Shipping a Bike?

[KTMster]

I am thinking of buying a bike that is out of state which means I would have to have it shipped to me. I have never had a bike shipped and was wondering if anyone here has. If so, was it expensive, and do you think it is safe? :think

 

[zilla]

I shipped a bike once

Actualy a street bike, to my son in Hawaii, from Salt lake City. Cost about $700 U.S. I took it to a place called Boxer's and the guy drained the gas, crated it up and made sure it was shipped properly.. I could have saved some $$ by draining the fuel myself, if I had known..

 

[txvintage]

I bought a bike in Ohio (Cleveland area) and had it shipped to Dallas with Foward Air for $65 plus the cost of the carboard crate, which can usually be gotten for next to nothing from a shop.

 

[biglou]

Seems like the average price for shipping withing the lower 48 was on the order of about $300. If you have any contacts that work for a trucking line, you might be able to swing a deal. KC_Bulldog works for a trucking company and had a used YZ125 shipped here to KC from Texas for around $150. All in all, the posts I've seen on this topic seem to indicate that it's not terrribly expensive and should be well worth it if you find a great deal on a bike that you just can't match locally. It's definitely worth pursuing.

 

[AJ Waggoner]

We use
www.yellowfrieght.com

$320 to ship to a local yellowfreight terminal near you ( bike crated)
or $380? to ship to your doorway depending on address.
lower 48.

alternate methods -

www.forwardair.com

very cheap but it is from airport terminal to airport terminal..
if you can make the arrangements to get the bike crated to the airport and pick it up at the airport this is likely the cheapest solution.
normally$150 or less - distance depending

www.emeryworldwide.com
will ship a crated bike anywhere...prices range depending on distance and import laws/tariffs for certain countries etc.


These shipping companies are for crated bikes
on that note-
... the easiest to use/lightest and strongest crates are the Honda CR or XR steel crates..and very easy to assemble or modify.
you can modify them to fit most any current off road bike.
any local Honda dealer would likely give you one as most just throw them away.

for uncraeted bikes..street or off road -
i would give

www.allied.com ( or allied shippers? allied van lines?not sure on the URL)

a try - we have used them but of course it is a bit higher price and the gas /oil needs to be drained.
around $500? depending again on distance in the lower 48.

good luck..and its normally very little hassle to ship a bike.
just a little effort crating or making pick- up arrangements..
most places take 5 to 7 days maximum in lower 48.

 

[KTMster]

WOW! Thank you guys so much! This helps me more than you know. At least now I don't have to let the shipping issue become a factor on whether I buy this bike or not. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!