If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, chances are there’s going to be some point in your life when you’re going to want to get a bike from point A to point B without busting your butt on a thousand-mile ride. Maybe you’re moving, and don’t want to risk your pride and joy getting squished and scratched by the dining-room table. Or maybe you have only a few precious days off and want to hit a motorcycle rally fresh and ready to rock. Perhaps Great Uncle Joe remembered you in his will and left you his 1962 Harley-Davidson FLHF …on the opposite coast (THANKS UNCLE JOE!) How do you find a reputable, reliable means of motorcycle transport?
1. Do your research online. If you’re like most people, the first place you turn for information is the internet. Google away, and dig into your motorcycle shipping company‘s website. A good shipper will have plenty of information online to answer questions you may have.
2. Make sure your bike is adequately insured. Find out if your insurance policy covers shipping damage. If not, you may be able to purchase insurance from your shipping company.
3. Read the fine print. Will you be required to crate up your bike, palletize it, or drain all the fluids? Doing so may be convenient for the shipper, and may give you a rock-bottom price…but you’ll more than make up for any savings in the hassle of getting your bike running again.
4. Do your due diligence. It may be tempting to put a classified out there and find someone with an empty pick-up bed heading where you want to send your bike, but this avenue is risky. Will your bike be exposed to the elements? Tied down properly? More importantly, how do you know you’ll ever see your bike again?
5. Ask other riders. Ask your riding friends for recommendations. Try message boards, or evenFacebook pages of groups you belong to. Word of mouth goes a long way!
6. Consider a specialist. There are a lot of shipping companies out there. Motorcycles have special shipping needs. Make sure the one you choose has the correct tie-downs and configuration to keep your bike safe.
7. Plan ahead. To keep prices low, motorcycle shippers combine shipments to keep trucks full. This means your shipment could take a month or so to get to it’s destination. We know it’s hard to wait…but it’s worth it to allow plenty of time to get there safely.
8. Think about your location and availability. If you live on a steep mountain cul-de-sac, you may want to work with your shipping company to meet at an easier location for a semi-truck to access. If you’re not always available, it’s possible you can make arrangements with you local motorcycle dealer for pick up and drop off.
With a little research and planning, motorcycle transport doesn’t have to be a hassle. And if you chooseHAULBIKES, you’ll be able to complete any delivery with plenty of peace of mind.
Photo by Edouard Ki on Unsplash
