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@roxy
hi,
I take my bike back and forth. So does LeCar all the time. It's never been a problem. You are allowed to buy a bike, ride it in NYC and bring it back here as a personal possession. There's no problem I've ever heard of there. Especially if there's a bit of dirt on it.
The problem lies in bringing back something all packaged and shiny that you're clearly going to sell.
That's something you can't do and they'll charge tax on.
I always go with a bike box. I take everything off my frame (ie bars, peddles, wheels) and pack them in as well. I wrap everything in my clothes that I'm packing and plastic carrier bags. I put a bit of foam, bubble wrap where things might get injured, and I cut the box down to under the normal baggage requirements (easier with my small frames). With bigger frames use one box for the frame and another for bits, and keep them both below regulation sizes.
I haven't ever been charged extra and my boxes have never been opened. They ask me what's in it and I say "my whole life" or "an old bike frame" or the like.
Because I pack all my clothes around my frame I save on other baggage and weight, and my bike has extra padding.
I hope that helps.