How to Transport a Motorcycle on a Trailer

Transporting a bike is costly when you don’t know how to transport a motorcycle on a trailer without incurring extra costs for mistakes. One of these mistakes is going for the absolute cheapest way to ship a motorcycle, which brings its own challenges.

That’s why this guide will explain everything you need to know. We’re going over motorcycle transport trailer options as well as pickup and delivery. We also have a step-by-step guide to walk you through an affordable motorcycle shipping process.

Let’s start with asking…

What Is the Cheapest Way to Move a Motorcycle

For most riders, undoubtedly the cheapest option is simple – move your bike with a motorcycle transport trailer. This is the lowest cost option that avoids terminal handling, hidden fees, and other freight shipping broker markups. However, the distance often changes the math.

For short distances, DIY transportation is surely better than professional motorcycle shipping services. This way, the real cost to ship your bike stays limited to the trailer rental and the fuel.

For long routes or full cross-country moves, carrier pricing becomes competitive. Those quotes rely on open transport, multi-stop routes, and wider delivery windows.

Two numbers explain the difference:

• The first is the motorcycle transport cost per mile. It increases when the route has fewer carriers or seasonal demand spikes.
• The second is the full price to ship a motorcycle, which adds dispatching, routing, and handling to the final bill.

This is why riders searching for affordable motorcycle shipping often discover the same result. The cheapest move usually means towing your own bike instead of handing it to a company.

Motorcycle Shipping - Trailer Options

The trailer you choose will determine both your costs and the security of your bike. The best trailer type for your haul always boils down to distance, exposure, and budget. So, let’s go through the different types of trailers in more depth.

A setup with a trailer provides you with much more control than most motorcycle shippers. Even some of the professional motorcycle transport services will not offer that trailer level of flexibility.

5 Steps for DIY Motorcycle Shipping

When it comes to DIY motorcycle shipping, there are several general steps you must consider before you commit. They include:

• #1 - Try to decide whether you want to move the motorcycle yourself or use a motorcycle shipping service.
• #2 - Try to compare as many local trailer rentals as you can find to identify one that suits your needs the best.
• #3 - Verify the route availability, or try to tailor your own route to get the best motorcycle transport cost per mile.
• #4 - Try to identify if your route requires special handling/trailer, like enclosed motorcycle transport.
• #5 - Finalize the schedule and continue with the step-by-step tutorial below for securing and loading your bike.

If you decide to go with the motorcycle shipping company, you can expect everything from the route to the equipment to be provided. This, of course, increases the motorcycle shipping cost.

Step-by-Step Loading and Securing Your Motorcycle for Transport

DIY hauling turns out to be the most effective way to transport a bike for many riders. It allows you to tailor the ride, adjust variables, and keep control over the transportation. That’s why we will walk you through the steps for DIY motorcycle shipping:

#1 Bike Preparation for Loading

The first step is to prepare your motorcycle properly. You need to remove all the loose parts like accessories, disable all alarms, and lower the tire pressure. Also, you need to check the exact condition of the bike, so you can compare it on arrival.

#2 Plan the Position and Balance

The next step is to determine where exactly the bike will sit on the trailer. This is the same as if you are planning how to transport a motorcycle in a truck. It’s critical because the axle balance and tailgate clearance will affect the handling and braking.

#3 Set up the Securing Equipment

The most important step is the proper equipment to transport a motorbike in a truck or trailer.

Shippers often use a front wheel to lock the base like an all-in-one lock and load motorcycle transport system. These systems keep the bike upright, so you can tighten the straps reliably.

#4 Load the Motorcycle Securely

The next step is to walk the bike up the ramp with a steady throttle or engine off and a helper guiding from the side. This reduces tip-over risk and prevents sudden weight shifts that often cause early damage during transport.

#5 Final Movement & Safety Check

When the bike is in place, it’s time to move it back and forth and wiggle it as hard as you can. This will determine whether something is about to shift during the transit. This is important, especially when you plan to ship a motorcycle cross-country or another very long distance.

Essential Equipment to Transport a Motorcycle In a Truck

Some of the necessary equipment for bike transportation is the following:

• Ratchet straps for keeping the bike rigid.
• Soft loops for painted or aluminum parts.
• A solid front wheel chock or front restraint.
• An edge protector for the sharp trailer rails.

If you’re shipping a motorcycle through a motorcycle transport company, they provide all of that for you. However, when you’re going with a DIY motorcycle shipment, you must take care of it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid when Shipping Your Motorcycle

Many riders focus solely on price without asking themselves how can I ship a motorcycle by using a rental trailer. They often book fast, without thinking too much, resulting in a lot of hidden fees, motorcycle damage, and more issues.

Here are the general mistakes you should avoid:

• Confusing car-only freight shipping brokers with auto transport services, assuming they follow the same safety rules for motorcycles.
• Booking fast without asking yourself how to ship my motorcycle safely, and whether DIY would be better in your case.
• Going with the first quote without comparing rates, reviews, and experience of the motorcycle shipping company.
• Ignoring regional access rules tied to motorcycle shipping in California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington, and Texas.
• Skipping a written confirmation of the freight shipping carrier’s motorcycle experience, even after you received a low quote for auto transport.

Moving your bike sounds simple, but it isn’t if you want to do it right. We hope this guide showed the difference between carriers and DIY motorcycle shipping. Hence, the right method depends on your situation, bike value, budget, and approach.