Bike shipping recommendation

[flhpolice]

Hi all. I need to send my Heritage Softail from Livingstone LA to Europe, Germany. Would you recommend any realable company? Thanks. Greg

[texaskatfish]

flh - are you needing the bike in Germany permanently or temporarily for a vacation or such?

[flhpolice]

The bike is living America forever.

[texaskatfish]

flh - as I'm in the freight biz - several of our longtime customers are International Freight forwarders

Lemme make a couple of calls and I'll shoot you a PM with a good contact

[texaskatfish]

flh - I just now sent you a PM with a solid ctc - let me know if it arrived

[14Frisco]

I've been contemplating bringing a bike over to Europe for some riding too.  I assume it is cheapest to ship by boat?  What is a ballpark amount to ship it from the east coast?  West coast?  And how long time does it take?

[texaskatfish]

Frisco I'm not *in* the international portion of shipping (other than Int'l freight forwarders are many of our customers)

IF you're only wanting to ship a bike only for a trip - I can assure You - it's cheaper and less hassle to RENT a bike over there than it is to ship yours temporarily over & back

[14Frisco]

Yes, I am aware of that.  Another option is to buy there, use it and sell it upon departure - might be cheaper than renting too.  I am still curious about ballpark amount to bring a bike there.
flhpolice - if you could post back what you find out, it would be useful for me and others. 

[glens]

Maybe get a group rate ...

[flhpolice]

Thanks texaskatfish. I got your PM. Will check this and let you know what I find out. As far as I know the boat is the cheapest.

[texaskatfish]

Frisco in fairness to you surveying potential costs - the contact I shared to flh is a pretty 'top tier' outfit - I'm betting there is a WIDE range of pricing vs. good to not so good service available.

Try Googling International Freight forwarders - and find one specializing in motorcycles - you're welcome to PM me and I'll gladly share if I know of any by either doing business with them or by reputation

[14Frisco]

Thanks.  I am not looking for an immediate shipment, but I have been toying with the idea several times with my European travels.  I am just looking for a ballpark figure, and approximate time it takes, etc. to get a feeling for what would be involved, if it is $1000-ish each way or $4000-ish each way, whether it takes two weeks or six weeks, etc.

20 years ago or so I called Lufthansa and they could put it on the same flight I was on, which would have been cool.  I don't remember the cost but I think back then it was $5-6000 or so, so I obviously passed.  And I thought about buying a brand-new Harley in Amsterdam, use it for a month or two and sell it before returning and still come out ahead of the $5-6K it would have cost to ship it.

[texaskatfish]

Frisco I can share some *general* info

most transatlantic ocean vessels leaving the US East Coast take 6 to 11 or 12 days (depending of course on which port of call YOUR cargo loads at - i.e. the very first vessel arrival terminal or the last etcetc)

obviously there is likely *some* domestic trucking involved PLUS stevedores loading/blocking/bracing your skid or crate into the container PLUS handling time to get container loaded on to the vessel at the terminal so factor that in

The same forwarder whose contact info I sent to flh assisted one of my BACA chapter Brothers who needed to move a small Honda 500 from Germany here to the Houston area -
I believe that was a crate approx 8' L  x 4.5' W  x  5' H
that cost (3 years ago or so) was in the $1500 - $1600 range

[Smarty]

In 2007 I rode the Harley to Toronto, Canada and used Transat Airlines. The bike went on the same plane I was on and landed in Manchester England. I traveled Europe and went as far east as Prague. I traveled around for two months and then left out of Gatwick to Toronto. Total bike shipping then was $3600. Wouldn't change nothing and was well worth the money.

[Just Nick]

In 2007 I rode the Harley to Toronto, Canada and used Transat Airlines. The bike went on the same plane I was on and landed in Manchester England. I traveled Europe and went as far east as Prague. I traveled around for two months and then left out of Gatwick to Toronto. Total bike shipping then was $3600. Wouldn't change nothing and was well worth the money.

Smarty I hate you that sounds like an amazing trip I wish I will have the chance one day to do the same

[flhpolice]

Well, looks like there are many possibilities. The prices vary from as low as 1000$ (without crating and insurance) to 2500$ and more. Still keep searching...

[HyperDetroit]

Well, let us know what you ultimately decided to go with.  I'm also curious about doing this one day and would love to know all that's entailed in this. 

[Smarty]

In 2007 I rode the Harley to Toronto, Canada and used Transat Airlines. The bike went on the same plane I was on and landed in Manchester England. I traveled Europe and went as far east as Prague. I traveled around for two months and then left out of Gatwick to Toronto. Total bike shipping then was $3600. Wouldn't change nothing and was well worth the money.

Smarty I hate you that sounds like an amazing trip I wish I will have the chance one day to do the same

I know, right? Once in a lifetime trip, something like 14 countries, 10,558 miles, and too many beers and glasses of wine to count. Met so many people that I still stay in touch with today. People were so nice. Invited us into their homes and cooked dinner for us. I can't even start to explain how great it was to not know where we would stay each night. Never a plan, just a direction and what ever happened, happened.

[HyperDetroit]

In 2007 I rode the Harley to Toronto, Canada and used Transat Airlines. The bike went on the same plane I was on and landed in Manchester England. I traveled Europe and went as far east as Prague. I traveled around for two months and then left out of Gatwick to Toronto. Total bike shipping then was $3600. Wouldn't change nothing and was well worth the money.

Smarty I hate you that sounds like an amazing trip I wish I will have the chance one day to do the same

I know, right? Once in a lifetime trip, something like 14 countries, 10,558 miles, and too many beers and glasses of wine to count. Met so many people that I still stay in touch with today. People were so nice. Invited us into their homes and cooked dinner for us. I can't even start to explain how great it was to not know where we would stay each night. Never a plan, just a direction and what ever happened, happened.

Did you go by yourself?