We’re considering doing a bike trip in England/Scotland next year June 2019

[Mango Jack]

We’re considering doing a bike trip in England/Scotland next year June 2019
I have a couple of questions and hoping that a forum member has experience/guidance in this environment
Do I/should hire 2 x ±650 or do I “temporarily” ship my 2 x KTM690s “in and out” for the duration of my son & my, holiday?
UK vehicles travel on same side of road as us so lights etc should not be a hassle
SA’s licence bike meets UK’s traffic bike laws for a 2-3-week period
Does normal travel insurance cover us on a bike in UK, obvious with necessary SA bike drivers licence and accompanying Intl licence from the AA?
Additional bike insurance for my SA bikes taken over?
Any advice will be appreciated as we have about 10 mths to get stuff in place/sorted.

[Casting from Turd]

PMed you a mates number

[IanTheTooth]

I'd say June is a good bet. They do have summer in Scotland. The last one was the 23rd of June 1968.

[Fransw]

Book a Koakaland trip instead

[jaybiker]

I'd say June is a good bet. They do have summer in Scotland. The last one was the 23rd of June 1968.

Not true, it was the first week of June, TT week. I remember it well. Summer lasted the whole week on the Isle of Man that year. It was so hot, the road surface was literally melting, true, and the sunburnt skin was peeling off the back of my neck in strips as thick as rhino hide.
The following year if I remember right, it was back to normal, cold and pissing down all week.

[Amsterdam]

I looked at sending my bike to Europe earlier this year and it turned into a very pricey affair (approx R 45k there and back).  On top of that you will have higher insurance costs to get compulsory 3rd party insurance as you are trying to insure a non-resident vehicle.  In the end I ended up renting which was quite reasonable (but then again, I toured Eastern Europe).

If you are going for several months it may be worthwhile sending your own bike or alternatively, buying locally and selling again.  You can take quite a knock before you get to the amount that shipping costs you.

[kwassi]

Go look at this guy's videos. He does Scotland trips and some other trips. https://www.youtube.com/user/TheMissendenFlyer

Bike rental in my opinion.

https://www.cupar.co.uk/bike-hire.php

https://rentamotorcycle.co.uk/

[Fransw]

I looked at sending my bike to Europe earlier this year and it turned into a very pricey affair (approx R 45k there and back).  On top of that you will have higher insurance costs to get compulsory 3rd party insurance as you are trying to insure a non-resident vehicle.  In the end I ended up renting which was quite reasonable (but then again, I toured Eastern Europe).

If you are going for several months it may be worthwhile sending your own bike or alternatively, buying locally and selling again.  You can take quite a knock before you get to the amount that shipping costs you.

Hi Amsterdam! I have a very good 'contact' if you want to airfreight your bike again. Some are crazy with their pricing!

[Fransw]

I looked at sending my bike to Europe earlier this year and it turned into a very pricey affair (approx R 45k there and back).  On top of that you will have higher insurance costs to get compulsory 3rd party insurance as you are trying to insure a non-resident vehicle.  In the end I ended up renting which was quite reasonable (but then again, I toured Eastern Europe).

If you are going for several months it may be worthwhile sending your own bike or alternatively, buying locally and selling again.  You can take quite a knock before you get to the amount that shipping costs you.

Hi Amsterdam! I have a very good 'contact' if you want to airfreight your bike again. Some are crazy with their pricing!

Contact this guy. Air Freight anything anywhere is his business, including bikes! I asked his permission to post his number. REally competitive rates!!

Gavin Wolff: 082 902 1683

[Amsterdam]

Thanks, will store that number.

[Fransw]

Thanks, will store that number.

 

[Fudmucker]

Don't bother to take your rain suits - they WILL leak in Europe/UK
Buy one over there and bring it back with you. 

[eberhard]

To add to Fudmucker, no leathers. It does not get dry and eventually ‘disintegrates’.  If you import your bike, you will have to adapt your speedometer to also indicate Mph. They still live there in the Roman times.

(I trust your son’s arm will be ok by then)

[schalk vd merwe]

Hi Mango Jack I am going there at the same time in 2019. I bought a bike in Holland last year for R 12000 and did 18 000 km to 16 countries. The bike is still there. My take is it is cheaper to buy there. To ship your bike will cost R 15 000 one way. You can read my tread under ride reports.

[Three Dawg]

Only ship if it makes sense financially.  Shipping UK to Capetown return is around GBP 3000 IIRC.  This made sense for us because we were away for about 11 weeks and the cost of renting a bike would be much higher.  Maybe give Adrian at Econofreight in Paarden Eiland (sp?) just round the corner from Flying Brick a call for a quote.

RE insurance I also shipped to NZ and arranged cover locally, presume you can do the same here.  RH Insurance are very helpful.
https://www.rhspecialistinsurance.co.uk/

I can advise on esp. N Scotland if you're planning to come up here, otherwise try the advscotland.com forum.  Note there is little or no DS riding to be had here in Scotland.     although there are trails you can do in England.  It can be a little wet in June (May, September and October are often drier)  so you may need waterproofs - just get an unlined nylon suit from Richa or Spada.

The North Coast 500 website will give you an idea of what to expect in the Highlands.  The last few years have been very busy, and accommodation can be hard to find, but I've been living here for 26 years or so and i love riding here, weather and all.

[zebra - Flying Brick]

Quote from: Three Dawg on Today at 01:15:12 am>Only ship if it makes sense financially.  Shipping UK to Capetown return is around GBP 3000 IIRC.  This made sense for us because we were away for about 11 weeks and the cost of renting a bike would be much higher.  Maybe give Adrian at Econofreight in Paarden Eiland (sp?) just round the corner from Flying Brick a call for a quote.

+1 for Adrian/Econofreight - good attention to detail, reliable, etc.

Chris