Shipping a motorcycle as a bicycle?

[canuck750]

There is a 1957 Moto Guzzi Cardellino for sale on Ebay in California.

It is so small I wonder if the engine could be put into a separate box and the rest of the bike placed in a bicycle shipping box and taken home on a commercial flight?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-Moto-Guzzi-Cardellino-/222626205378?hash=item33d58e4ec2:g:AkMAAOSwdoVZhKsP&vxp=mtr

Thoughts?

[nyITguy]

Might be cheaper, or as cheap, and easier to just find a shipper that does motorcycles. At that weight and size they probably wouldn't charge much.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[canuck750]

Might be cheaper, or as cheap, and easier to just find a shipper that does motorcycles. At that weight and size they probably wouldn't charge much.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Problem is if I use a shipper I need to deal with customs, brokerage etc, If I fly down and pack the bike in a  flight box I can take it as oversize luggage and slip it across the border.

[nyITguy]

Aha, smuggling a senior citizen out of the county, now I see your angle. [emoji23]

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like a great expense, with flying and all. But if it's worth it to you,  I suppose that could work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[twowheeladdict]

I read on a Versys forum where a guy bought an '07 Kawasaki in Canada and only had to pay $61.50 at the border to bring it back into the states.

[Chesterfield]

If it fits in the box, I would think no problem. Throw a couple of old pedals in it to be convincing.

[Tom]

You'll need it Hazmat certified certified for air shipment.  As an unknown shipper the box will need to be opened for inspection.  No papers no shipping. 

Check in as a bicycle in a box on the pax side.  You might get it passed as a heavy bicycle.  You'll have to pay weight charges.  When the box is moved from counter to back of the check in counter the baggage handlers will notify the TSA guys that it's heavy for a bike.  TSA always opens boxes.  The engine will be spotted.  See first paragraph.

The box that has the engine in it with no hazmat papers will be rejected for shipment.  The Supervisor in charge of the ticket counter will try to call you.  Hopefully you put your phone number on the box.  "They" aren't that stupid.

If you succeed in smuggling it in, let us know.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

most airlines charge a $125-$200 fee for a bike. it doesnt matter if it's your only checked bag, doesnt matter if it's underweight, doesn't matter if it's a folding or compact bike.. they have a real hard-on for charging this fee for bikes.

Now, if the bike box is over weight, yes you get hit with an overweight fee in addition to the bike fee.  This has been a point of contention with the airlines and bike racers or cycle tourers for many years because they didnt charge an extra fee for skis or golf clubs or guns... Only a special fee for bikes. 

It seems the gate agent, not the TSA or baggage handlers are the true gatekeepers here...  as a matter of fact, there is a whole cottage industry within cycling producing several variations of an oversized suitcase that doesn't look like a bike box and doesn't trip the oversize check bag requirements for frequent bike travelers to try and evade detection.  If you can get it past the gate agent without getting dinged with the fee, you are usually home free... the TSA doesn't care what's in your bag when you open it, so long as it's not a bomb.  If you search for #airportninja on social media, you will see there are lots of triatheletes, bike racers, and cycle tourists evading detection & thus.. the fee.


I think if you ship the engine separately, make sure you have 100% drained the gas, and pack it in a bicycle box from a bike shop (if it says TREK or GIANT BICYCLES or somesuch in huge lettering down the side, all the better), and declare it as a bicycle & pay the fee willingly.... You will not have any problems.

I would deff wrap up any lights or visible electric stuff with bubble wrap, wrap everything in bubble wrap to obscure things like handlebar electric buttons, filler cap, etc....  And getting a cheap pair of pedals at the bike shop where you source the box, zip tie them together and put them right on top!  I don't think you'll have any issues

If they open the box and see spoked wheels, a frame wrapped in bubble wrap, handlebars, a fork, and some bike pedals...  You'll be fine.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I just looked at the pics on ebay...  I would ship the engine and *maybe* tank in two separate boxes via UPS or freight...  The 'fuselage' would deff go thru the airline as a bike, no worries, esp with the big spoked wheels w/skinny tires.  Easy peasey


BTW my info is from flying all over the country, central america, and spain as a pro-am bike racer

[jas67]

I just looked at the pics on ebay...  I would ship the engine and *maybe* tank in two separate boxes via UPS or freight...  The 'fuselage' would deff go thru the airline as a bike, no worries, esp with the big spoked wheels w/skinny tires.  Easy peasey


BTW my info is from flying all over the country, central america, and spain as a pro-am bike racer

Definitely ship the fuel tank separately.    Bicycles don't have fuel tanks.
That'd be a dead giveaway.