Here are some datapoints that I hope are useful:
Size : 53 x 29 x 8 (= 80-inches Brand New TREK box) Travel: 80503 TO 92122 Weight: 35 lbs (same price for higher as dimensional weight applies)
US Postal = $75 (Wow! The price has doubled!) UPS Ground = $42 (pickup at your house) UPS Ground = $41 (you drop off at UPS location) Fedex Ground = $35 (you drop off at Fedex location), URL:
The price increases by $10 at some shippers for 1-inch increase in box size, to 81 inches, so pack all those corners tightly!
As previously discussed on this list, Fedex and US Postal seem to smash the least bikes, and they pay claims for damage. UPS seems to be the worst of the 3 in both respects.
For shipping from the U.K. => USA, Parcel Force Surface mail is still the cheapest, at about $170.
First-class overseas shipping to USA is $35 more. For overseas shipping the government carrier avoids extravagant customs clearance charges, which can easily dwarf the shipment costs themselves.
- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA