UK to USA shipping?

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 1:55 pm

Seeking a reasonalbe, reliable shipper for a bike from the UK to the USA, any help appreciated

Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:12 pm

bump is the word of the day Very Happy

Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:44 pm

Damn Larry, I couldn't find a reasonable shipper for a swingarm. I sure hope the bike is worth it to go to the expense of shipping here from the UK. Cost me around $100 just for a swingarm. Shocked

Best of luck.

Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 5:55 am

dunno about a shipper but I think shipping something that big overseas probably requires a full crate instead of a palet crate.

Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:51 am

I've got no experiance of shipping a full bike from the UK, but sending anything from UK overseas is EXPENSIVE if you are just doing a one-off. If you are doing it regular then it can be REALLY cheap because, since all our industry collapsed, we don't actually export anything physical so there are lots of empty spaces to be filled up on outbound ships!!!

How about seeing if you can find an east coast classic car exporter [lots of classic cars exported to the US/cult/new mustangs are still coming to UK] and see if they bring anything back? I'm guessing as shiping things automotive is their thing you might get better shipment...however from what I've heard, no matter how good the shipper and agent is, things still get broke/stolen in transit, you just have to hope!

Alternatively how about seeing if you can find a company that specialises in executive relocations and seeing if they have "space" [and would do] a bike on a transatlantic 'relocation' - would be expensive but presumably service standards may be higher [get what you pay for?]

Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 1:16 pm

MrDog,

Haven't got any specific experiences, but you might try the following:

http://www.motorcycle.co.uk/lists/shipping.html

or the UK Industry website:

http://www.bifa.org/Content/Home.asp?a=0

The industry site has a Directory service to find shippers by Post Code (Zip), which may be helpful ... I've not tried it.

Hope this helps ..... !

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:24 pm

Hey CBX Dog, I shipped my F from the UK here. That's the good news. The bad side is I did it close to 20 years ago so cant recommend a shipping company. However I was in the US when it happened. The company I used picked up the bike put it in a crate and sent it by air. The price was not silly back then. The much bigger problem you may have is importing a foreign bike. The EPA don't like you doing that. When I brought mine in there was a one time dispensation in place that allowed you to import one vehicle in your life time that did not have to be in compliance with US emissions etc. That has been changed now. Any motor vehicle has to have been tested to be compliant with US emissions regulations. You have to provide the proof. What I did have to go through (and you will too I think) is prove compliance to DOT regs which affected markings on wheels, tires, glass, labeling etc. I had 6 months to bring the vehicle into compliance and had to place a bond with customs until the work was done.