Shipping a Norton back from UK ?

L.A.B. you have used the word 'problem' twice in that post which I never raised and don't have. I don't need to be right that doesn't matter to me or my ego. The point here is that a forum is about free speech and debate within reason and whilst it seems daft to take a bike from the UK to the USA it shouldn't be dismissed. I do buy ClassicBike and bought a T140 in Cheltenham 2 yrs ago for far more than they are fetching now. Without monitoring the prices of several selected makes over a constant period and running a statistical analysis I can't be sure but I have spent the last few days looking at USA bikes because I am sat at home with a broken collarbone and was bored. It was quite a surprise how much those USA bikes are going for. Sorry that I thought you were an administrator, that must have been quite offensive!

Regards FastFred

P.S. Push bikes (bicycles) are dangerous, i'll stick to motorbikes in the future...

FastFred said:

L.A.B. you have used the word 'problem' twice in that post which I never raised and don't have.

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I apologise for using the word 'problem' twice. Once should have been enough.

FastFred said:

I don't need to be right that doesn't matter to me or my ego. The point here is that a forum is about free speech and debate within reason and whilst it seems daft to take a bike from the UK to the USA it shouldn't be dismissed. I do buy ClassicBike and bought a T140 in Cheltenham 2 yrs ago for far more than they are fetching now.

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I do keep a keen eye on prices, both in classic magazines (such as CBG and RC) and also watch UK ebay closely. I must admit I haven't noticed any apparent stagnation or downturn in UK classic bike prices, although obviously there is some seasonal variation.

FastFred said:

Sorry that I thought you were an administrator, that must have been quite offensive!

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Not at all, just that you implied (somewhat sarcastically) that as 'administrator' I was somehow shouting you down or overruling your right to free speech, which is certainly not the case I can assure you.

Hey, has anyone seen the 'Family Guy' episode where they morph into Englanders?
This thread is a total validation of that screamingly funny stereotype, `kin hilarious!
Cheers, you blokes.

I suppose the shipping is not as big of an issue as it first seems. If you are shopping for something other than a cookie cutter Modern Japanese bike, you will likely have a shipping cost withing the US or Canada, could have crating costs as well. Most trucking companies require the bike to be in a crate, and from what Ive seen, this is a good thing!
If you are in the west and find a bike in the east, it will probably cost about $500 to hire a professional to crate the bike for you.
That is what I paid the lout in OZ. The annoying thing is that it is typically a throwaway crate from a new bike dealer that is used for the job.
But what else can you do if you are thousands of miles away?
Add in the cost of cross country trucking and you could easily hit the cost of air freight from UK to the US,or even exceed that.

There is a great selection of bikes in the UK, certainly better than in Canada and for some vintages and brands probably better than in the US. I do think there are more Commandos in the US however. But to fully take advantage of that big selection, some major travelling and travel expenses are incurred.

No, not a totally crazy idea to purchase a bike in the Uk and ship it to NA. I bought one in OZ sight unseen and had it shipped to the west coast! Looking back on it, that may have been a bit crazy, but it worked out quite well.

Glen

Hey, has anyone seen the 'Family Guy' episode where they morph into Englanders?
This thread is a total validation of that screamingly funny stereotype, `kin hilarious!
Cheers, you blokes.

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Hey, still bitter about the Cricket and Olympics?

Mild & bitter? Warm beer...I dont think so Freddo.. wuz just enjoying a larf - init.

You sound like my daughter (init)...

best Freddy

There is a shipping company in Houston (Galveston dock) that will do roll-on, roll-off for about $1K.

I have thier contact info somewhere around my office, they shipped a late friend's Rocket III over (in the other direction).

As a non-scientific, admittedly low sample size poll, I sold two Commandos this year to two different individuals in Toronto. I sold them for what the local market will bear. They were both shipped back to the UK. These guys are obviously making a buck so it would seem are the folks importing them back to the home country. With even my limited math skills that would mean they are more expensive in the UK. Mick