jimmyb74 Posted March 15, 2022 Report Share Posted March 15, 2022 I moved to the USA on a 3 month work detail and here I am 20+ years later, married, kids, dogs, mortgage……but I left my love back in the UK. I am looking to be reunited with my beloved 1978 Montesa Cota 348. I would love this bike to be my next rebuild project. Does anyone have any bike shipping experience? This bike has been sitting for 30 years in a garage (it was not ridden the last few years of me being in the UK) should I dismantle it and ship part by part? Should I ship it complete? Can I get customers clearance without a title? I have had a couple of quotes that want to wrap the bike in bubble wrap and build a customized crate along with all those costs! Any and all advice and recommendations appreciated (I know I can hunt and buy one in the USA but they are not mine that I have owned for many years) Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloomfield Posted March 15, 2022 Report Share Posted March 15, 2022 I've got no recent experience with overseas shipping, but if you can break it down and crate it on a standard-sized pallet it should be much cheaper than shipping it whole; at least that is very much the case with road freight. Be sure to enlist a customs broker; your shipper may include this service but do make sure beforehand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Gezzer Posted March 15, 2022 Report Share Posted March 15, 2022 (edited) Why not get it stripped down to big bits i.e. Engine and Frame then crate them up and find some space in a container heading your way. Probably cheaper than an expert export packer charging a small fortune. Edited March 15, 2022 by Old Gezzer Spelling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feetupsbetter Posted March 15, 2022 Report Share Posted March 15, 2022 In terms of package size, if you can get someone to take the wheels out, bars off & maybe rear mudguard, then it makes a pretty compact box. That would then be fairly easy to find a space for in a container. I guess you’d need some kind of freight forwarder or similar to deal with the paperwork & customs side of things. Probably cheaper if you can get it ‘sent’ from here rather than arrange ‘collection’ from over there. A friend or family member this end would be handy ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biffsgasgas Posted April 15 Report Share Posted April 15 Ive had some experience both ways by proxie. Where are you located in the states? --biff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biffsgasgas Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 Whole bikes broken down into two standard pallets is about 1000 usd one way with ups. --biff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb74 Posted April 19 Author Report Share Posted April 19 On 4/15/2023 at 3:07 PM, biffsgasgas said: Ive had some experience both ways by proxie. Where are you located in the states? --biff Biff I am located in Ohio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb74 Posted April 19 Author Report Share Posted April 19 On 4/17/2023 at 4:26 AM, biffsgasgas said: Whole bikes broken down into two standard pallets is about 1000 usd one way with ups. --biff Biff Do you know anyone that could do the breakdown and packing in the UK? How long since you shipped via ups? I could do the $1000 transport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisCH Posted April 20 Report Share Posted April 20 I have a packing crate for free if anyone wants it. (Bournemouth area) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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