Job Discussion Forums

[jillybean]

I'm planning an upcoming move and I wanted to know if anyone had any luck transporting a bicycle across Japan. It isn't "foldable" but it is quite nice and was rather expensive so I don't really want to sell it.
I'm wondering if I should just have it taken apart and then re-assembled when I arrive at my new place.

[timothypfox]

I transported a folding bike from NYC to Japan. I assume a full size bike could be down domestically more easily. It would of course be cheaper to check it on your flight if you are flying to another part of Japan. You should check with your airline if you need to reserve space for your bike. I believe it will be treated as excess baggage with a little extra fee - but not that much. You might ask them too how to prepare your bike - i.e. wrap it with bubble wrap? bag it? reinforce it with cardboard? I did all these with my bike and my bike was fine even after rough American baggage handlers at JFK airport....

[jillybean]

I'm not flying...I'm taking the train and the bus. I called the bus company and they already said "no" so I was looking into (cheap) transport companies but so far everyone has said it would cost more to ship the bike than the bike actually cost.....
Maybe I'll try and send it via the post office??
Thanks anyway!

[move]

Buy a bike bag! They're called rinko bukuro, and can be had for about 6,000 yen or so at a decent bike shop (not one that mainly deals in mamacharis) Then you can take it on a bus, train or whatever.

http://www.kancycling.com/Getting_Started/Using_Bikebags.html

[refikagurz]

I've had my bike sent from Niigata to Chiba to Kanagawa.. I just used Yamato Transfer.. They didn't even wrap it, but it's not a real expensive bike (but nicer than most) so I didn't care too much. However, it always arrived without a scratch. You could wrap it up well, though, and it should be OK. The prices to send it varied! It was cheaper to send it the farther it had to go!

[jillybean]