Ship Motorcycle Cost

Have you fallen in love with that vintage motorcycle you saw at the auction and want to buy it? Or perhaps you are moving to a different state and want to send your bike there.

Besides, there could be some other reasons why you may wish to ship the bike.

You might want to attend a motorbike rally or take your bike on vacation with you, and some of you might want to sell it to someone who lives in a different state. All these factors make you consider moving two-wheelers locally or nationwide, but the most crucial consideration is how much it will cost.

People enjoy buying two-wheelers for several reasons, including their affordability and fuel efficiency, environmental friendliness, adventure potential, the convenience of parking, ability to maneuver through traffic, and general appearance.

In 2020, about 8.32 million motorbikes were registered in the states of the District of Columbia, among public, private, and commercial ownership. Approximately 62,000 motorbikes were licensed in Florida during that year.

California claimed to have the most private and commercial motorbikes registered nationwide in 2020, accounting for about 12% of the total population. Less populated states like Wyoming and Alaska, Rhode Island, Delaware, and the District of Columbia with fewer than 25,000 registrations. The statistical data shows how much Americans love motorbikes. So, let’s dive deeper into the complete process of hauling a motorbike!

Cost To Ship A Motorcycle

You cannot determine the precise charges of moving a two-wheeler without receiving estimates from various delivery service companies. The price of a motorbike load is determined by multiple factors, many of which we have covered in this post and which you will later encounter.

A 1,500-mile journey in an enclosed trailer costs, on average, $1,140, according to quotes from the leading shifting service providers in the United States. You will pay $590 for open trailer transportation from 500 to 1,000 miles and $670 for an enclosed trailer.

The charges vary according to factors like distance and mode of conveyance. The least expensive alternative, most preferred, is open hauling (a trailer with no walls or a roof), which is also the riskiest (some of the best motorbike dispatching firms don’t even offer it).

You can haul your Harley in an enclosed container or send your mountain bike on open transit, thanks to the flexibility offered by motorcycle shipping providers. But we would say again, that you can’t get an exact expense without negotiating with moving companies, so it’s better to discuss it with them.

What Factors Determine Charge Of Bike Shifting

As we previously stated, it is tricky to determine the precise expense of shifting your bike without collecting estimates from shipping firms. However, we have discussed the variables that can influence delivery charges here. It will help you understand how repositioning costs are calculated.

Mode Of Conveyance

It allows you to select between an open trailer and an enclosed trailer for your moving. Since an available trailer lacks a canopy and side walls, inclement weather like rain, storms, and sweltering heat can seriously damage your motorcycle’s appearance. For this reason, some delivery firms do not provide this option.

Comparatively speaking, shifting in an open trailer is quite affordable. Your two-wheeler is transported by an enclosed trailer in a covered, closed, and more protective truck. Compared to the empty trailer approach, it is more expensive.

Certain people use air freight services to move their expensive and opulent bikes. While these services can be speedy and handy, relatively few people opt for them because of the high expense.

Distance

If you have to haul your motorbike just a couple of 150 to 200 miles, it might price you $600 to $700. However, if your dispatching and load destination is miles and miles away, it will charge you a lot. It might not be too expensive to move it inside the same city or to the next state, but it will cost you a lot to ship it from Virginia to Alaska due to the distance.

It requires additional fuel and logistics, which raises the expense of conveyance overall. You pay more charges the further the cargo travels and the more regions it passes through.

Route

Transporters’ routes are also important; they significantly affect how much it charges to send bikes. On a map, the payload destination might appear to be only a few miles away, but roadworks, heavy traffic, and maintenance of roads can all lengthen the distance traveled and increase travel time.

Size, Weight, And Dimension

The actual price will increase if the bike you are exporting weighs a lot and takes up more space in the truck the relocating company uses to transport it. In contrast to other vehicles, motorbike sizes are often uniform, although weight varies considerably from bike to bike.

Since the Mountain Moto FX5 is lighter and smaller than the Honda F6B, which weighs 385 kg, you will pay more for the latter.

Delivery Firm

Most consumers do not think it is a significant concern regarding the high cost of repositioning motorcycles. The shipping provider you select also determines the expenditure of relocating. Be prepared to pay more for relocating if you choose one of the top American dispatching service providers. These businesses offer top-notch services but also ensure you pay a fair fee for them.

Destination Point

Since your ride is picked up and delivered close to your home, the repositioning company dropping it at your doorstep will charge you more. Doorstep transit is more expensive than transit conveyance.

How The Bidding Process Works Without A Broker

• Get quotations from several shifting businesses, compare them, and choose the one that is substantially less expensive. You should find an economical delivery company.
• Go for a delivery company that is insured and Bonded.
• Sign a contract and arrange for the collection; or delivery of your motorcycle on the agreed-upon day and time.
• Prepare your two-wheeler for dispatching. Upon pickup, give the firm immediate access to your motorbike.
• Your ride will be moved by the shifting company driver, who will also let you know when your bike is expected to arrive in the location you choose.
• You can transit your bike safely to the selected place; if you prefer, the delivery firm will deliver it to the relocating address, or you can arrange a pickup at the shifting company warehouse.
• How The Bidding Process Works Through Brokers
• Estimating the cost of repositioning bikes is challenging because the estimating technique is similar to shipping companies for transporting cars and other vehicles.
• Because of this, your initial quote is usually the best estimate of what your whole bill will be. Moving firms (also known as brokers) will submit the specifics of your load to participants in an online relocating auction once you receive a quote. Then, carriers, or truck drivers, make a bid for your cargo.
• The broker chooses the most affordable carrier it can locate within your available time. Final expenses are approximately 25% more than your initial quote, but you can cut expenditures by booking a few weeks in advance (that gives the bids ample time to fall to their lowest levels).

How Delivery Firms Ensure Safe Dispatching Of A Two-Wheeler

Choose the dispatching company with a strong reputation, providing excellent services, and the one with whom customers have a good experience.

• The shipping companies take firm steps to protect your two-wheeler from damage during moving. Motorcycles are placed on a special trailer and secured with soft straps so they won’t move while hauled. Delivery Companies may offer wheel chocks, spacing bars, or harnesses to ensure the smooth transit of your motorbike. All other units, excluding rides, are strapped directly to the truck. The repositioning companies have special equipment to load them in the car.
• The drivers load the two-wheelers using specialized tools and loading techniques. The relocating firms may transport two-wheelers with fuel, and the fuel tank doesn’t need to be drained!
• Hauling is typically done by enclosed vehicles. Transits are therefore completely enclosed, have traction control, and have extra-large liftgates suitable for lifting bikes.
• Shifting companies are insured and bonded in case of any damage caused to your ride during load. The company compensates the customers for the damage.

How Can You Keep The Expense Of Moving Two-Wheeler Minimal?

If you follow the following steps and are a little vigilant, you can reduce the actual price of your ride. Let’s have a detailed look at these steps:

• Choose a shifting company after thorough research, get quotations from different companies, and then go for the one that is the least expensive.
• If the company is insured in case of damage, you will at least get compensated for the damage. So keep the insurance point in mind too.
• If you can not afford a moving company, you can hire a person who can do the hauling for you, but you can't hire any tom dick or Harry. Some people work individually. Do your thorough research as you might be scammed.
• Choose the cheaper conveyance mode. Don’t go for the air freight option or enclosed trailer option. Open transportation options are more affordable than these.
• Avoid door drop service; it can also add to the total expense. Choose pickup from the dispatching warehouse.
• You can receive the best deals if you book a reservation a week or two in advance. That enables the truck drivers to conduct their research and find the best deals. However, it would cost you a lot if you asked a repositioning company to pick up your delivery for load tomorrow. Preparation pays off.
• The supply and demand principle underlies the car transit industry. Find those deals since these businesses frequently provide discounts when demand is low, particularly during the bitter winters or sweltering summers.

How To Prepare Your Bike For Hauling

While the carrier you select will play a significant role in ensuring the safe delivery of your ride to its new location, there are a few things you can do to prepare your bike for the journey thoroughly. These simple actions can simplify the procedure and safeguard your vehicle.

Before picking up your motorcycle, the hauling firm will inspect its condition, so it is best to clean it and get rid of all the dirt. It’s a good idea to take pictures of the two-wheeler when you move it so you can file a claim for compensation if there is any damage during transport.

Do that in front of the delivery person who will pick it up for shifting. Make cautious about securing any loose connections to prevent your bike from disassembling while being moved.

Although some hauling firms may haul bikes with fuel, it is best to drain the cycle of all power before shipping. Most movers require you to have just over 1/4 of a fuel tank. Before conveyance, disengage the steering wheel and turn off any alarms.

Ensure your bike tires have air so the movers can roll them. Otherwise, liftgate-type equipment is required to be put onto the truck, increasing your costs.

Charge Of Relocating Bike Overseas

Bikes would be expensive to move abroad because they require various logistics and conveyance methods. Whether you select air or sea freight as your mode of shifting will determine this. The distance between the dispatching and delivery locations, the form of transportation, the motorcycle’s size, type, and weight, and whether you want speedy delivery are all factors that affect how much it will cost to send a bike.

Your choice of delivery firm is essential as well. Depending on the destination nation and the motorcycle’s packaging, expenditures might range from $1,000 to $2,000 to send a bike abroad, according to data from some reputable shifting companies. If you want to move a bike internationally, it would be better to discuss it with a reputable moving firm.

Conclusion

Similar to moving other types of vehicles, shipping two-wheelers is accessible. The same elements determining the expense of moving other items also affect its price. The choice of firm and the effort you are willing to put into making the conveyance hassle-free will determine how smoothly it goes.

If you bear in mind the points we’ve covered in this post when choosing to transport your ride, we’re confident that everything will go smoothly.