When did shipping get so expensive ??
 

HOLEY MOLEY..

I've been collecting some quotes to try and get my bike to Buenos Aires from the UK.

£1500 plus £250 clearance is what I'm getting. £1700.... doh

In 2007, it cost me £650 plus about £200 in clearing.

What happened ??????????

Sounds about right. No clue to the cause of the big price rise ... other than "Because They Can". doh

I've seen a lot of rates posted on forums, then someone will claim they can get a bike from EU to B.A. for $1000 USD. No idea how.

Maybe rates are better from a Euro port? Isn't there a Ro-Ro that goes over?
Try Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Le Harve. Also, going to Brazil may be cheaper than B.A.

Other option is a shared container.

Good luck, I look forward to reading responses here.

I think if you're prepared to sail from a port in the arse end of nowhere to a port in an equally crap place, you can get it for $1000. But by the time you've got to that port and left the other one you're probably on the same money.

Bikes sold by travellers used to be dirt cheap in south America. Jeeez, people used to give them away. Now everyone wants crazy money. Probably because they know shipping is so expensive...

Can't speak for Europe, but here in the States, when fuel prices hit around $4/gallon, shipping prices went up like a whore's hemline. Most of our product is moved by truck

Look up PDP freight services in the UK - PDP Freight Services .. ask for Malcolm, tell him Gwyn sent you. Cost us 1000 EURO from London to Chile. (plus destination costs) for a 20ft container

They have been the cheapest agent in the UK for us


Expect to be stung at destination. They screw you for all kinds of storage and whatever other fees they can


The Overlanders

Hope that helps and saves you some money
Gwyn
The Overlanders

G'day Ted,

Seriously consider buying a bike in the US. Shipping as you've just realised is just wasted time not to mention the cost of a carnet, a shite load of cash! You don't need a carnet in South America for US registered bikes. K'n bewdy mate!

Cheap good bikes are plentiful in the US. Registering a bike in Arizona couldn't be easier (it took me 10 minutes flat) or cheaper for that matter, have contacts ;) Flying into the US is going to be cheaper and quicker than going to South America from the UK as well.

Knowing you'd keep it in good nic and improve it, you'd pass it on easily enough, not only that you'd have wheels till it sold! IMHO mate, a no brainer!

Start looking here.

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Cheers Dave bier

Because RTW travelling by bike has become very popular and those who pay it, have probably not questioned the cost, so now it's become the norm...
We are the creators of our own fate.

That does make sense mate... I've thought about that option quite a bit. Not sure if it fits into my timeline though. I need to make my mind up soon though.



Ain't that the truth. The same idiots who throw up cash over a touratech catalogue and stupid £20,00 adventure bikes throw equal money, unquestioned at shipping companies.

It has more than doubled in price in six years... You can't blame that on inflation and fuel duty.

How about flying it?
I don't know about South America or the US, but flying my bike from North Africa to the UK was a lot cheaper than sticking it in a boat, and the airport costs were also less than seaport costs. Just a thought.

IMO, that's not a bad idea! Break the bike down to a small package ... both wheels off, handlebars off, fenders off. Build a very small crate and put it on a Lufthansa Air Cargo 747. The dangerous goods clause may be a roadblock?

When I was in S. America many years ago, Lufthansa was the BEST to deal with. Now? No idea, but they're a very well run company.

Sell the NX put the proceeds towards a bike in the US. Start looking and talking, book a ticket, hand over the dosh. Head for Arizona, Mexico, Panama and start looking for a boat, any boat! Job done! You might even make a quid if you sold it in the Americas given the going rates!

500 euros Rotterdam to Paramaribo, what I heard. Why mess around? Complaining saps you of vital energy.

Then I might as well buy a bike in Alaska and start there.. ;)

Moaning is great. It's goes well with my morning coffee :)

The days when you could take it as hand luggage have long gone :(

Would it be cheaper if you broke it down and posted it as a crate as spare parts? The Chinese seem to be able to get ebay stuff here for next to nothing.

If you remove the battery fuel n oil from the bike then will be allowed to cargo by air.

The quotes I got were air cargo... More research required.

Some airlines require the battery to be just disconnected not removed and leads insulated with tape, and you can leave some fuel in the tank just to get you going at the other end. The oil has to be drained though.

You seriously think starting in Alaska is equivalent to starting in Paramaribo? Naw, can't be true. You're impulsive, but not ignorant. Either you're joking or you're answering someone else.

You could ship to South America for 500 euros last I heard, which was two years ago. That's cheap--cheaper than 2007, in fact. Suriname is a bit out of the way, sure, but the whole area is fun and interesting and not overpopulated by riders who look just like you. It's not even terribly remote compared to lots of places. You want to go to South America, or you want to go someplace where they speak a different language but basically everything works much like it did back home? Your choice.

Or if you prefer, buy in the States and spend an extra month or more riding through Central America. That's also great fun, and it has the added advantage of making South American borders seem fast and efficient.

Or: If you're short on time and want to see the southern tier, pay the going price and ship to Chile. Buck up.

If your real goal is to spice up your morning coffee with some whining (or whinging, depending on personal preference and national origin), please carry on. Pay no attention to practical suggestions which address your original plaint, because the point is not to find solutions.

safe travels and fun times,

Mark

Mark, relax mate... Its just the internet..

Thing is.. I only have three months to spend in south America. I also have a budget of about £3000 for EVERYTHING inc return flights. I also have to meet some people in bsas, equador and Bogotá on set dates. So, I'm not as footloose and fancy free as I would hope..

So, buying a bike is just too expensive unless I can guarantee a sale of close to what I paid for it.. And it adds a lot of potential drama to an already tight schedule.

I have a lot to consider... I'm constantly flipping metaphorical coins. Trying to make the most out of hard earned money and trying to judge how best to use my time.

First world problems I know but problems all the same..

Thanks for the tip about Suriname.. I will definitely look into it. Any idea if the company ???

Next time I'll have cheese to go with my whine ;)

Cheers, Ted

I'm relaxed.

Easy search, although it's Amsterdam, not Rotterdam: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...suriname-71635 .

Dunno Ted, pretty cheap to cross the channel to the continent ... what? £50 or so? All those ports are within about a days ride (or so) from Le Harve. Rotterdam and Dutch ports have always been busy coming/going to S. America. I think I've heard of a Ro Ro that bases there? Not sure, maybe worth a look.

Landing in Brazil is a bit out of the way, Suriname would be OK if you wanted to see Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru. if you ride the big roads FAST you could be in Southern Argentina in 10 days or so.

But I totally get your situation and you ARE "up against it" regards your Time and Money constraints. :thumbdown: Any way to steal a few extra weeks? Money? Sell off another bike?

Riding down from USA is a No Go IMO. You'd have to rush and that ain't no fun. A lot of your budget would have to go to buying a bike in USA. :nono:

You could buy a travelers bike down there somewhere ... then maybe leave it there for next time? Maybe better than being rushed, having to sell it off for nil?

Or ... ship your own bike over ...leave it for another trip with more time in a year or three? I've heard Uruguay is OK for storing bikes long term? Anyone have current info on leaving a bike and not screwing yourself by overstaying your TVIP?

Also heard what Mark was talking about regards Suriname. Must be a few alternate cheaper ways ... somewhere. :confused1:

Yes, but also because of HOW EXPENSIVE any German, Austrian or Japanese bike is there to buy, new or used. Outrageous. Even the Chinese bikes are overpriced. Double of they cost in USA. (import duties)

Sad thing is (but good for you) ... many travelers get badly stuck and HAVE to sell cheap as many are up against a deadline for a flight out. They end up practically giving the bike away just to get out from under it.
But DO be careful about the paperwork and TVIP business. Bit tricky.

Best of luck mate! Hope things work out! bier

Yip.. I might have yo rethink my whole two year plan. If I'm going to pay for bike shipping then I might as well make the most of the time. Maybe I need to work a few months more and save the extra dough..

Three months is not long enough to warrant costly shipping or the logistics of crossing half a continent just for a cheap shipping deal.

First world problems..

I thought you were having the year off Ted?

First world problems indeed. Sheeesh! doh Another reason I should avoid world news. :taz: BLOOD Pressure! :funmeteryes:

You may be on to something there Ted. Maybe hang on to the job for the time being? 3 month long trip and blow all your savings? :innocent:

Yup... But got A LOT of things to do and a lot of places to go. Can't be spending all my time and money on one continent. I've got a lot that I want to do over the next 12-18 months.

It's not ALL my savings. Just what I've set aside for that trip. I've got another three months planned in South East Asia, a few months in Aus/NZ and I also need to get my arse on a trip down the silk trail to Mongolia.

It's going to be tough to afford it all, that's why I have to be very strict with myself.

It's incredibly tough to try and judge expenses and budgets for a super flexible unplanned trips :)

If your point is to ride around SA and you're short of time & money, going to the USA seems pointless - you still have to pay to get into SA somehow.
But getting to the USA is relatively cheap, buying a bike is relatively easy and there's an awful lot to see there :)

I don't know how to find it, but there is a thread on here about a guy who sells Chinese honda 250 clones in SA, and after your trip he will buy them back. I remember it seemed cheap to me

Every quote I've had to Buenos Aires be it air or see is over £1,500 with most closer to £2,000 then you've got to add on all the port and customs fees at the other end.

None of the companies I've spoken to will even entertain the idea of RoRo shipping.

If we get past the freight forwarders which are essentially just middle men, then it might be better.

Suriname seems the cheapest, but unless you want to go to Venezuela, Guyana, it's 1,000s of miles from anything.

For me now there are only three options for bringing a bike to south america.

Suriname.. However, I contacted a few companies and they are now not interested in non commercial freight.

Find a container share from Europe.

Buy a bike in the USA and ride it there. For me this is a good idea if you're European as everything is cheaper and you get to see central America too.

Did I get this right – You have actually sent a MC from the UK to Buenos Aires by air for £850 total? If so, then that was quite cheap. Maybe this is no longer possible.

But I also remember back in 2008, when I was looking to send my bike back to Europe from Oz by sea, I got quotes from many companies, and the one that I chose, offered its services at about 50% of the price of the next cheapest company (and the others were not far from each other). First I thought, that it can´t be right, but then luckily I heard of a few others, who had used this very same company, and with positive experiences, so I decided to go for it. Glad I did, as I payed roughly 500 euros at the Australian end, and about 180 to pick up at the port in Helsinki (although that latter one did feel a bit ridiculous, compared to what the ocean freight from another side of the planet had cost me – sort of Welcome to the EU, I guess!!)

Of course I do not know, what they would charge me now. Just meant to say, that the prices can (or at least they could!) vary - a lot - and it seemed extremely critical to be able to find the right guys to do business with. If I had not been lucky enough to get in contact with this one particular company, then it looks very likely, that I would have payed nearly double. Why they were so much cheaper than everyone else that I found, I have simply no idea. Just pointing out, that it could be worth it to still keep searching for a better offer.

....But if you really do have the possibility to fly into the US, and buy there and go, then I´d seriously consider doing exactly that, as looking from the EU, bikes are almost ridiculously cheap over there!

Buying a bike is the USA is indeed low cost vs. UK/EU. But seems a lot of riders really put heart, soul and pound into outfitting their ride. Some have a history with their bikes, have done many long journeys. They know their bike well, have a cache of spares for it and proper luggage that fits and has been tested. And on and on it goes.

So coming to US to buy a bike can mean starting over. Different bike, different luggage, new things to learn. The new bike will have to be learned, parts sourced, modification done, parts and luggage added.

One of the biggest hurdles for US buyers can have is having no place to live whilst setting up the new machine. If paying a Motel, you'd go broke. But if you can stay with a fellow HUBB'er or friend, then it's more doable. Also, having access to a garage and tools will be important if setting up a new bike. No matter how good your new bike is ... it will need modification for overland travel.

There's also the fact that if you want to tour South America and don't the time or inclination to travel through Central America, which could double your trip (and cost) then it doesn't make much sense. Especially as you need to get it back to America again.

Otherwise sure, why not. Though I don't think bikes are (much) cheaper in USA than UK

You are right though. Heart overhead when comes to someone's dream trip. There's also something romantic about riding your own bike.

I once drove from Tijuana to Guatemala in 9 days! :scooter::rofl: (VW Van)

Suggest reading through Craig's list adds for San Francisco Bay Area
and Los Angeles area. Lots of crazy good deals. "Give aways" in some cases.

Far as new bikes go ... we pay in Dollars "roughly" what you pay in UKP. Also, here, it's rare to have to pay MSRP. There is always a "discount" of some sort.

But certain bikes are cheap-ish in the UK. I spent 6 months following UK ads before my trip there. I decided a Triumph Tiger was the best deal vs. 4 or 5 other bikes I considered. The Tiger would have cost MORE here in the USA at that time. Seems they depreciate more in UK than in USA. BMW's were also cheaper in UK, cheaper still in Germany. They bring top dollar in USA.

The other factor is that USA is full of the common, inexpensive dual sport bikes that are somewhat rare (and unsold) in UK: Suzuki DR650, Kawi KLR650, XR650L Honda. These all still sold NEW in USA.
Also, many 200 to 250's too. (KLX, CRF, YZ, NX, Serow, XL ... on an on)

bier

See freight mate. Took about 24 days. I used Sandra from Dakar Motos to do all the customs clearing for me. Took her half a day compared to 4 days of other people who didn't want to pay her very reasonable fee. ...

Good price.

Did using Sandra add a few hundred extra onto the price? Presumably someone needs to be a port/customs, does she come down to the port and sort everything out?

Yes she came with us and did everything but ride the bike out.. I don't know what they charge for customs clearance now. Best email and ask. Certainly was worth the money in my eyes... But its possible to do yourself if you don't mind it taking 3 days and waiting around a lot.

Excellent, I'll have to get in touch once in Argentina.

How about buying used in B A?

Sounds like a fair amount of hassle. i.e waiting for the right bike to come along (could take weeks/months), registering the bike, getting local insurance, taking the bike out of the country, returning to the country, then sitting around for weeks/months, waiting for someone to buy it)

On the plus side, you save maybe £2000 off having to transport your bike, and you get a bike that you know can be repaired locally, especially handy since it'll probably be a bike you have no knowledge of working on.

If I was from AUS, or USA, and wanted to ride Europe/Africa I'd probably buy in Europe. If I was from Europe and wanting to tour AUS I'd probably buy there.

For everything else, at least for me personally, it's better either ride there, or ship. The cost of shipping isn't going to make or break my trip (that won't stop me moaning about it though :-)

From what I've read, if buying, most buy in Chile, perhaps it's easier there.

as far as i know you're not allowed to buy a bike in argentina and leave within the first year. but that might be outdated information.

It's funny that you talk about 2000GBP to ship a bike. it is not too hard to buy and completely outfit a bike for a South America trip (on road) for that money. A good early 2000s Japanese bike will cost $1500-$2000 leaving another $1000 for whatever. You can often get them with bags and accessories. you may not get the off roadies with the 1/2 Touratec catalog on them but you'll get a trouble free ride to the end of the earth, and that's worth something.

Slightly off topic, but one courier/forwarder has said that the motorcycle will need a certificate to state that all flamable liquids have been remove from the bike.

I thought it was common to ship with 1/4 of a tank of fuel and without any draining of the oil. Otherwise how the hell are you going to use bike at the other end.

shipped my bike to valparaiso, only drained fuel but left some 2-3l in there to get to the next service station. was not necessary to drain the oil / anything else, only to disconnect the battery.

I guess that makes sense from the US.

From Europe Buenos Aires has to be cheaper.

I received a good quote for Montevideo, but from what I've read, all of the agents there want $1000 to sort out the customs.

Ted,

Contact Kathy at International Motorcycle Shipping and Transport - Moto Freight

She was very helpful when I was looking for prices to get bikes to the USofA so should be able to give you an accurate low down on costs to South America

Just for interest, she quoted me £1100 airfreight London to Nashville and £800 by sea LA to Felixstowe a couple of months ago.


Laters