Motorcycle Shipping Services - Find the Best Motorbike Haulers

Transporting your bike from one place to another doesn’t have to be a bad experience, dense with headaches, phone calls, and frustration — motorcycle shipping can be a breeze. Hence, if you’re relocating, buying a new ride, or heading to a big event, this quick guide will help you out.

Finding reliable motorcycle transport is the key to a smooth experience without the stress of riding it yourself. The process is simpler than you might think. With the right motorcycle shipping service, you can get a quick motorcycle shipping quote, pick a transportation method that suits your needs, and enjoy door-to-door delivery.

Let’s unwrap everything you need to know about shipping your motorcycle safely and affordably.

How Does Motorcycle Transportation Work?

Motorcycle Transportation

If you’re wondering how motorcycle transportation moves your bike across the map without you having to ride it, we’re going to break this down for you. It’s not as complex as it sounds, and it’s a game-changer whether you’re moving across the entire country or just a couple of states over.

Here are the steps involved in typical motorcycle shipping:

1. Request a Quote

First, you need to understand how much it would cost. You need to hop online for a motorcycle shipping estimate, where most places have instant quotes. When you provide the bike’s details, pickup spot, and destination, you must get quotes from different services for approximate costs.

This is the fastest way to discover motorcycle shipping costs and land something that suits you!

2. Choose Shipping Method

The next step is to figure out how to ship a motorcycle. You can go with open trailers to keep it cheap, or enclosed ones if your bike’s worth pampering. Also, decide if you want door-to-door motorcycle shipping, which is convenient, or terminal-to-terminal based on your preferences.

3. Pickup & Tracking

When your bike is ready, the motorcycle movers will come to load it. A lot of services allow you to track your motorcycle shipment online, so you know exactly where it is until the delivery date.

4. Drop-Off & Checkup

When the bike arrives, there must be someone at the drop-off point. You need to thoroughly check the bike and compare it to its condition at the time of pickup. If you overlook any damage, nobody, even your insurance coverage, will not cover potential transportation bents.

As concisely as possible, that’s everything that will happen when you’re working with motorcycle shipping companies. Let’s learn more about the preparation process to avoid potential issues.

Ship Your Motorcycle - How Do You Prepare Your Motorcycle for Shipping

Getting your bike ready to ship a motorcycle isn’t just about handing it over, it’s about ensuring it arrives in the same shape it left. Once you’ve chosen a motorcycle hauler you’re happy with, it’s time to get your bike prepped for the motorcycle shippers.

There are a few simple steps that can make the motorcycle transporting a whole lot smoother and keep your ride in good shape.

Preparing for Your Motorcycle to Be Shipped:

Here’s exactly what’s expected from you by the motorcycle haulers:

  • Check Papers: Start by double-checking any key documents related to your bike transportation, especially if you’re selling your motorcycle.
  • Bike Cleaning: Next, clear out personal gear like spare helmet or gloves and give your bike a decent scrub. This will help you with before and after inspections.
  • Tire Pressure: Lower the tire pressure a bit to avoid hazardous scenarios, especially if your bike is exposed to direct sunlight during open transportation.
  • Drain Liquids: Drain most of the gas and leave just a quarter tank or so for loading since less fuel means less weight and more security during the transport.
  • Take Pictures: Take your smartphone and snap some sharp photos of your bike from every side. These are your proof of how it looked before the shipping.

After Delivery | Bike Inspection:

When your bike is delivered, you need to perform a thorough inspection and comparison with the images you’ve snapped before the transportation.

Also, test the lights, engine, brakes, and all the important stuff to see whether everything works as expected. If the service was top notch, drop feedback, as this helps the motorcycle transport companies find more clients like you.

Motorcycle Freight Shipping and Seasonal Demand

Motorcycle Freight Shipping

When it comes to motorcycle freight shipping, timing can make all the big difference. Demand for motorbike transport services tends to shift with the seasons, and that can lower the cost to ship motorcycles up or down.

Summer’s warm weather and open roads mean more bikes are on the move in cross country rides, which can bump up shipping costs as motorcycle shipping rates rise with the demand.

Winter’s a different story. Ice, snow, and chilly temps slow things down, making it challenging for motorcycle haulage to stay on schedule. However, during harsh weather, you must also expect high prices because of frozen roads or delays that stretch out the transport motorcycle timeline.

Types of Motorcycle Shipping Services

Selecting the right way to ship your motorcycle depends on your budget, your bike, and where the destination is. Motorcycle shipping services come in all shapes and sizes, from bare-bones cheap to extra-safe options, so you’ve got choices to match what you need.

Here are the options you’ve got:

Open Trailer Shipping

Well, the most popular option is open trailers. It’s the cheapest motorcycle shipping option out there, where your bike is exposed, which keeps motorcycle shipping costs low. However, if your bike is expensive, you should decide based on the weather conditions.

In short, the open trailer shipping is only best for sturdy bikes that can handle a little road dust.

Enclosed Trailer Shipping

If your bike’s a classic or is very important to you, enclosed trailers are the way to go. It comes with a higher cost, but they shield your ride from rain, rocks, and whatever else may happen.

Hence, enclosed trailer shipping is perfect for any type of motorcycles that require special care!

Door-to-Door Vs. Terminal-to-Terminal

Door-to-door motorcycle shipping is a popular transportation method because the bike will get loaded right at your place and delivered exactly where you need it.

If you’re near a tough spot to reach, terminal-to-terminal is another option, where you drop off the bike and pick it up at pre-determined spots, which is cheaper.

International Shipping

If you have a bike that needs to be transported overseas, motorbike freight services handle that, tackling customs and all the tricky logistics. It’s more expensive and takes more planning, but it’s the only way if you’re shipping your bike across borders.

Motorcycle Shipping Cost Examples

Understanding motorcycle shipping costs starts with seeing the numbers. We’ve prepared some examples illustrating average rates based on distance and type for you to acquire a good idea:

Example Distance:

Door To Door Cost:

Average Transport Cost:

0–699 Miles

$650

$550

700 – 1399 Miles

$750

$600

1400 – 2199 Miles

$830

$630

2200 Miles or more…

$930

$680

Example Distance:

Average Transportation Time:

0 – 649 Miles

1–3 Days

650–1299 Miles

3–6 Days

1300–2099 Miles

5–9 Days

2100 Miles or more…

9–14 Days

Find the Best Motorcycle Shipping Company on FreightRun

If you need to ship your motorcycle without the hassle, FreightRun has got you covered with a motorcycle shipping cost calculator. It provides instant quotes from over 50 motorcycle freight carriers after inputting the bike details in the motorcycle shipping cost estimator tool.

Then you’ll instantly see motorcycle shipping rates to fit your budget, whether you prefer cheap or pricier and more secure. Finally, you can choose a motorcycle moving company to ship with.

Note: The price may vary due to unexpected fuel surcharges, especially when gas or diesel costs increase or decrease due to economic factors.

Get Your Motorcycle Shipping Quote Online!

Obtaining a motorcycle shipping quote online is efficient and convenient. Start by entering your motorcycle’s details on FreightRun, and you will receive pricing options swiftly, avoiding the need for multiple inquiries. This will quickly provide motorcycle shipping costs from any location.

For the most rapid solution, FreightRun offers a standout service. Our vehicle calculator delivers instant quotes from numerous motorcycle hauling carriers.

After receiving the motorcycle shipping quotes, you only need to input pickup and delivery points, and you’re ready to go–best of luck!