And so it begins

**kevfromcoro** · 19th April 2008, 14:06

you lucky pair of b...stds..leaving all us lot here to face the NZ winter.
just a couple of ??..i take it u set the bikes up here and shiped them over..
how hard was it to get the bikes into OZ...was it done on a carnet thingy,,which i think gives you 12 months..have looked at a few websites about importing bikes into OZ..seems to be a pain in the ass.
Enjoy yr trip..and log on every now and then..to keep us posted..
Cheers KEV

**ducatijim** · 19th April 2008, 19:31

Originally Posted by kevfromcoro

..have looked at a few websites about importing bikes into OZ..seems to be a pain in the ass.
..
Cheers KEV

Oh yes, it is.

**Bass** · 19th April 2008, 20:11

Originally Posted by Padmei

Any pics of the bikes so far?

Well since you asked, here's a bit of trivia for you

1. Where's that bloody engine number?

2. Boxing day

3. Testing trip - Papuni Road - Ask google!

4. Waikaremoana Road

5. House cleaning

6. Going sand seeking

**upshift** · 21st April 2008, 19:58

All the best for you trip guys, sounds awesome. Will be keeping an eye on progress thru the forums.

Wondering who you are doing the shipping of the bikes with?

**twi** · 21st April 2008, 21:06

sounds fantastic - have a great time... I hope you used more than that green 'string' to strop the bike on the pallet?

**Bass** · 22nd April 2008, 08:12

Originally Posted by twi

I hope you used more than that green 'string' to strop the bike on the pallet?

Ummm.... well actually, no I didn't. That "string" is what I used, but then it isn't "string". Not sure what breaking strain it is, but I would guesstimate around 300 kg, maybe even 400.
It probably wouldn't matter too much if the tie downs did break, because what you see in the photo was just the base. The finished article was a close fitting reinforced plywood box. If she did break loose, the tail light might get a hammering, but that would be about the extent of it.

**Cary** · 2nd May 2008, 11:49

Good luck guys, will be following with a keen eye to the details. Gonna be my turn...............one day

**Bass** · 2nd May 2008, 12:25

Thanks mate. We fly out Monday, well at least Nicky and I do. Things are a bit difficult for Jamie and Julie at the moment and they will follow a little later.

Recently, it seems that everything that could go wrong, has gone wrong. We find ourselves wondering if fate is trying to warn us. Maybe, we are just getting all the crap out of the way first, but we are about 3 days behind schedule before we have even left NZ.

If you do decide to do this sort of thing, come and have a chat with me well beforehand and I will steer you around a heap of the crap that we have had to contend with.

The bureaucracy shit fights aren't over yet either - not by a long way.

**ducatijim** · 2nd May 2008, 12:38

Tell me about it!! At least my tooth is fixed now-boy did he sure glue the new bit in strong!!
Now, just to pack/ catch up on the last 3 days missed farm arrangements due to berevement/ get funeral over with.

**Bass** · 2nd May 2008, 12:38

Originally Posted by upshift

Wondering who you are doing the shipping of the bikes with?

We used Transitainer Xtreme Logistics Ltd.
They specialise in vehicles and were the cheapest.
We will let you know how good their service is when we get back. So far, communication has been a bit of a struggle, but the important thing is whether they get the bikes to Brissy on time and in good order.
That's a question that we can't answer yet.
Will know next week.

**cooneyr** · 2nd May 2008, 12:40

Originally Posted by Bass

Thanks mate. We fly out Monday, well at least Nicky and I do. Things are a bit difficult for Jamie and Julie at the moment and he will follow a little later.

Damn - I'd better do that page for you!

Originally Posted by Bass

Recently, it seems that everything that could go wrong, has gone wrong. We find ourselves wondering if fate is trying to warn us. Maybe, we are just getting all the crap out of the way first, but we are about 3 days behind schedule before we have even left NZ......

Had issues before the CCA as well (cracked rim, motor late back from rebuild, carbie diaphragm started leaking etc). Seemed Bro and I were not suppose to go. Finally got sorted though and while we had a rough start on the Friday (bent more things) Saturday was a blast and I really really enjoyed myself. Hope you have time to chill and have some fun for a couple of days at the start so that you can get out of the "annoyed" mood and really start to enjoy yourself. Good luck dude.

Watching with interest.
Cheers R

**Bass** · 2nd May 2008, 12:56

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Hope you have time to chill and have some fun for a couple of days at the start so that you can get out of the "annoyed" mood and really start to enjoy yourself. Good luck dude.

Watching with interest.
Cheers R

Hey Ryan,
I don't think that we will have a choice.
Recently dicovered that Monday (the day we travel) is Labour Day in Brisbane and so nothing much will happen. They tell us that even if everything goes smoothly with customs and AQIS, that realistically, it will be Friday before the bikes are released. We still have to get them to a mate's workshop where we are fitting the safari tanks. So, if we want to ensure that we actually get them to the workshop on the Friday and don't lose the weekend too, we may have to hire a small truck.
The bill is starting to mount up.

**clint640** · 2nd May 2008, 15:31

Originally Posted by Bass

If you do decide to do this sort of thing, come and have a chat with me well beforehand and I will steer you around a heap of the crap that we have had to contend with.

The bureaucracy shit fights aren't over yet either - not by a long way.

We will be certainly be looking forward to 'Neil & Jamie's Illustrated guide to not getting raped by Oz bureaucrats'

I've been doing a bit of preliminary research with a view to taking the bikes over next year.
I called up Oz customs to get some clarification about something on their website only to discover that assuming the information about temporary vehicle imports on their website had any basis in reality was exceedingly stupid indeed.
Then I was talking to the freight forwarding company I deal with at work, when I mentioned that I was intending to ship a couple of bikes to Oz the guy just about had apoplexy.
I did however get a (mostly) comprehensible reply from VicRoads about what requirements they had for a temporarily imported vehicle.

You guys have a great trip. Once you've got those DR's on the road & rolling it'll all be worth it. There's nothing like rolling out of town at the start of a big trip with thousands of km of roads & adventures stretched out in front of you & the knowledge that the only important objective for the next couple of weeks or months is to RIDE!

Cheers
Clint