Is shipping your bike better than renting?

[wader]

I'm thinking of touring from SanFrancisco to NY and bike hire seems very expensive, does anyone know how much shipping can cost?

I've had one quote of £800 (one way!) and I'd have to get it to Middlesex. Surely it can be cheeper than that and there are more ports local to me that would take it (Hull or Liverpool)

Anyone know?

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

You should PM Sgt Bilco and ask him, he's done it recently.. see below:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161345

 

[jtreg]

Wow, that was a nice trip... I am new to the forum, dont own a GS but I do own an old R80 RT, R100RS, Commando and er a KZ1000-P which I rode from LA to New York via Alaska, the story is here http://www.tregaskis.org/php/trip.php

I would love to get a GS especially the older air cooled ones

peace

JT

 

[Paul Rochdale]

Yes, I've done this trip twice on a bike. 2002 - flew the bike to Vancouver and rode to Toronto via Nogales on the Mexican border in six weeks. Flying the bike was VERY expensive. 2006 - shipped the bike from Southampton to Newark NJ, rode to San Francisco and back in three months. Cost for shipping = about £550 each way. Do not even consider renting unless you're going for a couple of weeks.

For details of the last trip see http://groups.msn.com/FROMSEATOSHININGSEAANDBACK

For shipping, contact Tony White of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Line, Southampton terminal (email tony.white@2WGlobal.com)

You cannot travel with the bike, so must fly out and meet it at the other end.

 

[KazakDan]

Buy and sell a bike in the US

Hi
It is possible, and more economically viable, if you are there for a few weeks, to buy and then ship or buy and sell.

Depending on the bike and the initial value, the depreciation/loss can be way less than renting and probably less than shipping.

Providing you have a license, and can get insurance as a non resident, you can buy a bike and register it on a temporary tag. This means you dont pay state sales tax, but have x number of days to register it elsewhere or export it. (no of days differs per state).

Theoretically this temp tag cannot be renewed (to stop people constantly avoiding state sales tax somewhere) but I managed it two times, once in canada and then in PA.

I know a guy who can sort the paper work legally and he is based in Pennsylvania. It might be possible to sort these tags long distance and he can give you (possibly) up to 90 days on the temp. Details if you PM me... I don't know where they are now but I will look if you need them.

 

[Blackal]

Hi
It is possible, and more economically viable, if you are there for a few weeks, to buy and then ship or buy and sell.

Depending on the bike and the initial value, the depreciation/loss can be way less than renting and probably less than shipping.

Providing you have a license, and can get insurance as a non resident, you can buy a bike and register it on a temporary tag. This means you dont pay state sales tax, but have x number of days to register it elsewhere or export it. (no of days differs per state).

Theoretically this temp tag cannot be renewed (to stop people constantly avoiding state sales tax somewhere) but I managed it two times, once in canada and then in PA.

I know a guy who can sort the paper work legally and he is based in Pennsylvania. It might be possible to sort these tags long distance and he can give you (possibly) up to 90 days on the temp. Details if you PM me... I don't know where they are now but I will look if you need them.

Interesting, although I believe the dificult bit is the insurance?

Anyone?

Al

 

[The Bede]

Interesting, although I believe the dificult bit is the insurance?

Anyone?

Al

... Sgt Bilco's yer man 'locally'

... I reckon a punt about on ADVRider would generate some reasonable answers

 

[KazakDan]

I should have added more details about insurance.

Insurance is discussed elsewhere on the UKGSER site.

Have a look at this for starters

http://www.hctravel.com/html/us_m_c_insurance.html

 

[Stevemav]

Shipping can also leave you without a bike for a considerable time. There is a company called Jupiter Hire who will hire you a bike for the one way trip. They have offices in LA and New York. Used them last October and had a great experience.
http://www.jupitersnyc.com/rentals.php
Contact a guy called ISH in LA. Really helpful.

I'm thinking of touring from SanFrancisco to NY and bike hire seems very expensive, does anyone know how much shipping can cost?

I've had one quote of £800 (one way!) and I'd have to get it to Middlesex. Surely it can be cheeper than that and there are more ports local to me that would take it (Hull or Liverpool)

Anyone know?