I shipped an MC28 to Italy a few years back and one thing I can reccomend is using an old bike shipping crate from a dealers. My local Yamaha dealer gave me an old crate for free. saved him disposing of it.

It had a timber base with cardboard side. I have a picture somewhere......



No sure who the agent was as the buyer arranged that.

Of course this all depends on John getting a crate for you.....