Seeking motorbike exporting advice (single, onetime, non-commercial)

10POSTS

5 years ago

Hello there,

Got my hands on Honda 67 and now looking for ways to ship it back home. Hence, I am looking for advice with the following:

a) what is the best way to export the bike?
I've read stories starting with specific freight-shipping companies ending with people disassembling their bikes and sending them as motorbike parts in airline luggage. Is it worth a shot trying to use DHL or UPS for example? Does anyone has experience to share here?

b) what documents do I need to have here in Vietnam before sending?
I've heard that I might need a document of ownership (receipt, purchase agreement, etc.) and also taking the bike off registration in Vietnam. Any advice?

c) should there be any issues with customs?

d) anything else that I could have missed.

All in all, it's a pretty tricky topic so I would appreciate any advice on this.

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Jlgarbutt ViP

1426POSTS

5 years ago

I woild avoid taking the bike apart and using a courier, most shipping lines use third party agents to handle LCL cargo.

You will have to drain the bike of any flamable liquids before shipping
Customs should be simple enough, just prepare a combined packing list and pro-forma invoice showing full description and value

Be sure to include for personal use

2 members reacted to this post

SteinNebraska ViP

1298POSTS

5 years ago

I'd like to do three 67's myself when I move home, sell one to recoup the shipping and have one to keep and one for parts.聽 Shipping would be about the same, you are paying for a pallet anyway and weight isn't as much of a driver as cubic pallet size.聽 Because it's so old you won't have issues with emissions as it would be exempt and can likely be imported under classic license.聽 I haven't followed through on the details yet.聽 I ship a container a month to the US so for me getting it in a container isn't an issue and the freight is low because it's all my container delivered directly to work.聽 Please keep us updated if you follow through.

1 member reacted to this post

cmr0n Member

10POSTS

5 years ago

Hey @Jlgarbutt,

Thanks for you tips. Why don't I take the bike apart again?
Also any chance you have personal experience with this, just to cover nuances?

Hey @SteinNebraska,
It's cool to have your own container. I've also heard one needs to de-register the bike in Vietnam for which you need a valid blue card and bike owner who can do this. You also need an invoice/purchase agreement for the bike as a proof of ownership.
It would be nice to get to know any if there could be any issues here (let alone finding a proper blue card) .

SteinNebraska ViP

1298POSTS

5 years ago

cmr0n wrote:
It would be nice to get to know any if there could be any issues here (let alone finding a proper blue card) .

I think that's going to be the biggest issue on a 50 year old bike.聽 If I do it I will likely just go to 聽 I've restored several cars in the US and would like to do a 67 but for what you can buy one done for compared to doing it yourself it's not worth it.聽 I might have better luck with the blue card here, also.

cmr0n Member

10POSTS

5 years ago

SteinNebraska wrote:
TheHonda67Factory

Yeah, I am looking to make restoration with them.
But currently aiming for transportation w/o their assistance.

Hence the topic :]

Kurterino Serial expat

498POSTS

5 years ago

cmr0n wrote:
SteinNebraska wrote:
TheHonda67Factory

Yeah, I am looking to make restoration with them.
But currently aiming for transportation w/o their assistance.

Hence the topic :]

I know this shop, they have indeed a lot of experience with restoring 67s and Cubs, and also exporting them, and they鈥檙e trustworthy. Full disclosure: a friend of mine has bought several bikes there, and had them export two to Minnesota, and has become friends with them through these dealings. As for the exporting, it has become a little harder recently, I think the owner (the person on the blue card) must do or sign something. This is to prevent exporting of stolen vehicles, I think.

cmr0n Member

10POSTS

5 years ago

Kurterino wrote:
I think the owner (the person on the blue card) must do or sign something.

Thanks, good to know.

robvan Contributor

127POSTS

5 years ago

I had a beautiful custom SS67 that I wanted to take back to Australia last year. Problem was, Australia now has this law about asbestos parts in any imported vehicle -- clutch plates, brake linings, gaskets etc. If you're unlucky, they'll disassemble everything at your expense to check, and fine you heavily if they detect any asbestos and confiscate the vehicle. It totally killed off the market for imported Ford Mustangs.

I was told that a declaration from the country of origin that the vehicle is asbestos-free can help too, though I doubted Australia would recognise any of this from Vietnam. I've been told it helps if you take everything apart beforehand and import it as "spare parts". Too much trouble and risk.

The bike had been completely rebuilt with a brand-new 110cc engine but 50cc papers. I bought it for $1000 and sold it to our maid's husband for $600 after riding it only a couple of times because my CBF150 was so much better to commute on. He's no doubt showing it off on a daily basis :-(

Sniff!

Trying to insert a pic here, but for some reason I can't. So, here is a report by the previous owner on the rebuild (scroll about halfway down for pics of the finished bike):

A friend of mine imported a rebuilt SS67 to Melbourne some years ago and says that every time he takes it out for a ride, staff of the (many) Vietnamese restaurants around the place come rushing out.

nick4946 Active member

41POSTS

5 years ago

#10

Where's home?

Kurterino Serial expat

498POSTS

5 years ago

#11

robvan wrote:
The bike had been completely rebuilt with a brand-new 110cc engine but 50cc papers..

Yes, that is how they are usually rebuilt, with a larger cylinder and piston. However, if you import it into a country that performs technical vehicle checks (like the MOT in the U.K.), that will probably be a problem. The cylinder block is stamped with the actual displacement number, clearly visible. I guess you could file it down, but then it would be missing...

cmr0n Member

10POSTS

5 years ago

#12

Supercool, thanks for sharing @robvan.
Still looking for way to ship mainly as most larger freight size shipping companies do not deal with private requests.
The plan is to ship to Ukraine.

robvan wrote:
every time he takes it out for a ride, staff of the (many) Vietnamese restaurants around the place come rushing out.

Yeah, people love these bikes.

cmr0n Member

10POSTS

5 years ago

#13

Bump.

As nearly no bikes have real documents, I am considering something described by Lookathat .

Jlgarbutt ViP

1426POSTS

5 years ago

#14

cmr0n wrote:
Hey @Jlgarbutt,

Thanks for you tips. Why don't I take the bike apart again?
Also any chance you have personal experience with this, just to cover nuances?

Hey @SteinNebraska,
It's cool to have your own container. I've also heard one needs to de-register the bike in Vietnam for which you need a valid blue card and bike owner who can do this. You also need an invoice/purchase agreement for the bike as a proof of ownership.
It would be nice to get to know any if there could be any issues here (let alone finding a proper blue card) .

Shipped dozens of cars and bikes before. Any vehicle must be drained of flammable liquids.. or petrol. Lubricant should be fine as they do not have the same flash point of regular gas.

Shipping via couriers in part form would go by air and cost a lot more.. airfreight uses a different volumetric weight formula to sea freight.

Sea freight is slower.. but the cost savings will be immense

Kurterino Serial expat

498POSTS

5 years ago

#15

cmr0n wrote:
Bump.

As nearly no bikes have real documents, I am considering something described by Lookathat .

If you decide to go ahead with this plan, I鈥檇 love to know how it went.

1 member reacted to this post

cmr0n Member

10POSTS

5 years ago

#16

Jlgarbutt wrote:
Shipped dozens of cars and bikes before. Any vehicle must be drained of flammable liquids.. or petrol. Lubricant should be fine as they do not have the same flash point of regular gas.

Shipping via couriers in part form would go by air and cost a lot more.. airfreight uses a different volumetric weight formula to sea freight.

Sea freight is slower.. but the cost savings will be immense

Alright, thanks for the input.

Regrettably, even though you are mentioning a pretty rich shipping experience, it really does not cover any important nuance that I am inquiring about but generic shipping knowledge that can be give as the most basic advice to anyone across the world.

So I would appreciate particular details聽 suitable to Vietnamese environment.

Jlgarbutt ViP

1426POSTS

5 years ago

#17

cmr0n wrote:
Jlgarbutt wrote:
Shipped dozens of cars and bikes before. Any vehicle must be drained of flammable liquids.. or petrol. Lubricant should be fine as they do not have the same flash point of regular gas.

Shipping via couriers in part form would go by air and cost a lot more.. airfreight uses a different volumetric weight formula to sea freight.

Sea freight is slower.. but the cost savings will be immense

Alright, thanks for the input.

Regrettably, even though you are mentioning a pretty rich shipping experience, it really does not cover any important nuance that I am inquiring about but generic shipping knowledge that can be give as the most basic advice to anyone across the world.

So I would appreciate particular details聽 suitable to Vietnamese environment.

Guessing you have never shipped anything before? Its not a hard process, can give you all the information you wojld need, but lacking specific details makes it hard to give a 100% door to door explanation.

Good luck with the locals...

1 member reacted to this post

Kurterino Serial expat

498POSTS

5 years ago

#18

Jlgarbutt wrote:
cmr0n wrote:
Jlgarbutt wrote:
Shipped dozens of cars and bikes before. Any vehicle must be drained of flammable liquids.. or petrol. Lubricant should be fine as they do not have the same flash point of regular gas.

Shipping via couriers in part form would go by air and cost a lot more.. airfreight uses a different volumetric weight formula to sea freight.

Sea freight is slower.. but the cost savings will be immense

Alright, thanks for the input.

Regrettably, even though you are mentioning a pretty rich shipping experience, it really does not cover any important nuance that I am inquiring about but generic shipping knowledge that can be give as the most basic advice to anyone across the world.

So I would appreciate particular details聽 suitable to Vietnamese environment.

Guessing you have never shipped anything before? Its not a hard process, can give you all the information you wojld need, but lacking specific details makes it hard to give a 100% door to door explanation.

Good luck with the locals...

If I understand his post correctly, what he meant to say, if you do have any contacts here that could help him out, why don鈥檛 you give them to him (even via DM)?

cmr0n Member

10POSTS

5 years ago

#19

I've had all sea-freight companies either giving up right away or later on my request, mainly due to "non-commercial" shipping. And I have been in touch with about 50.
So this is a) question from my original post.

I am still not aware of the full list of the necessary documents here on Vietnamese end that is necessary, which is b) from my original post.

c) and d) are complimentary...

And this is what I've been seeking an advice for.

Jlgarbutt ViP

1426POSTS

5 years ago

#20

You need to look for an LCL broker and not the actual sea freight operator, most are not interested in directly dealing with private individuals.

For example Damco / Mearsk operate such a service but will not accept direct LCL or groupage bookings, they used to be it it's a lot of admin work for them.

If or when you find a suitable container stuffing or packing agent I would strongly suggest crating your bike, it doesn't have to be anything special but enough to keep teh bike upright during loading and transit,bear in mind anything than cannot be stacked upon will cost more in volumetric weight.

Export documentation is another service provider but the same container agent, you will need to provide a basic packing lists with description and value, the more information included the better. So for example 1x used Honda scooter - chassis number and date manufacturer, state clearly used and intended for personal use.聽 Again nothing fancy but whatever information you provide the better.country of manufacture is essential. Be sure to provide both the shipping address in VN, and more importantly full address and contact details for the receiver.

Value.. if it cost you 200USD here then declare that, attach a copy of the receipt if you have it.

Signed and date the packing list.. this will go with the goods for customs clearance at destination.

That's the hardest part done, once loaded you should get a copy bill of lading, originals go with the goods.

On arrival if you are receiving the cargo yourself you will be contacted for clearing instructions, as a private individual you will simply have to pay any import taxes before they release the goods, this stage could be longer depending on your final destination.

Notes for preparing the bike.. drain it of fuel for safety purposes, but also to alleviate any container cleaning fees often charged with goods seems deemed to be hazardous.. not huge sums but just a sneaky extra shipping lines like to pass on.

If possible arrange to collect the goods from the port of arrival, seems.silly but often domestic delivery can be more expensive than the actual sea freight charges, most operators use inland LCL depots but even so you will be at the mercy of the domestic transport.

Pretty much covers everything.. possibly the best choice of action for finding a suitable freight agent would be check those that specialise in personal removals.. they would be best equipped and experience to deal with your bike

4 members reacted to this post

cmr0n Member

10POSTS

5 years ago

#21

Jlgarbutt wrote:
Pretty much covers everything.. possibly the best choice of action for finding a suitable freight agent would be check those that specialise in personal removals.. they would be best equipped and experience to deal with your bike

Thank you kindly, sir!
This surely gives this attempt a second breath and I will do my best to see if I can get this moving as I have pretty much given up on the regular sea-shipping idea and was seriously thinking about dismantling and sending in chunks.

Will keep on updating!

Yoda0807 Contributor

179POSTS

5 years ago

#22

Didn't completely read this entire thread.
Just watched a vietnamese youtuber sending a 67 to his friend in Arizona.聽 This video was posted 2 days ago so it's recently event.

He shipped the entire motorbike, and used LHP; Long Hung Phat Express;聽 656/11A Cach Mang Thang Tam, Q3.聽聽You may want to find a vietnamese speaking person to call them up, and ask for more details on what papers are needed.聽 From what I gathered from his previous videos ... you need to have the ownership paper from the owner in addition to have him/her to release the bike to you for export and it needs to be certified.

Good luck.

1 member reacted to this post

cmr0n Member

10POSTS

5 years ago

#23

Yoda0807 wrote:
He shipped the entire motorbike, and used LHP; Long Hung Phat Express;聽 656/11A Cach Mang Thang Tam, Q3.聽聽You may want to find a vietnamese speaking person to call them up, and ask for more details on what papers are needed.聽 From what I gathered from his previous videos ... you need to have the ownership paper from the owner in addition to have him/her to release the bike to you for export and it needs to be certified.

Good luck.

Fat thanks, @Yoda0907!