Shipments done by Travellers

We picked up the bikes today in Auckland from Qantas -- 1.5 hours from walking into Customs to riding away -- best time so far!

We did the Export and Import without agents. In Sydney, we rode the bikes to Qantas, disconnected the batteries, did the paperwork (D/G paperwork was already done), unloaded our clothes, and walked to the departure gate to catch our plane. The bike arrived today (next day).

Pricing for 2 bikes (they let us ship uncrated, and charged actual weight = much cheaper):

F650 = 242kg; R100PD = 294.5kg. Total was 336.50 kg
A$2.40/kg (500+kg)
A$0.15/kg fuel surcharge
A$25 = Airway bill
A$42 = Dangerous Goods Check
(A$132) for Dangerous Goods Documents -- we did our own = FREE A$0 = Customs -- shipping agent will try to charge A$100, but there is actually no charge
NZ$33.50 = MAF check -- quarantine check.

Total = US$834.00

Shipping by sea would have been about US$400, + crating, + transport, + higher import charges in NZ, + 2 weeks. Flying was worth the investment.

Insurance is not mandatory in NZ, but we wanted it anyway. We picked up our third-party insurance for NZ$100 (both bikes) for up to 3 months: kei...@jbinsurance.com / or free call 0800 65 62 64. The insurance office is about 20km south of Auckland, just off the main hwy.

...By air, the bike is considered "A Dangerous Good" but not so by ship. The Dangerous Goods Management document cost $121.00AU (I processed it today), then on to Qantas export desk at the freight terminal (International Air Terminal), $750.00AU for shipment (bike weights 249 Kl), $25.00AU for additional fuel charge, and $60.00AU for their DGM documentation. It will be held for one day - security - and then shipped.

CARNET: Yes, it is quicker with one but no problem without it either.

At the customs office - a five minutes walk from the air terminal at Christchurch - the customs's official will ask for the value of the bike, then take 12.5% (NZ GST) of the amount and that is the amount that will be asked for and kept in an account that is established and held until you depart.

Ministery of Agriculture and Forestery (MAF): A new wrinkle. An official will inspect the bike for cleanliness. No dirt or mud!! The official looked close but not as if it was going into an operating room. A charge of $27.00 NZ.

*** Nick and Kris were in contact: I asked Kris the question, "For the difference of a couple hundred dollars, is it better to ship by air or ship?". His answer, "By air". Reason, there several additional cost at the dock - unloading and an additional MAF charge to traveling to the dock. Also, your additional transportation cost to the dock.

Sending the motorcycle from Melbourne, Australia to Brussels, Belgium I used this shipping company and flew with Lufthansa...Both companies delivered a good service.

SHIPPING CHARGES from KL / Port Klang to Sydney Each crated bike was 2.62m3, for a total of 5.24m3 (meters-cubed) $1.00 = 3.80RM / $0.27 = 1.00RM Shipping ($25/m3) $131 Crating (250RM/bike) $135 Fumigation (120RM/bike)* $65 Trucking (40RM/bike) $22 Customs (30RM/bike) $16 Bill of Lading ( " ) $16 EDI Fee ( " ) $16 LCL Fee (35RM/m3) $50 TOTAL COST FOR 2 BIKES: $451 * Transit time to Sydney is 13 days * Cost in Sydney to receive goods were VERY EXPENSIVE and it takes a couple of days of running around -- paperwork, etc. - US$432 for handling charges and a small portion was for Quarantine Inspection

NOTE: Mr Murali was Top-Rate. Benka used him to get her bike from Malaysia to Nepal, and Mika Kuhn used him to import from Japan (I think). He's also sent/rec'd vehichles. Port Klang is about 50km from Kuala Lumpor, but Murali will probably treat you to a great seafood dinner on the waterfront, then deliver you to train which goes direct back to KL.

...SHIPPING CHARGES from Singapore
to Darwin

Bikes are not crated, but rolled directly into container (Ro-Ro)
$1.00 = 1.70SD / $0.58 = 1.00SD

Shipping ($275/bike) $550
Crating n/a
Fumigation - Only for wood crates n/a
Trucking n/a
Customs / Handling = SD 80/bike $100
Insurance for damage and loose value over $500, based on US$6,000/bike = SD50/bike $60

TOTAL COST FOR 2 BIKES: $710 **

** Not sure of the port charges to p/u in Darwin. They were less than Sydney, but still worth a couple of hundred US$

NOTE: Darwin TO Singapore is cheaper -- AUS$250/bike, + add'l charges.

Transit time to Darwin is 8 days