Europe 2012- Rent/Buy/Ship

SECOND NOTICE

It’s not to late to opt out of sometimes boorish behavior and indiscriminate moto shenanigans!  If you do not want to be on this BLOG about me wondering around Europe on a motorcycle, send an e-mail to me, dtanji@gmail.com and you will not be subject to two guys meandering around Europe.  My 2012 riding in Europe is a “smell the roses’ ride which will center around beer, mountain passes, apple strudel, gelato, and most countries between Germany, Italy, Romania, and Norway.

RENT/BUY/SHIP

There are many options for riding in Europe. The first is to rent. But at $150-$200/day, buying or shipping your bike may be cheaper for a longer stay. I wanted to leave a bike in Europe for at least 2 years so I looked for shipping options or purchasing a bike in Europe.  New bike: I was told that I could not purchase a new bike in Europe. i.e: To purchase a new bike in Germany, one has to be a citizen of Germany, have a German driver’s license, and German auto and medical insurance. None of these are available to visiting tourist. The purchase option is buying a used motorcycle stored in Europe usually site unseen from a US citizen.  Buying someone else’s problems did not appeal to me so I looked for ways to ship my bike.  This way I get a ride perfectly set-up for me.

I received several positive referrals about Stefan Knopf of Knopf Motorradreisen, Hardstrasse 78, 69124 Heidelberg, Germany.

The following is his post to me regarding shipping a bike from Orlando FL. All the following is good for April 2012.

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The total export cost is $1,330 US dollars for transporting your bike to from Orlando, Florida, to Heidelberg, Germany.
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This price includes the Custom’s Green Card (necessary for importing the bike into Germany- it is an insurance paper)
Free storage is included through the end of May
Transport insurance 5000 Dollar
(Stefan told me later bIke storage at his facility is $30/month or $300/year)

A deposit of $200 US dollars – a personal check – made out to Stefan Knopf and mailed.

The balance of the payment ($1,130) – a personal check – made out to Stefan Knopf and included with:

The following are required papers/documents:

The original vehicle title – It will be returned in Germany when the bike is picked up.
A copy of the bike’s State Vehicle Registration is not required.
Five copies of the following (two copies of each document are to be notarized)
1 – 5 copies of the title – front and back
2 – 5 copies of the inside of your passport – the one with your picture
3 – 5 copies of your driver license

A statement that includes the following and is to be signed and dated;
1 – Your name
2 – Home address
3 – E-mail address
4 – US telephone number
5 – Information concerning your bike: the make, model, color, VIN, license plate identification, with a statement, “It will be used for personal use to vacation in Germany/Europe”.

Copy the attached Power Of Attorney (POA): Sign and date on the appropriate lines . Leave all other lines blank and include the POA with all other papers. The remaining blank lines on the POA will be filled in by the exporter.

Bike preparation:
1 – Battery disconnected
2 – Gasoline on reserve
3 – Side mirrors and windshield removed and stored/packed in or on the bike.
4 – List of items that are included with the bike – signed and dated

Bike to be delivered to:

HNM Global Logistics
1500 B Tradeport Dr
Orlando, FL 32824

09 March 2012: The bike is to be at the exporter, HNM, Orlando, FL, no later than the 9th March 2012 .

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I spent all of the year getting the VStrom ready for Europe.  One of the change was to lower the bike 1″ by changing the shock dog-bones.  A 3/8″ longer dog-bone lowered the bike 1″!!  My feet almost touch flat now.  Oh happy day!  A short ride an no ill effects.

March 13, 2012 – After riding from SoCal to Daytona with Ray Blair, I delivered and prepped the bike for shipment. I flew home later in the week after the IBA Daytona Bike Week dinner in Jacksonville.  All was not well.  The lowered VStrom enabled the rear tire to rub up against the rear fender.  I had worn a small hole through into the area under the seat.  And the side stand is now too long AND the center stand is 1″ too tall.  RATS.

I'm with Stefan after I removed windshield, mirrors, & battery neg terminal. Bags packed with riding gear, tools, etc. Moto is ready for pallet.

Motos loaded onto metal pallets and double stacked. These are loaded into a shipping container and shipped by sea to Antwerpen, Belgium then barged up the Rheim River to Mannheim, 10 km from Heidelberg.

April 18, 2012 – Container with bikes arrive at KnopfTours, Heidelburg, Germany.

April 25, 2012 – I arrived at Frankfort International at 6AM. A direct Shuttle (approx. €35) delivered me to KnopfTours doorsteps. KnopfTours has a B&B for riders, a shop with tools, air compressor, and two bike lifts. I spend the rest of the day reassembling the VStrom. Then I do the traditional pack then repack and repack trying to make everything fit.

One of many moto storage areas at KnopfTours.

Shop area with most metric tools, 2 moto lifts, air compressor with air guns, engine oil, etc. My ManStrom is on the right waiting for a lift to free up.

My riding friend, who lives in Bamberg, Germany rides over to meet me.  He helps me put the bike on a lift.  I use an air wrench to break the nuts and switch my shock dog-bones back to stock. The VStrom is once again 1″ higher and I’m on my tippy toes (same height as the TransAmericas Ride).  Side stand works normal and the center stand is manageable.

April 26-28, 2012 – I spend the next 3 days touring the local digs around Bamburg.

European Moto Tip:  Moto must have first aid kit and orange or green highly reflective safety vest.  And in the near future – carry two breathalyzers on their person!

We’re planing our first ride into the Cinque Terre area in Italy. (We actually already rode to the Pisa/Cinque Terre area and returned.  I’m way behind.  Check the “Current Location” in the upper right corner to see our SPOTwalla tracks.)

Finally, thanks for all your kind words and encouragement.  Doing a BLOG takes a lot of time.  This adventure will have more riding and less BLOGGING.  I’ll try to get caught up then post every week.