Shipping a Bike...

[hondarider]

So I'm selling my old Sportster on Ebay and potential buyers have been asking me about shipping the bike. I sold a Valkyrie a few years back and the buyer arranged shipment of the bike from my house in Massachusetts to his place in Florida. The shippers came to my house with a gate-lift equipped box truck...loaded it onto the truck...rolled it onto a special motorcycle pallet with wheel chocks and tie downs...inspected the bike from top to bottom and noted any defects on a log sheet...asked me to review and sign the log sheet...secured the bike to the pallet at all 4 corners with ratchet straps...and then sealed the entire bike in a cotton lined bag. The bag was zipped up and the zipper was locked with a wire seal. They initialed the seal, recorded the time and date, and gave me receipts. I took pictures throughout the entire process and the guys were very helpful.

Ten days later the bike showed up at his house in the exact condition that it left my place. All for $700. Really a nice process.

Here's the problem...I have no idea what the name of that company was. Anybody have an idea? Anybody with a recommendation for a shipper? Thanks.

[rkasal]

I know some of the dealers have used this company

http://www.keyboardmotorcycleshipping.com/company_info.html

They apparently have some sort of crate system and I believe shipping would be less than $700. If I pull the trigger on an R90 I've found, this is how it's coming from the left coast.

I've also used personally several times, www.uship.com

It has a system where you or your buyer would put out a bid request for shipping and shippers bid on the request. There is a feedback system for both parties like eBay.

Regards,


Randy Kasal

[adamceckhardt]

I used the Keyboard carrier place when I bought my 1100s a few years back. awesome service- would use them again.

[RocketCowboy]

I've used Federal (who ships via Allied I believe) twice with good results. I would recommend them again.

I believe I've seen Federal advertise in the AMA magazine as well.

[kewlmoose]

I used Federal when I shipped my 82 R65LS down to Arkansas. The bike arrived quickly and in good condition. If you are an AMA member you can get a discount. They also offer discounts if the bike is picked up or delivered to a business.

[rocketmanli]

I hired these guys to ship my R1200C from Denver Colorado to New York in January. Door-to-door was about $700; no fluids had to be drained, and it arrived in a 90 foot enclosed double decker trailer with no problems at all. I highly recommend them.
1-888-HAULBIKES

http://www.haulbikes.com/

[larrydk]

On e-bay and cycle trader are a number of web based shippers that masically "bid" on the shipping job.

As along as the buyer is not in a hurry, these are very economical.

[RandallIsland]

I've used Federal (who ships via Allied I believe) twice with good results. I would recommend them again.

I believe I've seen Federal advertise in the AMA magazine as well.

I used them too, once, and they "lost" a sidecase. :scratch

[DALLAS]

I have used JC Motorcycle Transport three times for door to door shipping. No problems and would use them again.
http://www.motorcycleshippers.com/index.htm

[Grumpole]

I second that. I used JC and was satisfied with care, service flexibility, and cost. Lee Parks uses them as well. That's where the recommendation came from which led me to them.