Shipping bike parts between Canada and the US

Any one know what it is like to ship parts between the Great White North and the US? What are the options? Is it as prohibitive as the rest of the world? It looks like it would cost about $50 to ship a bare wheel from the US to Canada by USPS. Am I about right? Are there cheaper options?

My preference is USPS/ Canada Post. No brokerage fees as with Fed Ex, UPS , Purolator etc.which is where they really make their $$. Cost of shipping is competitive as is delivery time. Pain for some folks is having to go to post office and filling out simple forms. Intestingly Canada Post owns Purolator.

I believe that shipping south is a little cheaper than shipping north. Am I right, or not? Anyone have an example of what they paid for a shipment of some-kind?

I shipped a windshield to a KZR Canuck sometime within the past couple of years or so.
It was no big deal. There's a USPS form that has to be filled out, but don't take it seriously - just enter the bare minimum info & keep it simple. Such as when listing what you're shipping, declare it as a Used motorcycle part or something like that. I don't recall what the shipping cost was, but it didn't seem that bad, especially since the box was kinda large.

I fill out enough of those forms, so that is no problem but it is packages over 4# that are a problem nowadays. The USPS has changed its regulations and the prices have skyrocketed. I wanted to ship a Bassani pipe to Australia and the postage was threw the ROOF. It was in the HUNDREDS of $.

I shipped a KZ750R1 seat to Quebec last year via USPS and it was US$32.00. The only issue from my end was that I was questioned if the transaction was a business deal. I replied that it was a gift. If I had been truthful (that I sold the seat to the fellow) then additional paperwork and customs duties might have been collected...if not from me, certainly on the receiving Canadian end.

i have never sent California wine and local foods to Canada.......

But.....

if i did try and send ,say,a bottle of wine and some good coastal foods and a few t-shirts in a post office supplied box......to a decent northern KZR

if i did say send that stuff...which i did not

i would have had to sign a slip saying what was in the box...and i could have said grape juice.....instead of the illegal wine.......


and it would have cost me 30 bucks for a decent sized box that was not super light......

it probably would have gotten there in only a few days....


boy am i glad i never did this

Shipping for a header from me to Texas was $79. A front brake master and a clutch cable from me to the states was 22 dollars. From my experience shipping from Canada to US is more than the other way around. For sure ship USPS, I have gotten dinged with a brokerage fee only a couple of times with them over years of eBaying but with UPS it's every time. The best way to do it though is the way I have found. I live somewhat near the border so I ship things to a warehouse in Alexandria Bay NY, I accumulate a few things there and then go pick them up. I make up a fake craigslist ad for a "used motorcycle parts lot" ad and make a cheap price, then pay duty on that small amount. Shipping that way is really fast too if I need something soon, shipping between countries takes a really long time. I find shipping from Asia far faster for some reason.

i have shipped carbs to Australia and norway after e-bay auctions. iirc both times the cost was around $70.
i shipped a set of cams to a member here from canada and it cost a ton more.
granted he wanted them overnighted. it was over $100.
i declared their value at under $40 so they would not get hung up in customs.
everything else i have shipped up north has been about par cost wise.

trianglelaguna wrote:

...boy am i glad i never did this

Well ya Royally screwed up this time.
Of course they didn't buy it.
And already heading your way.



Gonna pick up 9am on their way back.

Hard to imagine the two of you together in a Canadian slammer.
Busting at the seams, eh, and no room for a computer.

Ya'll might better quick give Roy's son a call. :laugh: :laugh:

otakar said he might otherwise be able to help, but it's raining. :laugh: :laugh:

Good Fortune!