Made some enquries into shipping it with some of the major International Moving and Storage companies who are well versed in shipping furniture, motorcycles or anything.
Question:
I'm moving to the US in the very near future and considering shipping my bike across with me since the second hand market seems so dead! Does anyone know any good contacts for shipping a motorcycle across to the US? Anyone have any ideas of cost and transit time?
Answer:
I *had* (permission for lower lip to wobble) a Morini 3 1/2 before
moving back to the US from Perth (lived there for 8 years, will return
soon I hope). I made some enquries into shipping it with some of the
major International Moving and Storage companies who are well versed in
shipping furniture, motorcycles or anything. I checked one in particular
(don't remember which but could find out) which a friend of mine used
for furniture overseas and was pleased with.
I don't know of any "good" contacts but I don't think I'd consider using
anyone who wasn't a major reputable international moving company.
The cost from Perth for the Morini would have been about $1300AUD to
have it landed at the Port of Houston. Thats as far as they go. The rest
is up to you. The $1300 included crating, insurance and etc. They had a
list of bikes and shipping prices. I'm sure a large bike would be at
least a couple of hundred more.
I don't know if it would be cheaper from anywhere else in the country,
however I think they just put it on the first available ship which could
be going to the US via the Pacific or Indian/Atlantic oceans. This is
supposed to take from 2 to 3 months. My friends furniture took 4 months
because it went to Hong Kong and had a bit of a holiday there before
continuing onto the US.
You then would have to pay some US moving company to clear it through
customs and ship it to wherever you are from Houston. With the company I
talked to Houston was the only choice. Perhaps if you are going to be in
a major coastal city, some other company can get it there.
With all this ($1300AUD international, probably another $400US
domestically) relicensing, registration, title, unforseen difficulties,
etc. I decided it just couldn't be justified before I even bothered to
check on import duties if any and those sorts of costs. I figured
selling there (even if at a loss which wouldn't prevented by spending
$2000 in shipping) and buying here would be easier.
Its probably just as well, because now that I'm here, I find that I'd
much rather be there.
They have provided a quote - but I don't have it to hand. It was
comparable to the cost of importing a Panther from the UK when we moved
here three years ago.
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