bike route (fork skipped and dented circle with tubeless ko) was difficult ... and yet I did.
When planning such a trip, just a dreamer and a simpleton would think it was easy, and I do not think of it.
If do not dare, better to stay home.
I cross my fingers because I'm not superstitious, but I hope and, above all, work so picky and decided to reduce the risks and increase the chances of success of my RTW.
Thanks for the advice. :)

Halloa Gold im Sakura, al mi english al fa' schiv ad ogni mod good luck for your project....

I got a quote from Rio de Janeiro to Dakar, for my motorcycle with airplane: $ 4.160 (€ 3.200).

That's good but not enough: you cannot precisely predict how long it will takes you to crate and clear the bike through both the customs, and Dakar's harbour itsn't properly a carnival...
Outside Europe things doesn't running as in the west world, expecially when you have to face a bike shipping. In your case, you have to carry tons. of patience althoug you're in a constant hurry as for lack of time. That's sounds at least bizarre.
People are use to take it easy: for convenience, lazyness, nature, ignorance or whatever it is. And, the most you're in a hurry, then more you looks like a wallet to them.
I've told you Marcello, three months sounds like a race against time, not a bike trip: if i were in you i wouldn't do it, because of my nature, but i already know you (unfortunately) can only have that amount of time to accomplish your plans.
But, i don't think that experienced overlanders are mainly using this place to waste the time kidding or arguing with each other instead of ride the world (well, it happens, partly...). I always got good tricks searching the Hubb, i trust them because we're part of the same "world" and i never had to complain with anybody else. it is experience that talks and, if anybody says it's white, you cannot be certain it will be black...
Anyway i know you want to give a try to yourself.

Hello Donato.
I know "you can not precisely predict how long it will takes you to crate and clear the bike through Both the customs" and I also know that "Dakar's harbor properly itsn't a carnival."
But I also know that many said it was not possible to go through certain streets with a Gold Wing as my o ... a Harley like yours. :)
The challenge is not only to go to a place, not just go with a motorcycle, but also to go in a certain time. And I like it. I love traveling "fast".
In any case, I travel fast, not "in a hurry". There is a subtle difference. ;)
Travelers "in a hurry", must necessarily go home within a day.
I do not, I do not "I", I "want" to go back to a certain day. It 's different.
If a month late, it does not happen anything serious, from the point of view of work, I lose a month's pay, not the work, from the point of view of the family, my wife will be sorry, but do not let me down.
I work, I can ask four months and then only use 2, when I come, the day I resubmit my expectation at work / vacation stops automatically and everything returns to normal.
I start planning 2/3 months and my wife knows that I plan to return in this period, but if, by my calculation errors (unlikely: I have never been wrong these accounts in my travels) or events that are my own will, it will take a month more, patience is not the end of the world is nothing irreparable.
Each of us travel in a different way. ;)

The shipper of Rio de Janerio is raising the price. Now is $ 5.164 (€ 3.972) + crate. :nono:

Is it time to start looking at another port now:eek3: Brazil is not going to be the cheap way into SA. I've never shipped from Dakar to SA but reading enough I have even known of this for some time but then again to me money is an object that keeps me traveling and I much prefer spending no more than necessary for shipping even if it makes me ship from a country a couple 1000km away.

I'm looking forward to the next quote, I only expect it to get worse...

Costs at the receiving end is also something to keep in mind. Generally when sending by air, they do not seem to bring as big surprises as they often do with seafreight. But anyway, its good to be aware, exactly what the quotes include. (wow, 4000€ is mighty expensive!)

The problem is that I have no alternative.
1) I do not want to send from Argentina or Uruguay, because for my Round The World does not make sense to stop in Argentina and not arriving in Brazil, before making "the leap" for Africa.
2) I have found NO other carrier in Brazil: NONE, nor in HU nor all over the internet. If there are, I would not have found them.

Yes it is expensive (as the flight from Sydney to Santiago), but keep in mind that my bike weighs 450 kg and has a volume of length 261.5 cm, width 95.5 cm, height (after removing a piece of the windscreen) 140 cm. It is not possible disassemble any further (eg remove the bags or the rear trunk) my bike.

Maybe take the front wheel off? Dunno about the Wing, but usually that helps with the length of the package a bit. Resting such a heavy bike on its front dampers during transit could be something to worry about, though.

No, for two reasons.
1) Remove the wheel from the Gold Wing is complicated.
2) The savings would be modest, because the Gold wing is very "massive".
Thanks for the suggestion, but the Gold Wing is a particular bike: it gives so much, but want much. :)

I know your point of wiew about "How i like to ride" but you didn't get the meaning of my post. Itsn't to schedule a timing stage from a to b, wich it is only partly predictable getting through, as example, Pakistan and, mainly India, but to know in advance how long it will takes you to manage four different shippings, luckily for you by air, along a "fast", as you said, RTW.
i say "in a Hurry" because that's what i perceive when i read about trips like that.
by the way about shipping from SA to Senegal: may could you heading, for a while, to brazil first, then rode down to BA to manage the fly to Africa.
And, believe me, i've heard different stories, from people wich use to deal with brazilian customs for professional purposes, as i'd avoid to ship anything, from to, Brazil, no matters if by sea or air.
But, at the end, this is your trip, your "challenge", your will to accomplish it at your own way. i didn't knew you can get more time, in case of need, without getting in trouble with the job.
so, once you'll face it, then you'll know...

For the 4 flights I planned 3 days (the first two, the "short") and 4 days (the last 2, the "long" ones, of Ocean Pacific and Atlantic).
The forwarder Brazilian (he, too, every time I say it is very difficult to send something from Brazil) warned me that it will take 4 to 7 days. If it will take 4 days well, good, otherwise... patience.
My argument is very simple: I can take up to a year from my job, but if I come back after only 2 months, I continue to work without problems and I have not lost nothing.
I can afford to stay a year without working, but I will not do: I will make the trip in 2 months (max 80 days): if I can do well, it will take more time ... patience, but it is not a serious problem. :)
But I'll make it ... I think :)

so, it seems you can get the circle squared...
But, i could never totally agree with someone who's approaching to a RTW trip, it doesn't matter in wich "way", while i'm stuck at home...

:biggrin3: bier:
Donato, you are a friend. And, just because you're a friend, I'll think particularly to you during my Round The World, when things go well and ... when they go bad. :biggrin3:
The return of'll give my book I write, but only if you, in the meantime, you will have completed your on your wonderful trip to Asia. ;)

Today I got the last quote that I was missing: the crate to be built in Brazil for the flight to Dakar (even the expensive quote the shipping of Rio de Janeiro, in fact, did not include the crate and I have also insisted that price):
$ 1,400! :eek3:
Even in Australia it costs less! ($ 780).
With this, the total cost of the flight from Brazil rises to $ 6,500 (over-the-fly for me as a person).
Let's look at the bright side: the bad news "should" be finished. :rolleyes2:

Nope. But I think you enjoy this part.

"Nope"? What does this mean?

Nope means no. In other words, the bad news is not finished. There will be more. This is a guarantee.

I don't know what form it will take: probably some more fees on one end or the other. Almost certainly some scheduling difficulties. Likely some requirements they haven't told you about.

You're determined, and don't seem to mind the expense and trouble; in fact, you seem to enjoy it. Things will work out, but you'll spend twice as long making arrangements, pay three times as much as necessary, and take great pride in overcoming all the obstacles. Many of us would rather avoid the obstacles and spend our time and money riding instead. Free choice is a wonderful thing.

Safe journeys!

Mark

I agree with you: the bad news is not over.
But I think I have overcome the biggest obstacle: finding a way to fly with my bike at a cost "reasonable." Reasonable, of course, is a discourse relative depends on the circumstances, how long someone takes to anything and ... by people.
As for the "Many of us would rather avoid the obstacles and spend our time and money riding instead", I do not just "riding" riding: I want where I want. Thus will lead to Brazil and then from Dakar to my house.
Although this will result in more spending, more obstacles and complications.
Do not give up my trip just for these difficulties.
And to think that "normal" people, sometimes giving the crazy bikers because WE prefer to drive a vehicle open and unstable, resulting dangers and difficulties, instead of a comfortable and safe box with 4 wheels!
But, you know, "Free choice is a wonderful thing."
This is my way of being motorcyclist. ;)
PS: If I wanted to just "riding" on beautiful streets, do not even go out of my Italy, which has everything a biker could be enough. :)

You must have not "ridden" Colombia yet:funmeteryes:

I will pass from Colombia in a few years (2015, 2016?), during my North-South America. :)

In my personal experience, street riding is better in Italy: better pavement, more roads, scenery just as varied. If you want to ride fast on winding roads, Italy's the place. Plus: the food is better.

On the other hand, Colombia's a lot cheaper, friendlier, and--how do you say?--more adventurous. Italy is predictable; Colombia far less so. Plus: better looking women in Colombia, and so far I've caught much better weather there as well. YMMV.

Mark

So... what happened in the end???
who did you frieght with and how much did it cost.
shame to have the topic opened without a conclusion.

I am looking to do the same. Would appreciate it if you would post your experience!!
thanks!!

Hello SPDilley,
I'm sorry (and I apologize to everyone) if I have not posted how it went in Brazil, but I have been very busy in recent months to write the book on my "Around the World in 83 Days" (unfortunately only in Italian).
I answer you now.
1) I flew from Rio to Dakar with Luthansa. The plane flew from Rio to Dakar (direct flight); the same Lufthansa transported the motorcycle with his truck from Rio to Sao Paulo.
2) All cost $ 6,520: $ 3,625 for the flight, $ 285 transportation to the airport (trucks from Rio to Sao Paulo), 1,415 wooden crate, $ 1,195 taxes and fees.

My opinion: bad service.
1) Cash built too large (by a company chosen by the shipper) who then did cost a little more shipping.
2) Behavior of Luthansa and customs Brazilian ignoble. I handed the bike to time in Rio, Luthansa has been slow to carry the bike in Sao Paulo (it seems because there was no space on the truck or delays in customs) and, although there were still two days before the flight from Sao Paulo, Luthansa decided to load my bike on the next flight, a week after!
So I delivered the bike in Rio Monday, December 2, 2013 and I just got over in Dakar Monday, December 16, after 2 weeks!
I have sent many emails of protest and urge you to Luthansa (and have done dozens of motorcyclists my Italian friends), but Luthansa has NEVER responded to NONE! Attention to the customer equal to 0!
3) Brazilian Bureaucracy stupid, dull and slow: they demanded a certified copy of all my documents and a notary idiot even claimed the Portuguese translation of my passport (which, being an Italian passport, has already been translated into all the languages ​​of 'European Union, and Portuguese included).

Throughout my trip around the world, Brazil (and Lufthansa) have proven the worst country (and the worst company) to ship the bike in the air.
Anyway, I completed the Around the World in 83 days, I have seen so many interesting things and it was beautiful :)

I reply to an email I received (I ask you to ask me questions here, publicly, on the forum, so that my responses are for the benefit of all).
The forwarder which I addressed in Rio is Bacelar Paulo - paulo.bacelar@rioportaduaneira.com.br - http://www.rioportaduaneira.com.br/
I had no problem with age of my bike (16 years) in Dakar, but I had the Carnet.

Thanks so much for the information.. it seemed quite an ordeal for you!!

So far I am dealing with a company called MRM Freight recommended to me by James Cargo of the UK who flew my bike from Ireland to Alaska ( a very reputable and professional outfit)

Time will tell if MRM can be relied on. They answered my query very quickly and gave me a quote of $1400. But i have been in Rio for a week now waiting for a response on a date.

I will post my experience here also, maybe someone else might find it useful.

Cheers for the response!!

Good luck with your book!!!!

:thumbdown:Sounds like your shipping experience went pretty much like everyone you was arguing with advised it would.
Maybe on your next trip you will listen to well meaning advice then you won't need to be emailing airlines to complain and slag of the procedures in foreign country's?

No.

Hahaha what a surprise you disagree