Has anyone got any experience of taking their own bike over to Canada? I turn 60 this year and am looking at maybe taking the trip of a lifetime, something like 8 weeks riding around Canada next year. I presume it would be far more cost effective to freight the bike there rather than hire for that length of time. Does anyone have any experience of taking their own machine over there?
Taking bike to Canada
- Thread starter Duggiebee
- Start date
You may be able to tag along on one of Bilco's trips. I suggest you drop him a PM.
Having relatives near Vancouver, we looked at shipping the bike Air Canada a few years back...........https://www.aircanada.com/cargo/shared/en/documents/shipping/FlyYourBike_brochure_en.pdf James Cargo were also in the mix; a more complete service, but expensive IIRC.
Being deemed hazardous cargo, coupled with various age/insurance issues, we decided it was all too much hassle, so renting went on the agenda - then Covid intervened.
Probably best to talk to Sgt Bilco first, as Posh Pete suggests.
Being deemed hazardous cargo, coupled with various age/insurance issues, we decided it was all too much hassle, so renting went on the agenda - then Covid intervened.
Probably best to talk to Sgt Bilco first, as Posh Pete suggests.
I should watch Shakey;s Youtube video's as well; albeit he did a trip of a lifetime in the USA not Canada. Things can go wrong.......
A friend of mine and his wife flew from Paris to Montreal in August and took their bikes with them on the same flight I'm pretty sure.
Speak to Motofreight. They sent my bike to Buenos Aires and brought it home from New York. Good service.
I know they do Toronto.
I know they do Toronto.
Have a chat with Roddy & Cathy at MotoFreight….very nice people and I’ve never been disappointed with the service/advice received from them.
https://www.motofreight.com/
https://www.motofreight.com/
We did it in 2015. Bike to Heathrow loaded up. Left with Air Canada to pallet up. 3 days we picked it up at Montreal. Can’t recall the paperwork details really but it was easy enough, just a TIP. Insurance bought in advance from a USA based company. Returned to Heathrow via a lot of Canada, Alaska, and most of the northern USA states 4 months and 15,000 miles later. Uk customs at Heathrow were harder to deal with than Canada.
While we enjoyed Canada the USA has a lot more interesting things and places although I think eastern Canada would be worth a return visit.
Edit… if going into USA you will also need an EPA certificate.
While we enjoyed Canada the USA has a lot more interesting things and places although I think eastern Canada would be worth a return visit.
Edit… if going into USA you will also need an EPA certificate.
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This is a great option because shipping across the pond post covid is pretty limited.
You will also need specialist bike insurance which is fairly simple to get.
Once you are in Canada you can also cross into the US and Alaska so you can do a lot of miles in 8 or so weeks.
Hiring for that length of time will break you financially and buying and selling one over there is fraught with danger so shipping your own is the best option.
Well worth doing and you'll have a great time.
When you get to the west coast you'll find that the B.C. Ferries system is excellent for getting around with your bike.
https://www.bcferries.com/routes-fares/discover-route-map
One trip to consider:
If you get to Vancouver Island there's the opportunity to take a day-long ferry from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert (or reverse!)....
https://www.bcferries.com/routes-fares/discover-route-map?routeRegions=NORTH_COAST
This gives you an excellent view of coastal forests, fjords, whales, etc. that you won't get by staying on the inland highway routes.
Once in Prince Rupert it's possible to get on the Alaska State Ferry system and continue that way: https://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/route.shtml
An alternative is to head south from Vancouver and through the border into the U.S. to the first town on Interstate 5 ('I5'), Bellingham. In Bellingham you can get the Alaska State Ferry all the way (36hours!) to Alaska: https://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/route.shtml
One thing to consider with shipping your bike: it may well be less expensive to freight to the U.S. (e.g. Seattle) than freighting into Canada, then ride across the border.
If you do get to Washington State, then you might consider going nest door to Montana and taking this highway up into Alberta, Canada (Waterton Lakes) THIS is the one highway to aim for:
https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrinfo.htm. NOTE: closed in winter
Have fun with your planning!
https://www.bcferries.com/routes-fares/discover-route-map
One trip to consider:
If you get to Vancouver Island there's the opportunity to take a day-long ferry from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert (or reverse!)....
https://www.bcferries.com/routes-fares/discover-route-map?routeRegions=NORTH_COAST
This gives you an excellent view of coastal forests, fjords, whales, etc. that you won't get by staying on the inland highway routes.
Once in Prince Rupert it's possible to get on the Alaska State Ferry system and continue that way: https://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/route.shtml
An alternative is to head south from Vancouver and through the border into the U.S. to the first town on Interstate 5 ('I5'), Bellingham. In Bellingham you can get the Alaska State Ferry all the way (36hours!) to Alaska: https://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/route.shtml
One thing to consider with shipping your bike: it may well be less expensive to freight to the U.S. (e.g. Seattle) than freighting into Canada, then ride across the border.
If you do get to Washington State, then you might consider going nest door to Montana and taking this highway up into Alberta, Canada (Waterton Lakes) THIS is the one highway to aim for:
https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrinfo.htm. NOTE: closed in winter
Have fun with your planning!
Sorry...if you do go up the 'Going To The Sun Road' (Montana-Alberta) you can continue north to Banff & Lake Louise, then up the magnificent 'Icefields Parkway' (Highway 93) and then take Highway 16 to Prince George (B.C.). You will note that Prince George is a staging post fir going north by road to the Yukon and Alaska - or again, head from Prince George to Prince Rupert and catch one of the ferries either north or south...a nice circuit if your time is limited and prevents you going farther north.
Don't forget the staggeringly beautiful Waterton National Park just over the border from Glacier.
You can get your insurance via Motorcycle Express here https://www.motorcycleexpress.com/insurance.
Getting your bike into the US and Canada is pretty straight forward but some shippers require a few more details than others. If you use a good shipper such as Motorcycle Express or Motofreight, they will make is very easy for you.
Generally the minimum you will need is the V5 in your name, your passport details and an EPA certificate which is very straightforward to get. There are various forms to fill in on arrival but your shipper will be able to tell you what they will be.
I'm not sure Air Canada are still doing their bike shipping service so you would need to double check but I've heard Air Transat may do it.
Please be aware that if your bike is on PCP, you probably won't be able to take it. We've had a couple of people overt the years with this issue and they had to get written approval from BMW and even then is wasn't possible because US customs really couldn't understand that although the customers bike was on the V5,it wasn't their bike!!
Thanks for that very useful. MotorcycleExpress was where I had got as far as from Horizons Unlimited so good to have some confirmation we are on the right lines. Motofreight have our details, we are waiting on a quote back from the, so your recommendation of them is good. I have also emailed Air Canada but no ad a response so your guess maybe right.
EPA I hadn’t considered and I’ve only seen USA info on this o back to Google well go!
No PCP so all good
Appreciate the help
Thanks for that very useful. MotorcycleExpress was where I had got as far as from Horizons Unlimited so good to have some confirmation we are on the right lines. Motofreight have our details, we are waiting on a quote back from the, so your recommendation of them is good. I have also emailed Air Canada but no ad a response so your guess maybe right.
EPA I hadn’t considered and I’ve only seen USA info on this o back to Google well go!
No PCP so all good
Appreciate the help
The EPA is for the US but worth having if you decide to nip over the border, Some borders will ask for it and some not but it cost's nothing. Just remember to cancel it when you get back.
When you price up your travel insurance, my advice is get the best you can afford and make sure it includes repatriation. The healthcare out there is amazing but it's very expensive if you aren't insured and it's definitely not worth skimping on.
I use Navigator insurance who offer bike specific packages and a decent rate.
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