Shipping a bike from the US to the Phillipines and other countries in Asia

[globalvisions]

I just spent the past 3 months on an incredible journey riding a Yamaha TTR 250 over 6000km's solo through Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. I attempted 3 border crossings in the south part of Cambodia to Vietnam with the bike with no success even with trying to bribe the Vietnamese police I still own the Yamaha and have it stored in Bangkok if anyone is interested in buying the bike please let me know. The bike runs great and has Thai plates and is the perfect solution for someone wanting to legally cross the borders mentioned. I had such a great time that I want to do the rest of my traveling on a bike.

1) I am now back in the US and I would like to ship or fly my KLR650 to the Phillipines to tour there for a few months. This is my first objective. I need to know the whole procedure dealing with Customs and the cheapest way to ship, etc. Also I would consider going over myself on a freighter if anyone knows anything about that.

2) I then plan to have the bike shipped to Indonesia, Borneo, Brunei and other islands before shipping the bike to Malaysia with a cruise on into Thailand. I need to know how feasible this is as far as putting the bike on boats or ferries to the listed countries.

3) From Thailand I then want to ride through Myanmar, but I have not heard of anyone crossing legally other than having a bike taken through the country on a truck to India which is my next destination.

4) After spending several months in India I would like to enter China from India if this is possible. From what I have found thus far is that you cannot take a bike into China unless it is a Chinese registered bike but I did talk with an Indian biker who was able to get his motorcycle into China, however I am not positive of how he accomplished this.


Thanks in advance for all replies.

[kuyaoli]

Originally Posted by globalvisions

1) I am now back in the US and I would like to ship or fly my KLR650 to the Phillipines to tour there for a few months. This is my first objective. I need to know the whole procedure dealing with Customs and the cheapest way to ship, etc. Also I would consider going over myself on a freighter if anyone knows anything about that.

my friend I have no good news for the Philippines. You can not easily get a bike into the country (doesn't matter if used, very old or slightly used or new) you have to pay taxes for the bike from around 50 to 70% sometimes up to 100% of the ORIGINAL price of the bike, it wont help if you produce an invoice which states that the bike is only worth a few hundred bucks, they don't care, the customs has lists for these bikes and many people have given up taking the bike out of customs as they would have paid just too much.

The solution I have for you is probably the best. I know its not a 650cc but its the best solution.

Buy a local manufactured Honda XR200, it will cost you 120.000 Pesos which is only around 2,400 US$. (It is the biggest local manufactured bike and it is cheap) You can easily sell the bike afterwards lets say after a few month for around 1,600 to 1,800 US$ right away or for a bit more if you have some time to find a buyer. A full comprehensive insurance will cost you for one year only around a hundred bucks.

And the best you can get spare parts cheap anywhere in the country, anyone can repair that bike just everywhere.

These are all advantages you have. And the bike is big enough to bring you around all the islands even on a small boat.

[globalvisions]

Originally Posted by kuyaoli

my friend I have no good news for the Philippines. You can not easily get a bike into the country (doesn't matter if used, very old or slightly used or new) you have to pay taxes for the bike from around 50 to 70% sometimes up to 100% of the ORIGINAL price of the bike, it wont help if you produce an invoice which states that the bike is only worth a few hundred bucks, they don't care, the customs has lists for these bikes and many people have given up taking the bike out of customs as they would have paid just too much.

The solution I have for you is probably the best. I know its not a 650cc but its the best solution.

Buy a local manufactured Honda XR200, it will cost you 120.000 Pesos which is only around 2,400 US$. (It is the biggest local manufactured bike and it is cheap) You can easily sell the bike afterwards lets say after a few month for around 1,600 to 1,800 US$ right away or for a bit more if you have some time to find a buyer. A full comprehensive insurance will cost you for one year only around a hundred bucks.

And the best you can get spare parts cheap anywhere in the country, anyone can repair that bike just everywhere.

These are all advantages you have. And the bike is big enough to bring you around all the islands even on a small boat.

I read somewhere that the tax that you suggest is more of a bond that is refundable when you leave the country. Do you know about this and also do you have contact information with customs so that I can talk directly with someone to get updated information. Furthermore do you have any knowledge about shipping to Indonesia? Thanks for your help.

[kuyaoli]

Originally Posted by globalvisions

I read somewhere that the tax that you suggest is more of a bond that is refundable when you leave the country. Do you know about this and also do you have contact information with customs so that I can talk directly with someone to get updated information. Furthermore do you have any knowledge about shipping to Indonesia? Thanks for your help.

You can not get any tax refunded upon leaving, beleave me it is not possible, do not ship a bike into the Philippines, you will never get it out from customs unless you pay a LOT of money and it also takes a long time.

I do not have addresses, contact details and I have no knowledge about Indonesia.

[Chanderjeet]

Originally Posted by globalvisions

4) After spending several months in India I would like to enter China from India if this is possible. From what I have found thus far is that you cannot take a bike into China unless it is a Chinese registered bike but I did talk with an Indian biker who was able to get his motorcycle into China, however I am not positive of how he accomplished this.
Thanks in advance for all replies.

I've heard of a couple of indian bikers who went to China but were not allowed to ride there. They had to put their bikes on train to reach their destination.
Maybe its a nationality issue. Being american(i presume) they should allow you.

[AndyT]

Do some research on a document called a "Carnet de Passage". This is an international bond you post to allow temporary import into countries that accept it. Don't know if the countries you are interested accept it, most African ones do.

[Chanderjeet]

Originally Posted by AndyT

Do some research on a document called a "Carnet de Passage". This is an international bond you post to allow temporary import into countries that accept it. Don't know if the countries you are interested accept it, most African ones do.

Yup, carnet is what you are looking at. Pay the fees for the carnet in the country you bought the bike in and you can ride it tax free in most of the countries in the world.

[globalvisions]

Originally Posted by Chanderjeet

Yup, carnet is what you are looking at. Pay the fees for the carnet in the country you bought the bike in and you can ride it tax free in most of the countries in the world.

Thank you guys for the response. I am somewhat familiar with the Carnet, but from what I have found the Philippines is not a country that recognizes them and I am hell bent on finding a reasonably economical way to get my bike there even after the advice from Kuyaoli. Worse case if there is no alternative I need to ship the bike somewhere close to the Philippines to store the bike as I travel in the Philippines without the bike. If my investigations prove fruitless then I may send the bike to Singapore or Malaysia to store the bike while I am in the Philippines. I sure hope somebody reading this has experience with these countries and has some good recommendations.
Cheers!

[Chanderjeet]

Originally Posted by globalvisions

Thank you guys for the response. I am somewhat familiar with the Carnet, but from what I have found the Philippines is not a country that recognizes them and I am hell bent on finding a reasonably economical way to get my bike there even after the advice from Kuyaoli. Worse case if there is no alternative I need to ship the bike somewhere close to the Philippines to store the bike as I travel in the Philippines without the bike. If my investigations prove fruitless then I may send the bike to Singapore or Malaysia to store the bike while I am in the Philippines. I sure hope somebody reading this has experience with these countries and has some good recommendations.
Cheers!

Your concern is grave. Have you tried posting on horizons unlimited or one of the phillipines bikers forums yet?

[kuyaoli]

Originally Posted by Chanderjeet

Your concern is grave. Have you tried posting on horizons unlimited or one of the phillipines bikers forums yet?

as I said, there wont be any info on doing it as IT CAN'T BE DONE!

The biggest motorcycle forum in the Philippines is:

www.motorcyclephilippines.com/forums

You may ask there, but the answer will still be the same it is impossible.

[Bumpy ahead]

Maybe it's too late for me to reply. Never mind then.

I think it's just a difficult way to ship your bike to another country dealing with custom and some papers will consume your energy and money, but somehow some adv riders ride it around the world rather than ship their bike. There is an easy way to ride in Indonesia, you can rent a 200 cc thumper or a HD bike.

When do you plan to go to Indonesia exactly? Maybe I can do a little favor and there are some adv riders in Indonesia. We have successfully escorted an Australian rider who flew to Jakarta and rent a 200 cc thumper then ride it with his wife to central java. Just let me know.

Originally Posted by globalvisions

I just spent the past 3 months on an incredible journey riding a Yamaha TTR 250 over 6000km's solo through Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. I attempted 3 border crossings in the south part of Cambodia to Vietnam with the bike with no success even with trying to bribe the Vietnamese police I still own the Yamaha and have it stored in Bangkok if anyone is interested in buying the bike please let me know. The bike runs great and has Thai plates and is the perfect solution for someone wanting to legally cross the borders mentioned. I had such a great time that I want to do the rest of my traveling on a bike.

1) I am now back in the US and I would like to ship or fly my KLR650 to the Phillipines to tour there for a few months. This is my first objective. I need to know the whole procedure dealing with Customs and the cheapest way to ship, etc. Also I would consider going over myself on a freighter if anyone knows anything about that.

2) I then plan to have the bike shipped to Indonesia, Borneo, Brunei and other islands before shipping the bike to Malaysia with a cruise on into Thailand. I need to know how feasible this is as far as putting the bike on boats or ferries to the listed countries.

3) From Thailand I then want to ride through Myanmar, but I have not heard of anyone crossing legally other than having a bike taken through the country on a truck to India which is my next destination.

4) After spending several months in India I would like to enter China from India if this is possible. From what I have found thus far is that you cannot take a bike into China unless it is a Chinese registered bike but I did talk with an Indian biker who was able to get his motorcycle into China, however I am not positive of how he accomplished this.


Thanks in advance for all replies.

[globalvisions]

It can be done ; ) I have just spent 4 months touring Indonesia after shipping my bike from Malaysia to Belwan, Indonesia on a small boat that hauls vegetables from Malaysia. I have toured (Sumatra, Pulau Weh, Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, and now Sulawesi which I may be the first to do.

I have nearly 100 galleries of photos of Southeast Asia touring solo on my motorcycle on facebook. Please feel free to add me as a friend

misterlucky Darren Young


cheers

Originally Posted by Bumpy ahead

Maybe it's too late for me to reply. Never mind then.

I think it's just a difficult way to ship your bike to another country dealing with custom and some papers will consume your energy and money, but somehow some adv riders ride it around the world rather than ship their bike. There is an easy way to ride in Indonesia, you can rent a 200 cc thumper or a HD bike.

When do you plan to go to Indonesia exactly? Maybe I can do a little favor and there are some adv riders in Indonesia. We have successfully escorted an Australian rider who flew to Jakarta and rent a 200 cc thumper then ride it with his wife to central java. Just let me know.