Whats the best/cheap way to ship a motorbike in Italy???
I cant drive over there!!!
Ema
Used to be doable by train if you were an accompanying passenger. Knew guys who did this sort of thing to find new touring grounds (Greece, Yugoslavia, where ever that is) some years ago.
There are now plenty of freight forwarding companies doing regular runs between Italy and England but you don’t get to travel with the bike so I’d not be happy with that unless the bike was well crated.
The customs forms for un accompanied good are also a real pain, particularly for motor vehicles.
Where do you want to get can you drive at all on the continent?
Oldguy.
Depends on your bike Italts not that far, nice ride out 
from London to Lecce 1425 miles with a GSX 600, I think it is a lot
Ema
Speak to one of the track day companies that organise Spanish/French track days, like Hot Trax or No Limits. They ship bikes to/from their track days. Hot Tax use a company in Cirencester but can’t remember the name.
2 day trip or 3 if sightseeing lol, why not hire one there ?
Why not ride? It would be a real adventure, and a number of LB’ers have done it before. Distance isn’t the problem, the bike isn’t the problem, it’s your love for riding that must be there
Lecce in Pulia, right? Down below Bari? 3 day trip if your a hero. Several if your not.
Like the man said, why not hire a bike once your there? If your lucky on the net there are dirt cheap flights to Bari. (Cos it’s not your usual tourist destination.)
Want a different way?
There are hundreds of ferries in the Med. One runs from Genoa to Naples and on to Taranto and Reggio. (Or it did.). Taranto to Lecce is just a little burble along.
Genoa is only just over the French border or you can take the pretty route through Switzerland and knock in a couple of good Alpine passes on the way.
The ferry used to be pretty cheap but it’s about a day on board and they reckon to make their money on the cabin, food and drink which were poor at half the price.
Me. I’d do the fly drive unless I wanted to make the trip the adventure. Always a good option.
Oldguy.
Nice way to travel though and you’ll get to talk to some pretty interesting international truckers who make up most of the customers.
Just think of the cost in shipping that could be put to greater use, like already stated, hiring a motorbike, which would obviously come with euro breakdown and all you would have to do is PetrolOilLubricate the machine. Or just take your own bike.
Either way enjoy the views along route, as well as some clear open roads for you to enjoy riding alone and having a relaxing break at the same time. Better than avoiding an opportunity, is’nt it?
Anyway i’m envois and hope you enjoy your trip whatever you decide.
Sorry about the pooh egg English, ENVIOUS not an envois.
That’s about it Ema. All pretty good suggestions, so what you gonna do?
Let us guys who don’t have the luxury of those choises what you decide. (And perhaps put up a post to let us know how you got on after the event?)
Oldguy.
why not pay some1 to ride it there for ya?
if you know some1 you can trust to ride it there and pay for flight home, if you got digs out there they might do it just for a couple of days in italy + expenses.
i’m jealous, ride it all the way, great opportunity!
gsxr rockers got the idea…so when ya want me to take it ? :)
I’m trust worthy, don’t eat much and don’t smoke or drink . . . ;)
I’m just wondering why you want a bike shipped out to italy?
Knowing the problems that Alice has had out there with UK plates, are you wanting to keep it out there?
If so, you might be better off flogging it and buying one out there on italian plates.
If it’s just for a short period, should be OK:)
I am Italian, I live in London since 2003. I drove a scooter for 3 years and then last summer I got a proper bike. Since then I did less than 700 miles (I used it once a month), I really like motorbikes, but I hate this weather; then I thought it is better to have the bike in Italy and every time I go there I can enjoy it (nice weather and wonderful roads). What sort of problem Alice had?
Ema
Try a company called James Cargo - we got quotes from them to take our bikes to South Africa.
You would be better off PM’ing Alice direct but I do know she had problems with insurance renewal etc out there.