Ok, it's been a while, but here is my report. The delivery date was met exactly. I flew to Frankfurt and rented a car/driver to get to the Knopf Bed and Breakfast in Heidelberg. The Harley was there all ready to go in front of my motel style room.
Knopf had taken care of all the customs formalities, I had purchased my insurance green card from an Italian source (more on this later), so I was good to go for the next morning. However, a lifelong friend and his wife were based in Stuttgart (military base) so we went out that evening for a meal and German beer.
I rode down to Italy the next day (some rain unfortunately in German) but when I got over the Alps into Italy the sun was out. I stopped for the night on August 15th (2011) an Italian holiday and had a holiday meal at the fine restaurant associated at the very fine Elefant (German spelling) Hotel named as such because Hannibal supposedly used this pass to get into Italy with his elephants.
The next day it was hot as heck riding to Tuscany but I got there in the evening .
Enjoyed riding around Tuscany that summer.
The next summer (2012) I had an adventure and took a ferry to Corisca where I spent a week riding around the island.
This summer 2013, I did local rides only around my home in Tuscany, but it was great fun too.
Anyway, it was a great decision to bring the Harley to Europe and keeping it there for summer riding.
Insurance. The Green Card insurance supplied by Mototouring in Italy is relatively expensive but that's what I have done the past two years. I purchase about 3 months worth and it is expensive, much more than a year's worth of insurance in Maryland.
Well, if you are a veteran and can qualify for USAA insurance, it is very inexpensive compared to the Green Card route. (They also send you a Green card by the way). I put one of my cars in the U.S. on USAA insurance and that will allow me to purchase insurance for the Harley from them and they cover the bike in Italy
Friday, November 22, 2013
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Shipping a bike to Europe: I once bought a Norton in England and rode it arou...
Shipping a bike to Europe: I once bought a Norton in England and rode it arou...: "I wanted to buy a motorcycle in Europe to replicate my tour of 1971 with a Norton Commando bought from Elite Motors in Tooting (London), tax..."
Contact names and coordinates for shipping a motorcycle to Europe
To get the bike on a flight to Frankfurt, I used Berklay in Great Neck, NY (drop off point is in Jamaica, NY near JFK)
The fellow I dealt with was named ."'Greg".
14 Bond Street
Suite 233
Great Neck, NY 11021
Tel: 516 872 3335 Once it gets to Germany you need someone with expertise to get it out of customs. I used:
Stefan Knopf
Hardtstrasse 78
Heidelberg, Germany 69124
Telephone: (49) 6221 7272308
Mobile: (49) 172 978 6218
Email: knopftours@aol.com
He also runs a bed and breakfast apparently, and I plan to stay there one night and then take off for Italy the next day.
Decided to use a service to take the bike to JFK instead of trailering it myself.
Used USHIP, guy is supposed to pick it up this evening between 6-7 PM and will get it to the forwarder at JFK between 9-4 tomorrow Monday.
Here it is prior to shipment:
Here it is prior to shipment:
Friday, July 15, 2011
I once bought a Norton in England and rode it around Europe in 1971
I wanted to buy a motorcycle in Europe to replicate my tour of 1971 with a Norton Commando bought from Elite Motors in Tooting (London), tax free.
But, when I again had the money and time to do so there was no "tax free" plan to buy bikes in Europe from the US.
Decades past and finally I decided to buy a Harley Sportster to bring to Europe. I did not like Harleys but the difference in price between a Harley in the US and one in Europe was such that even with the shipping cost I could break even if I decided to "nationalize" or sell it in the EU.
No one wants to go through the crap necessary to ship a motorcycle from the US to Europe airfreight except for Berklay. They charge 2,000 USD, but only make about 300 USD on the deal. You have to have someone who knows who to receive the bike in Europe, and I could only find Knof Tours, a fellow called Stefan.
I have completed most of the tasks, but I still have to bring the bike to Jamaica (JFK) New York on Monday, 2 days from now.
I had to send my title to the bike and a power of attorney and the payment,of $1995 via credit card, to Berklay.
I am going to trailer the bike to New York on Sunday so that it will be there on 18 July 2011, ready to be put on a pallet and sent to Frankfurt via Lufthansa air freight.
As I load the bike on my trailer I will take pics, and I will tell you how the whole thing went. And I will take pics of me and the bike in Europe, if we get there.
But, when I again had the money and time to do so there was no "tax free" plan to buy bikes in Europe from the US.
Decades past and finally I decided to buy a Harley Sportster to bring to Europe. I did not like Harleys but the difference in price between a Harley in the US and one in Europe was such that even with the shipping cost I could break even if I decided to "nationalize" or sell it in the EU.
No one wants to go through the crap necessary to ship a motorcycle from the US to Europe airfreight except for Berklay. They charge 2,000 USD, but only make about 300 USD on the deal. You have to have someone who knows who to receive the bike in Europe, and I could only find Knof Tours, a fellow called Stefan.
I have completed most of the tasks, but I still have to bring the bike to Jamaica (JFK) New York on Monday, 2 days from now.
I had to send my title to the bike and a power of attorney and the payment,of $1995 via credit card, to Berklay.
I am going to trailer the bike to New York on Sunday so that it will be there on 18 July 2011, ready to be put on a pallet and sent to Frankfurt via Lufthansa air freight.
As I load the bike on my trailer I will take pics, and I will tell you how the whole thing went. And I will take pics of me and the bike in Europe, if we get there.
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