Shipping San Francisco to Italy 2014
 

Shipping 2 BMW GS bikes from SF to Italy May 2014. Any suggestions on the best affordable route?

Room for one more?
 

I'm planning on shipping my 950 to Europe in May 2014 for a trip to Magadan. I've tentatively planned on flying into Ireland and riding with my lovely bride to northern Italy where I'll leave her with relatives. However starting off in Italy in mid-May would work well with my schedule. Perhaps there could be economy in numbers?

Kelly

Aris export in San Leandro shipped a 20' container for me last fall to Ireland for $4000.
If you could fill it with 10 bikes it would work out cheap per bike.
Downside is US customs charge of $85/bike and it cost me 750 Euro to clear the container on the Irish side, bringing up the cost considerably.
The logistics of getting 10 people to ship the same day are almost impossible.
Then, you have to ship it back again.

In my time back here, I have seen a ton of US bikes for sale here, as the owners had no interest or finances to ship them home. I have seen them sell them for less than what they paid to ship them across.
Buying and selling a bike in Europe works out way cheaper if you want to research that option.