Dirt bike in flight hold luggage...

kieran_macca
Edited Date/Time 4/11/2020 10:11am
I’m running out of things to read here on Vital so figured I would start a new thread.
I’ve seen this question asked now and then over the years but never saw any definitive answers. Well here is the definitive answer.
I’m from Ireland and recently spent winter riding in SoCal, due to cost I figured it would be best to bring my own bike (‘19 TC125) but didn’t want to ship it.

I decided to take the chance, fit my bike into a few gear bags and take it with me. Worked a treat and no one at either airport seemed to give a f#ck. Good times!








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Ryguy125
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Ryguy125 4/10/2020 3:07am
4/10/2020 3:07am
That is awesome. Modern problems require modern solutions
5
kieran_macca 4/10/2020 4:14am
4/10/2020 4:14am
Ryguy125 wrote:
That is awesome. Modern problems require modern solutions
Exactly! Now my 125 is in the States and I'm stuck back in Ireland. I miss it
kieran_macca 4/10/2020 4:15am
4/10/2020 4:15am
Chris99Flannery wrote:
Try that with a 450 four stroke!!!
I think it would still work but you would need to have the engine in a suitcase of its own.

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resetjet
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resetjet 4/10/2020 6:42am
4/10/2020 6:42am
Well it cannot have any fuel or oil in it.
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Markopolo400
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Markopolo400 4/10/2020 6:47am
4/10/2020 6:47am
That is awesome. How much were the baggage fees?
2
kieran_macca 4/10/2020 9:51am
4/10/2020 9:51am
Markopolo400 wrote:
That is awesome. How much were the baggage fees?
From memory it was around £400, maybe a little more. Not cheap but good value when you consider the bike arrived with me, no import docs/fees to worry about, etc.
2
FGR01
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FGR01 4/10/2020 9:54am
4/10/2020 9:54am
Just a wee little fib about that compressed gas cylinder, right?
1
Xeno
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Xeno 4/10/2020 10:00am
4/10/2020 10:00am
I know Australian guys will fly to the US, buy a bike and ride the local tracks. They dismantle the bike and take it back to Australia as checked luggage. They sell the bike in Australia and the profit covers the cost of their airfare.
kieran_macca 4/10/2020 10:55am
4/10/2020 10:55am
FGR01 wrote:
Just a wee little fib about that compressed gas cylinder, right?
I decided not to raise any awareness on that particular topic.
2
kieran_macca 4/10/2020 10:57am
4/10/2020 10:57am
Xeno wrote:
I know Australian guys will fly to the US, buy a bike and ride the local tracks. They dismantle the bike and take it back to...
I know Australian guys will fly to the US, buy a bike and ride the local tracks. They dismantle the bike and take it back to Australia as checked luggage. They sell the bike in Australia and the profit covers the cost of their airfare.
A friend of mine in New Zealand bought an ex race bike while he was out there riding and brought it back with him. Although he did ship it as a few boxes of parts.
Its a good option.
snackfedbear
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snackfedbear 4/10/2020 11:21am
4/10/2020 11:21am
I dig this idea fully! Might have saved a bag or two if you just shipped the frame, motor and suspension. This is assuming you would buy wheels, plastics and exhaust over here and shipped them back of course.. So many ways to piggy back off of this my imagination is running wild
Agent717
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Agent717 4/10/2020 11:36am
4/10/2020 11:36am
The way the airlines have handled my checked luggage I would expect a lot of parts to arrive dinged up. No problems?
kieran_macca 4/10/2020 11:48am
4/10/2020 11:48am
Indian_Dunes_4ever wrote:
We need a video of the packing job! Well done!
We need a video of the packing job!

Well done!
A time-lapse of 90% head scratching, 10% packing.
it did take a bit of thought and really I should've documented the whole thing!
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Zesiger 112
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Zesiger 112 4/10/2020 11:49am
4/10/2020 11:49am
This is nuts, I would be a nervous wreck from the time I handed the bags over thinking it would be lost or damaged. For me engine and suspension in pelican cases, the rest in gear bags. Glad it worked out for you.
kieran_macca 4/10/2020 11:51am
4/10/2020 11:51am
snackfedbear wrote:
I dig this idea fully! Might have saved a bag or two if you just shipped the frame, motor and suspension. This is assuming you would...
I dig this idea fully! Might have saved a bag or two if you just shipped the frame, motor and suspension. This is assuming you would buy wheels, plastics and exhaust over here and shipped them back of course.. So many ways to piggy back off of this my imagination is running wild
Yea there was so many options for this. You can see in one of the pics that the hubs are Cerakoted, so I basically built new rims over xmas to take with me, which ruled out buying wheels out there.
Moto Mofo
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Moto Mofo 4/10/2020 11:53am
4/10/2020 11:53am
I remember in late ‘96, Dirt Rider had a story about the FMF guys buying a ‘97 CR250 at a dealership in Japan (they were available there before in the states apparently) and bringing it home just like this to get a headstart on making parts. Way cool.
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ricky racer
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ricky racer 4/10/2020 11:53am
4/10/2020 11:53am
Man, you still had room to pack 1 pair of clean underwear!! I'm proud of you!Laughing
2
kieran_macca 4/10/2020 11:53am
4/10/2020 11:53am
Agent717 wrote:
The way the airlines have handled my checked luggage I would expect a lot of parts to arrive dinged up. No problems?
I was really worried about the wheels and exhaust being damaged because they were in a suitcase that was a lot less protective than the OGIO 9800 bags. But surprisingly nothing was damaged.
I assume they were all too heavy for the guys to go throwing around them ha!
kieran_macca 4/10/2020 11:57am
4/10/2020 11:57am
Zesiger 112 wrote:
This is nuts, I would be a nervous wreck from the time I handed the bags over thinking it would be lost or damaged. For me...
This is nuts, I would be a nervous wreck from the time I handed the bags over thinking it would be lost or damaged. For me engine and suspension in pelican cases, the rest in gear bags. Glad it worked out for you.
I was a little nervous, especially with the suspension.
The only downside to pelican cases is that they stand out a lot and will get picked out a lot quicker by TSA to have a look inside. The gear bags just looked like everyday luggage and therefore didn't arise any suspicion. Thats how I saw it anyway.
1
kieran_macca 4/10/2020 11:59am
4/10/2020 11:59am
Moto Mofo wrote:
I remember in late ‘96, Dirt Rider had a story about the FMF guys buying a ‘97 CR250 at a dealership in Japan (they were available...
I remember in late ‘96, Dirt Rider had a story about the FMF guys buying a ‘97 CR250 at a dealership in Japan (they were available there before in the states apparently) and bringing it home just like this to get a headstart on making parts. Way cool.
Thats pretty cool!
ti473
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ti473 4/10/2020 12:12pm
4/10/2020 12:12pm
Moto Mofo wrote:
I remember in late ‘96, Dirt Rider had a story about the FMF guys buying a ‘97 CR250 at a dealership in Japan (they were available...
I remember in late ‘96, Dirt Rider had a story about the FMF guys buying a ‘97 CR250 at a dealership in Japan (they were available there before in the states apparently) and bringing it home just like this to get a headstart on making parts. Way cool.
I'd imagine they never actually rode the bike while in Japan or they would have never followed through with the idea...
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KDXGarage
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KDXGarage 4/10/2020 12:41pm
4/10/2020 12:41pm
FGR01 wrote:
Just a wee little fib about that compressed gas cylinder, right?
Myron, welcome to VitalMX.
stone881
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stone881 4/10/2020 12:45pm
4/10/2020 12:45pm
kieran_macca wrote:
I’m running out of things to read here on Vital so figured I would start a new thread. I’ve seen this question asked now and then...
I’m running out of things to read here on Vital so figured I would start a new thread.
I’ve seen this question asked now and then over the years but never saw any definitive answers. Well here is the definitive answer.
I’m from Ireland and recently spent winter riding in SoCal, due to cost I figured it would be best to bring my own bike (‘19 TC125) but didn’t want to ship it.

I decided to take the chance, fit my bike into a few gear bags and take it with me. Worked a treat and no one at either airport seemed to give a f#ck. Good times!








Thats great news! I did the same with a YZ250 about 10 years ago when I moved to South America. The agent told me that she would check it in (couple Ogio bags and motor in a box), but if TSA found any trace of gas/oil/solvent that it would get confiscated with no chance of recovering it.

I decided to take it home, assemble and sell it.

Glad it worked for you!
1
7GP
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7GP 4/10/2020 12:54pm
4/10/2020 12:54pm
FGR01 wrote:
Just a wee little fib about that compressed gas cylinder, right?
He probably deflated it & had it recharged at a shop here.
1
scott_nz 4/10/2020 1:09pm
4/10/2020 1:09pm
this was how the Kiwis got their bikes to Europe for the GP's in the 90's, back then you could carry the motor on as hand luggage,
2
Richard Tease II 4/10/2020 2:27pm
4/10/2020 2:27pm
Agent717 wrote:
The way the airlines have handled my checked luggage I would expect a lot of parts to arrive dinged up. No problems?
kieran_macca wrote:
I was really worried about the wheels and exhaust being damaged because they were in a suitcase that was a lot less protective than the OGIO...
I was really worried about the wheels and exhaust being damaged because they were in a suitcase that was a lot less protective than the OGIO 9800 bags. But surprisingly nothing was damaged.
I assume they were all too heavy for the guys to go throwing around them ha!
Judging by the exhaust and extra dent wouldn’t of mattered ;-)
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Regis
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Regis 4/10/2020 2:33pm
4/10/2020 2:33pm
Back in ‘99 I did this with my SX bike. Would rent a Uhaul, put it together and race.
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TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 4/10/2020 6:57pm
4/10/2020 6:57pm
Very cool thread
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