Ship your motorcycle to explore the world

Seasonal motorcycle shipping by full-container-load within a reliable global depot-to-depot network. Australia-based Own Bike Odyssey (OBO) provides a trusted, streamlined, rider-focused logistics service with full transparency and clear communication.

Motorcycle Shipping

Legend: primary depot, secondary depot and RoRo ferry link

HOW OBO WORKS

1. Full Container Load Only

Compatible rider demand is consolidated into one sealed container that remains dedicated to OBO customers’ motorcycles from origin to destination and is planned, packed and managed as one coordinated shipment. No loss of control between origin and destination inherent with fragmented Less-than-Container-Load shipments.

Klaus & Max (father & son) launched from Milan to ride Central Asia.

2. Reliability Over Margin

OBO selects shipping lines, service lanes and sailings for operational reliability. Its model is not driven by the narrow margins or preferential carrier arrangements that influence standard freight forwarding.

Pauly launched from Valparaíso to follow autumn north to Colombia and beyond.

3. Good-Value Secure Storage

OBO does not believe in a model that requires riders to be waiting at the destination only a few days after vessel arrival. OBO’s preference is to store motorcycles at the destination for a predetermined buffer period calculated around the intricacies of the specific route, rather than cut things fine against riders’ travel plans. OBO’s model incorporates good-value secure storage and realistic buffer into shipment planning. This also allows OBO to consolidate riders planning two-month and six-month journeys into the same container. Example storage rates are free in Milan, AU$2 per day in Malaysia, and two weeks free followed by AU$5 per day in Australia.

Bert touring with his motorcycle at Cape Le Grand near Esperance

Bert shipped from Chandigarh to Brisbane to continue his RTW journey.

4. Rider-Focused Coordination

The OBO global network is built on a reliable foundation of strategically selected depots and specialist partners experienced with privately owned used motorcycles for touring purposes. Coordination entails a clear onboarding process and dedicated Shipment Portal, providing a streamlined, rider-focused interface for the all-inclusive cost, tasks, data, documents and intricacies relevant to each shipment. OBO does not take trust for granted—it earns trust through full transparency and clear communication from depot to depot.

Nolan with motorcycles at Port Klang Free Zone

Nolan on departure from the Port Klang Free Zone customs gate.

5. Purpose-Built for Touring

The packing system, handling processes and shipment planning are designed specifically for privately owned used motorcycles for touring purposes. OBO specialises in this niche operation.

Ray with his motorcycle en route to the China crossing

Ray en route to the China crossing from Laos to Kyrgyzstan.

6. Seasonally Connected

The shipment network is timed around riding seasons, connected overland journeys and practical entry-to-exit windows, creating linked return or onward opportunities rather than leaving riders snookered by isolated shipments.

Mark’s motorcycle during his journey through South America

Mark launched from Valparaíso to Ushuaia, then rode north to Colombia before storing his motorcycle in Panama to resume his journey later.

HOW OBO EVOLVED

Riders dream of shipping their motorcycles overseas to explore the world, but the logistics involved often keep that dream out of reach. The usual alternative is spending big money on a short motorcycle tour that barely scratches the surface. Even riders who take the plunge and ship their own motorcycles can become overwhelmed by the logistics required to enter and exit their journeys, often spending more time organising motorcycle transport than planning the journey itself.

WHAT IF? WOULD YOU?

What if riders understood the seasonal reality of intercontinental motorcycle travel and that their motorcycles generally need to move at roughly the same time? What if that collective rider demand could be consolidated into Full Container Load opportunities? What if the massive duplication of effort between individual riders could be consolidated through a single organiser, removing the logistics burden? Would you ship your motorcycle to explore the world?

WHY US?

Own Bike Odyssey is run by Dylan Reid, who is based in Brisbane, Australia. His peculiar toolkit includes engineering degrees, intuition for left-field logistics, obsessive-compulsive optimiser disorder and other social ineptitude. These skillsets coupled with his experience getting proper flogged riding motorcycles round the world has seen Dylan evolve into a weapon when it comes to planning and executing this niche service. What was born as a passion-led project, Own Bike Odyssey has evolved into a fantastic bang-for-buck motorcycle logistics service that will see many more riders overlanding independently round the world (RTW) upon their trusted iron steeds.

HOW OBO EVOLVED

WHAT IF? WOULD YOU?

WHY US?

YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS?

What is Full Container Load motorcycle shipping?

Why does OBO only use Full Container Load shipping?

Why doesn't OBO offer Less-than-Container Load motorcycle shipping?

Why is coordination between Origin and Destination so important?

Is air freight better than Full Container Load motorcycle shipping?

Why must I pay a deposit to secure my motorcycle shipment?

How do you manage buffer in your schedule?

What are the depot storage rates like?

Do you ship any sized motorbike?

Do you ship any year model bike?

Rate Inclusions and Exclusions?

Single Transit Marine Cargo Insurance?

Compulsory Third-party Insurance?

Travel Insurance

International Driving Permit (IDP)

Do I need a carnet?

Are hire or tour options better value than shipping my own motorbike?

Cost example

Will you ship my personal effects with my motorbike?

Australia depot locations?

What is Australia Border Force (ABF)?

How is Australia's Biosecurity administered?

Just how clean does my motorbike need to be for Australia’s biosecurity inspection?

Will my motorbike be delayed if another rider does the wrong thing?

View Motorcycle Shipping

CONTACT US

Please make all shipment enquiries via the Register Interest to Build Demand form. If you have a general enquiry about our service, please complete this form.

Please appreciate that OBO ships full container loads (FCL) only. We do not ship less than container loads (LCL), offer air freight, or ship anywhere at any time. Our service operates on selected routes and is tailored specifically for motorcycle overlanders.

We receive a high volume of broader overlander enquiries and, as much as we would like to assist the wider motorcycle-overlanding community, we simply do not have the capacity and must remain focused on supporting OBO customers.

Onboarding Process

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