I do I choose a cycle transportation company

[r65lsk75c]

I'm contemplating making a long-distance cycle purchase. I've never hired a moving firm to transport a cycle door-to-door. Can anyone offer recommendations on a good reliable cycle mover in terms of safety and cost?

Thanks,
Rick T

'87 K75C
'74 Triumph Trident
'75 Norton Commando

[BradfordBenn]

The AMA has actually "endorsed" a few companies. However I am sure that people here will be more than happy to offer their experiences.

[tommy]

i sold a Rokon 2 wheel drive motorcycle a couple of months ago to a guy in Atlanta - the company came to my house - had a large pallet with some eye bolts in it - strapped the bike down and away they went - i didn't have to do anything - except i took some pic's so i could prove that they pick it up & of coarse they gave me paperwork - from CA to Atlanta cost the guy 800 bucks which he felt was a good price? :dunno

[The_Veg]

Do LOTS of research and shopping around. Get specific recommendations. Sooner or later somebody here will offer just that. Right?

[GeoffMiller]

Forward Air (sp?) in Burnsville ships bikes. I've never shipped a bike with them but had good luck shipping food service equipment (big and fragile!). Personally though, I would try to take a couple of days off and take a van or pickup to the site and pick up the bike myself. I was considering buying a new bike on the East coast and found prices in the 5 to 800 dollar range to get the bike back to this area. Eight hundred bucks buys a lot of gas. In the end I ended up buying the bike at Leo's South. A few more bucks but now I have someone local to service the machine.

[Braddog]

To follow Geoff's line of thinking, if you have a vehicle with a hitch, but down't own a trailer capable of hauling a bike, the U-Haul trailer that'll do the trick is $14.95 a day. Let's say you bought a bike in Texas, or something, you could consider a 1-way trailer rental. Drive to the new bike's location, pick up the trailer, haul it home, drop the trailer off. I don't think there'd be much of a drop charge for a small trailer, if any at all.

[Hodag]

I smell a ROADTRIP. Pick up Geoff and Braddog then if your heading east,me. Then we'll make a pick up the bike adventure out of it.
Mark

[kbasa]

I smell a ROADTRIP. Pick up Geoff and Braddog then if your heading east,me. Then we'll make a pick up the bike adventure out of it.
Mark

Oh, this is how epic trip reports get started. :D :thumb

[GeoffMiller]

Wait a minute here! Hoooold the bus! If I am going on some sort of adventure, it sure as heck won't be in a cage towing a U-Haul trailer! How bout I wave at you troopers while blasting by on two wheels? :D

[Braddog]

Wait a minute here! Hoooold the bus! If I am going on some sort of adventure, it sure as heck won't be in a cage towing a U-Haul trailer! How bout I wave at you troopers while blasting by on two wheels? :D
Ok, point well taken.

This leaves Mark and I out of it entirely. You roll over to Woodbury, pick up Rick, you guys go 2-up to wherever Rick is buying this bike, Rick rides it home. Solves his transportation as well as his payment issue noted in the other thread. Mark and I will meet you guys in Hudson to see to the new bike. On 2 wheels. Hopefully, it won't be snowing....

[GeoffMiller]

Better yet, you guys come on over to Hudson, we sit on my deck toasting Rick's adventure over a few Jim Beams, and then all of us head toward Lacrosse on the bikes when he gets back! Of course, this would be a day or so later after the numerous toasts!! Have I ever mentioned how much I hate snow? :D

[Braddog]

Better yet, you guys come on over to Hudson, we sit on my deck toasting Rick's adventure over a few Jim Beams, and then all of us head toward Lacrosse on the bikes when he gets back! Of course, this would be a day or so later after the numerous toasts!! Have I ever mentioned how much I hate snow? :D
:thumb

[James.A]

Personally, I have done trips of 765 and 918, one way, to retrieve bikes.

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

Federal Transport seems fair on prices...I was looking recently and the research came through with these guys. They have a special open pallet to strap to. Extra charges for residential delivery seems par for the course. I had a quote of $1200 round trip from Detroit to Portland, OR.

[The_Veg]

I did 1200 one way for my current bike.

[James.A]

How far away, and where, is your new ride?