Any ideas about shipping a motorcycle and sidecar from England to USA?

B

Bill Marsh

Joined
Mar 26, 2002
Messages
1,861
Hey, we ask about everything else!

I need advice on shipping a 1977 motorcycle with a sidecar from
Southampton, United Kingdom (Far south end of England) to the Southern USA. End destination is Atlanta Georgia, but I could pick it up at a seaport.

This is for personal use.

What EPA criteria?

Registration?

Would RoRo be best? Bike is running. Any shippers you would recommend?

Thanks,
Bill in Atlanta

This old critter. Y'all have seen it before! Just want to get it home so I can hold some ecomony funerals!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4567703079&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1



Note picture of Harley (Not Mine, but I LIKE it!) For your last ride! Picture was taken at the "Bulldog Bash" a motorcycle meet in England.
 
The purchaser of this monster can drive it home anywhere no worries. As an added bonus they will also get a full tank of fuel to help them on their way.

This bike can be driven home no problem - I would have no hesitation in riding it anywhere myself - Should you want it delivered, I can do this for £1 a mile.
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It seems the seller has taken care of this for you Bill...
 
Nasty said:
It seems the seller has taken care of this for you Bill...
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At roughly 4200 miles from London to Atlanta, that would only be $7,492.80. :rolleyes:

:p Steve
 
The AMA (American Motorcyclist Ascociation, not the medical guys) has a deal and lots of information on shipping bikes, at least in the US. They would probably be a good place to start.
 
A BADORF M. International Transport
1835 Garfield Street
Hollywood, FL 33020
USA
+1 (954) 632-4753
+1 (501) 631-2327 Fax

E-mail: TouchstoneSL@aol.com
International air/ocean shipping of motorcycles and other cargo.
 
Berklay Air Express
181 E Jamaica Ave
Valley Stream, NY 11580
USA
+1 (516) 872 3335
+1 (516) 872 3331 Fax

E-mail: info@berklay.com
Web site: http://www.motorcycleshipping.com/
Since 1965, shipping bikes to and from most any place on the PLANET! Personalized, professional, and efficient services... at the lowest possible rates. A full service forwarder with a warehouse on site, providing all necessary documentation, repacking, insurance, storate, labeling, legalization, banking, pickups, customer service, assembly, etc.
 
Bill,

From what I remember getting a vehicle back from Germany, you'll just need the bill of sale and shipping paperwork (provided by whomever does the shipping) to get the bike registered. I don't believe there will be any EPA or safety requirements. I really don't remember there being any for 1977, and there used to be a wavier for that stuff when the vehicle was over 20 years old.

You can also try looking at the European Stars and Stripes Web site (www.stripes.com) as a lot of shippers advertise to the military. A lot of folks ship back older european vehicles that they can't send back on the Government's nickle (for various reasons).

Sorry I don't have anything concrete for you. Good luck!

Alan
 
I expect it's going to be very expensive. Is this a very rare thing, really worth it for 2k? Shipping lighter bikes coast to coast runs a little under 700, using a truck, residence to residence. If you could get the guy to assist in delivery to an airport, and shipped terminal to terminal, 500. But in your case, a large and heavy bike combined with shipping internationally, and whatever taxes may apply, I'd expect to pay at least another $2000 just to get it here.
 
I can recommend NOT using FedEx Freight if they are an option you're considering. I shipped a composite sea kayak which they completely destroyed - a split seem and at least six heavily damaged points in various places from bow to stern, port to starboard, at various places across the hull and deck, everything from crushes to punctures.

By their own admission it was properly packed and mishandled (for some reaon it was rammed by fork lifts a couple times and it looked like they dropped a crate on it crushing one end). It's kind of hard to believe they would have that much trouble with a 55 pound boat. It can't be repaired and of course their liability is determined by weight rather than 'volumetric weight' (the opposite of billing)....

FedEx...when it absolutely, positively has to get there broke to hell.

On the brighter side, the pictures have generated a new word for complete, wasteful destruction. "My buddy was goofing off on his motorcycle and FedExed both his bike and his knee."
 
SASSAS said:
I can recommend NOT using FedEx Freight if they are an option you're considering. I shipped a composite sea kayak which they completely destroyed - a split seem and at least six heavily damaged points in various places from bow to stern, port to starboard, at various places across the hull and deck, everything from crushes to punctures.

By their own admission it was properly packed and mishandled (for some reaon it was rammed by fork lifts a couple times and it looked like they dropped a crate on it crushing one end). It's kind of hard to believe they would have that much trouble with a 55 pound boat. It can't be repaired and of course their liability is determined by weight rather than 'volumetric weight' (the opposite of billing)....

FedEx...when it absolutely, positively has to get there broke to hell.

On the brighter side, the pictures have generated a new word for complete, wasteful destruction. "My buddy was goofing off on his motorcycle and FedExed both his bike and his knee."
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LOL in a rueful way! Yeah, I had a wonderful 15th century cannon (Lantaka from Indonesia, about 30" long) shipped to me using FedEX. It arrived with a broken off front sight. The front sight was also completely lost. I might have been able to braze it back.

The shipping container was a solid peice of PVC pipe, heavily padded on the inside. The pipe was shattered. I asked them if the airplane carrying it had crashed and the cannon recovered from the wreckage?

Never was able to get an insurance settlement. They claimed the packing was "insufficient." And this only came from Florida to Georgia!

The cannon had survived wars, pirate adventures, probably was traded for wives many times (they were also used as currency), being sunk to the bottom of the sea for 250-350 years -- BUT it could not survive a FedEX two day shipment!

They are sure NOT getting a chance with my "Reliant Cossack!"
 
one of the websites I was looking at showed a price from EUR to USA for $850 (flat rate for a motorcycle or car). So, hopefully it won't be more than double that.
 
Daniel Koster said:
one of the websites I was looking at showed a price from EUR to USA for $850 (flat rate for a motorcycle or car). So, hopefully it won't be more than double that.
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Can not find that site? Help?

Best quote I have right now is about $1,000 USD. That would be to ship from Southampton UK to Brunswick Georgia seaport. I would pick it up there. Had another quote for $2800! Still laughing about that one. Fortunately the lower quote came in first.

If I go with the $1,000 quote, they will ship on September 9. Should get it in about three weeks! Wahoo!

The seller is really neat. He is including a manual for the Reliant engine (normally it powers a three wheel British car), and another manual for the Dnepr frame. Also he is sending some 'spares.' Plugs, filters, exhaust system, etc. Guy sounds wonderfully detailed!

Reliant made hundreds of thousands of cars, so engine parts should be easiliy available. I do have to deal with an SU Carburetter, however.

The whole rig has a few miles on it, so the Russian bugs should be worked out of the frame and running gear.

Seller says it uses no oil and starts easily. But you do know the British are fond of "Rat Bikes!" And they like to tinker on Sunday afternoons.

The sidecar interior reminds me of the stunt plane I used to have. There is room for two seats, one in the back also. Tandem seating.

I feel like a kid at Christmas! Or maybe like when I got my first HI Khuk!

But since I have until September 6 to decide on shippers. I will keep looking.

THANK YOU ALL!

Especially Dan and Kis!
 
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