You might think about riding your motorbike to its new residence if you intend to relocate to another state or across the country. But this decision comes with a lot of difficulties. These include travel costs, bad weather and road conditions, and of course, a lack of space for your stuff. Many times, motorbike shipment is a safer and better choice.
Yet, many people are still not sold on this idea and the reason is not far-fetched. They usually think about motorcycle shipping costs and assume it is more expensive than riding the bike themselves. There are many factors that determine the final cost.
You have to consider the route, form of transportation (trucks, air, or freight), kind of bike and time of year. Based on these, shipping a motorbike across the U.S. can cost as little as $500 to almost $1,000 on average. This article discusses what you need to know about motorcycle shipping costs in the U.S.
Motorcycle Shipping Process
Most businesses ship motorcycles via enclosed or open trucks. Although less expensive, open trucks are only perfect for heavy-duty vehicles like dirt bikes since they expose your bike to the elements. Most motorbike owners would prefer enclosed trailers, particularly if you collect bikes or your model is delicate.
The following are the most often used forms of motorcycle transportation:
- Open Transport: Your bike is left exposed to the elements and debris as it is hooked to a flatbed truck or tow trailer. For non-delicate motorbikes, this is a reasonably priced option.
- Enclosed Transport: Motorcycles are carried in a covered trailer, which provides the best guard against theft, weather and debris. This option is more expensive than the open transport.
- Container and Pallet: Before being loaded onto a truck, your bike is first placed onto a pallet and subsequently locked in a wooden crate.
- Freight Shipment: Before it’s shipped on a train, ship or plane, the shipping company staff will load your motorbike onto a pallet and cover it within a wooden crate, just like with container and pallet shipping.
Variables Influencing the Cost of Motorcycle Shipping
Shipping motorbike expenses are greatly influenced by distance, bike weight and size, mileage, pickup and drop-off locations, and seasons. Speaking of seasons, read this article to find out the best season to relocate. Let’s discuss these factors in detail.
Distance and Road
Although shipping your bike a little distance could just cost $500, a longer trip rapidly drives up costs. If you are moving out of state, expect greater costs. This is because cross-country shipments take significantly more time and money compared to same state travelling.
The transport company might choose several carriers, which would result in more transfers, extended travel times and more expenses. You can still pay more even if the distance traveled is unchanged. This occurs when traffic congestion and crowded place causes delay in delivery.
Cost of Motorbike Shipment Depending on Distance
Here are just a few prices for open truck motorbike shipping for some popular locations:
- Los Angeles to New York City: 2,790 miles – Average cost of $2,092.
- Cleveland to Miami: 1,242 miles – Average cost of $931.50.
- Phoenix to Austin, Texas: 1,600 miles – Average cost of $754.50.
Insurance
Since most auto insurance policies provide no coverage for motorcycles while being transported, extra insurance is very essential. Leave additional money in your budget if you have a collectible or a more costly bike since this may affect insurance rates. Doing this will ensure that your bike is insured in case of any mishap.
Motorbike Weight and Size
Larger motorcycles occupy more space in the transporter. Therefore, they leave leaving less room for other motorcycles. As a result, they cost more to ship.
Most motorcycle carriers’ spot fit a 4′ x 9′ motorcycle. If your bike is bigger than this you should expect to pay more for the extra space. Even if they fit the spot, heavier models—like Harley-Davidsons—can potentially raise transportation expenses.
Pickup and Drop-off Location
Your expected expenses will increase as the miles your motorbike covers increase. Common routes, such as travelling between large cities could save you money compared to transporting to a small town. Therefore, you need to consider your pickup and drop-off locations when transporting your motorbike.
Type of Transportation
Although open transport is less expensive than enclosed transport, most motorbike owners select the enclosed option. They even opt for crate transportation for additional safety. Crate transport helps your bike not move about, thereby offering more peace of mind.
Cost of Motorbike Shipping Depending on Kind of Transportation
- Open transport: Average cost of $1,000.
- Closed transport: Average cost of $1,450.
- Crate shipment: Average cost of $200 to $400.
Season
During summer, the prices are usually very high. On the other hand, the prices are cheaper during the winter. So, if you want a cheap price, ship your bike during the winter.
Conclusion
Shipping your bike is far better than riding it yourself. If you are concerned about the cost, it’s not as expensive as you think. The article above discusses in detail what you need to know about motorcycle shipping costs in the U.S.
