Has anybody recently shipped a bike?

[Banderboy]

I (unfortunately) live in Nebraska, and as it gets closer to when I'll be ready to buy, there's a good chance a bike I want will be on either coast. Fly and ride is a possibility, but shipping may work better. I've researched a little, but I'd like some first-hand accounts if possible. Thanks for any info!

 

[Dirt_Dad]

My only shipping experience was from Alaska to Virginia last year. Good experience, but not comparable to shipping within the lower 48. That one cost me $2K per bike. Your cost should be much, much lower.

As you shop, but sure to check Romney Cycles. Romney Cycles website They sell a lot of Teneres. They ship all over the country. If you want a fly and ride they will pick you up at Dulles airport. Bought my last 4 Teneres from them.

 

[allenrsaxton]

Last November I bought a Tenere with factory panniers from a dealer in California and shipped it to me in Connecticut - $750 delivered to my door. It was a piano/motorcycle shipping company out of Kentucky. They were great. The dealership gave me a list of four shippers with whom they’ve worked. I went to their respective websites which left me with a lot of questions. Called two of them, one of which was who I chose. Questions like palletizing, not palletizing, etc. It seemed that palletizing costs more but is better for bigger bikes and those with panniers, fairings, etc.

The shipper I went with palletized my bike for several hundred less than others who ship without palletizing the bikes. I did have to wait a few weeks (16 days) more but it was worth it for the savings.

I can get you the name of the shipper if you like when I get back to the house tonight. I was very satisfied with the company.

P.S. Don’t make the mistake of clicking on the “Ship my bike” button or get a quote button on a Cycle Trader. It’s a 3rd party company who sends your info to hundreds (it seemed) of shippers. They are relentless in contacting you and they were all at least double to triple what I paid.

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[Porcupine224]

In September I shipped the Tenere to Seattle, rode all over Vancouver Island then rode back to Virginia.
I too used a pallet shipper that charged about the same $750 from my front door to a moving company warehouse in Tacoma, close enough to the airport for a fly and ride. I chose this shipper because they had depots in three cities, Seattle , Salt Lake And Denver, all close to the Airports of my choice.

So, 30 days in advance I gave them the date I wanted to pick it up at the other end and let them come and get it when they could.
Five Days later they picked it up at my house and after an inspection report and photographs off she went.
Seven days after that I got a call from Seattle telling me she was there and ready for me to pick it up.
Coming straight in via LYFT and United Airlines, I showed up at lunch time on the appointment day, and drove away 60 minutes later. No hidden charges or BS.
Excellent for me. I'm planning on doing it again next year.
BUT...
There was another rider sitting under a tree (it was a nice day) waiting for word on his bike, the truck had "broken down" and ETA was still unknown. The folks on the receiving end were chasing it and he was being patient. His mistake was timing...the bike and he were arriving at the same time with no room for delay. So give yourself some room.
These guys were pros and had done all of this many times before, so don't be afraid to give it a try.
I sure does extend your riding range !!!



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[fredz43]

allenrsaxton, that was a very good price, especially since they palletized it for you. I reccently had a KLX250S shipped from northern California to me in IL for $600 and I shipped a DR350 from IL to Brooklyn, NY for $500. Both were smaller bikes, non palletized and the KLX was shipped in an open trailer. Thus was thru uship.com. Please share the name of the company that you used, as I would certainly contact them next time.

 

[allenrsaxton]

Here is the shipping company I used and spoke about in my earlier post.

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[Banderboy]

Here is the shipping company I used and spoke about in my earlier post.

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Thanks Allen!

 

[fredz43]

Another thank you, Allen.

 

[Spider]

A few of my close motorcycle buddies and I have shipped several bikes using Uship (https://www.uship.com/). No negative experiences, but it's more like Uber...less expensive but many of the movers vary from the traditional mold. For example, one bike I received showed up in the back of a pickup truck that the guy was driving cross country for someone else.