Shipping from US to Australia

Hi All.

Hoping to get feedback/experience in shipping a whole bike plus a frame from the US to Sydney, Australia (the bike has a title but not the frame). Ive been quoted over $2800 AUD !!!! from one company that specialises in bike transport, but that was for the bike only as its a roll on roll off service. Seems way over the top expensive to me?

Looking at sending via a boxed up crate seems to be much cheaper (and I could fit the extra frame in) but Im not sure of the quality of service. Im guessing insurance would be a must!

Anyone have any thoughts or experience in this area care to share any insight?

Thanks

Dave

In 2004 I shipped a 1947 Vincent twin from Oz to Canada. I used ocean freight and will never do this again. Cost was about $400 for the freight, $530 for insurance based on the value of he Vincent at that time, and $500 for crating.
I couldn't do the crating myself because I was in Canada and had purchased the bike in OZ without ever going there.

I had an airfreight quote that was similar to the total ocean shipping cost, but did not include insurance. I air shipped the same bike to the UK for the IOM then back home to Canada in 07 and did not bother with insurance. The bike was on the same plane we were on so I saw no need. The insurance available was only of the total loss type, so that would mean the plane would have to go down in order to collect. Since I was on the same plane, I did not think this type of insurance would be of much use to me!

If you do use Ocean Freight, definitely get insurance. The shipping company lost my bike twice, once for three weeks when the container was accidentally sidelined in Malaysia!

Finally four months after the crate was delivered to the shipper, the bike arrived in Vancouver. I got it home, checked the oil and put some fuel in. With a single kick at it started right up and sat there idling comfortably with that old warplane Vincent sound.
Glen

My 73 Eldorado,71 Fastback,both TR5T's and the 74 MkIIa are all ex USA bikes.
Shipping from Long Beach to Sydney cost $900 each.
Any bike must have a title to leave the USA to avoid major paperwork (Unless things have changed)
Any bike deemed 1989 or later = extra drama,any before that date,1988 or older = easy.
A frame with no title who knows.

Edit.
That is direct voyage (three weeks) in a container that is unpacked by the shipper.

Yep, should be ABOUT $1,000US maybe a couple hundred more, depending on shipper & coverage. (roll-on, roll-off)

Crate should be $300 - $500.

Thanks all.

What companies do you recommend. This Australian one quoting $2800 is obviously way off the mark, so Id be keen to talk to other specialist ones.

With the title requirements. Which side has the issue here. Is it Customs leaving the states or the Australian end? or who? Im interested to contact the relevant "department" to understand the ins and outs of this. Like I said the bike has a title, just not the frame.

thanks

Dave