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Author Topic: Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???  (Read 1591 times)

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Grizzly

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Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???
« on: November 23, 2010, 06:09:54 PM »

Hi to All in Ireland, Scotland & England,

Re: Bike security in the U.K. & Europe

My wife and I are planning on shipping our bikes to Ireland, touring there, then taking the ferry over to Scotland, touring there and then heading south into England to tour there as well as visiting family.  We may even take the time to do part of the mainland as well.  Not too sure when yet, but hopefully in the next couple of years, when we have enough time (6-8 weeks) to do it right.  I have been told that if you're going to be riding longer than 3 weeks, it is more cost effective to ship your own bikes rather than renting... We will be shipping two Electra Glides.

Your comments regarding this would be appreciated.

I was speaking with someone recently who has a brother that lived in Ireland for a number of years and has just returned to his home in Canada.  This fellow (who also thought of shipping his bike over to Ireland) informed me that according to his brother he strongly advised against shipping you own bike due to the fact that it would most likely be stolen withing a few days!  He suggested renting and let the renter worry about the theft, or purchasing 2 bikes, touring around and when finished selling them... If it gets stolen the insurance you purchased to cover it would look after you AND you still have your own bike back at home.  The money you would lose when selling it is the money that you would spend in renting or shipping, not to mention the heartache you would experience by losing YOUR own pride and joy when it is stolen!!!

Your comments regarding this would also be greatly appreciated.

 
I personally think we should be okay shipping our own bikes, but thought I would check it out with our fellow CVO riders overseas for their opinions.  My wife & I really prefer to ride our own bikes especially considering the length of our planned tour, but want do to the smart thing as well.

Hopefully when we put this trip all together we can make plans to hook up with some of you and tour the countryside together.

Thanks in advance for your advise.

Take care,
Grizzly
« Last Edit: November 24, 2010, 11:54:29 PM by Grizzly »
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1sharprdkg

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Re: Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2010, 08:02:12 PM »

Very interesting question, I don't have any info but will be interested in what others on the forum have to say. I would be like you and would perfer to ride my own bike, but not if there was a higher than normal risk of it being stolen. Sounds like a great trip, good luck and have fun.
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Grizzly

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Re: Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2011, 12:24:58 PM »

Does none of our CVO friends from the UK have any thoughts on this topic?
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Keats

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Re: Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2011, 12:41:06 PM »

I do not know what insurance would and would not cover for an overseas bike...

but I have been warned that many insurance carriers will not cover a stolen bike if you took it to Mexico.

not sure if Europe would apply or if you would need to add an insurance rider to the policy.

Personally if I could ride a stock bike comfortably,

I would not take the cheaper route (taking my bikes), if I had to worry the whole way to and from.

break downs, damage, stolen are all on the list.
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kraut

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Re: Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2011, 05:52:37 AM »

sorry this thread escaped me  ::)

Ireland, Scotland and England are generally regarded as comparatively safe. At rallies of course there is a slightly bigger risk of theft - as anywhere else is. The same goes with the big cities, along motorways and the ferry ports.

Apart from that your bikes will be as safe there as they are at your home country - or even safer  ;)
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porthole

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Re: Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2011, 10:58:29 AM »

Couple of years ago there was talk here about a group ride to Europe.
Shipping became affordable due to the number of bikes involved, But the logistics of getting bikes from around the US to common shipper was an issue.

I looked into doing the same thing as you are planning.
Shipping became expensive, but not as bad as renting a bike. 5 years ago I looked into the HOG fly and ride out of London. 300 plus a day ruled that idea out.

I still would like t do this though. BTW, the problem with shipping beside the obvious risks was that I would lose the bike for about a month of either side of the trip.
I am still considering the 3rd alternative, buy new and sell at the end. Here is where it helps to have family available.
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fast96

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Re: Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2011, 11:01:21 AM »

I can help you with security my GPS unit can be programmed to work in all of Europe so if it does get taken you will get it back very quickly. We did France and most of England in 05 and shipped our bikes and had no issues. We were only there for 3 weeks but had a great time. I did spend alot of extra time in Brackley in Northants where I lived for 3 years when I was in the Air Force. We planned our Hotel and Bed and breakfast stays around our bikes being in overnight garages at hotels and talked to the people we stayed with and they helped us to make sure our bikes were secure overnight. We also took some cables and bike cuffs we put on at night! We had a blast we went the middle of July we toured to see old Rugby clubs and the normal sights only got wet a handful of times! Chris WWW.ArrowTrackgps.com if you need more info.  
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ice6900

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Re: Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2011, 11:24:25 AM »

I agree with Kraut, your bikes would have no greater a risk in Ireland England and Europe than you would have at home.
As has been written if you can find hotel accommodation with garage or locked parking then you have peace of mind. If you also carry a large chain and lock to secure your bikes would also appease any insurance worries. Check with you own insurance company and advise them that you are shipping your bikes, there may be an extra premium to pay. Obviously be sensible and road-wise to park your bikes, this applies where ever your are in USA or in Europe whether you have your own bike or a rental.

I  agree that 2.5 to 3weeks rental is the max I would ever think about renting a bike. The rental prices are expensive and so to are the rental insurance!

As regards buying, insurance may also be a problem, your USA insurer might not want to insure your temp holiday ride, the European insurers also may not want to insure you as you are not a local resident.
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Grizzly

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Re: Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2011, 04:08:40 PM »

First off, thanks everyone for your input... Some very valid points on insurance.

I suspected that I would experience no greater risk in the UK or Europe as I do right here at home.

Porthole,

One option you may want to check out which I am going to do is flying with Air Transat.  Apparently you can deliver your bike 2 days ahead of departure to their cargo depot at whichever airport you're flying from and they skid it and load it on THE plane YOU are travelling on.  When you land you report to the cargo area to pick up your bike and ride away usually faster than everyone else collecting their bags in the usual fashion.  This way you are only without your bike a couple of days at each end.

I have a friend who has friends who just did this, and I waiting to get in touch with them to see how it all went.

If it went well, it would seem to be the most hassle free way of getting your own bike overseas to ride.

I will post an update as soon as I'm in touch with them.


PS - For anyone who has more info on riding in the UK & Europe - Please keep the comments coming!


Thanks!
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ice6900

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Re: Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2011, 04:19:08 PM »

I once bought a bike in USA and had it flown from New York to Zurich, all of the petrol and the oils had to be removed before flight,

is that the same when you want to fly and ride?
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Talon

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Re: Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???
« Reply #10 on: March 14, 2011, 04:24:28 PM »

Should PM Nige screen name BalDeagle, he did just the opposite, shipped his bikes from UK to US and had no problems.

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=25566.0

Craig
« Last Edit: March 14, 2011, 04:26:00 PM by Talon »
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Grizzly

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Re: Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???
« Reply #11 on: March 14, 2011, 04:28:59 PM »

Again, I'm waiting to check everything out with the guys who just flew their bikes to the UK last summer.  But apparently they allow you to have minimal fuel (1/8th) left in the tank so you can make it to a station to refuel.  From what I've been told, no other fluids were drained.
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Re: Ship vs. Rent vs. Buy/Sell???
« Reply #12 on: March 15, 2011, 10:13:41 AM »

We areflting to Germany on June 28 and picking up a rental in Frankfurt on June 29....it was a hassle to rent the bike, but we finally got it done, thats to help from HOG in Europe.

I'd like to have our scoots there to ride, but renting is so much easier and conviniet.....  We are riding through southern Germany, Austrai and Switzerland....

Staying in all hotels with secure parking garages....

napalm
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