Motorcycle shipping, especially for such long distances as 700 miles and more, is always more than the actual distance traveled. The motorcycle that was shipped 727 miles from Sumter, South Carolina to Franklin, Tennessee was a 2012 Suzuki Hayabusa 1300, which cost $1,000 to ship.
The customer’s needs were quite simple: to get the Hayabusa to Franklin without adding hundreds of miles to the mileage or exposing it to any road conditions or weather elements.
The Route
The motorcycle has been transported from Sumter, SC 29150 to Franklin, TN 37067, a driving distance of approximately 727 miles.
It is a regional Southeast route linking central South Carolina to Nashville. As the city of Franklin is located just south of Nashville and Sumter in central South Carolina, the transportation route is going to depend heavily upon the interstate linking the two cities.
When you own a motorcycle and have to travel for 727 miles, it is not something insignificant.
Certainly, one can drive his/her Hayabusa for 727 miles but in doing so, one will be required to handle fuel stops, weather changes, traffic, road conditions, fatigue and many more miles being logged on his/her odometer.
Why Enclosed Motorcycle Transport Made Sense
The Hayabusa was transported in an enclosed trailer and not in an open one.
This is very important when transporting motorcycles compared to what people know.
The motorcycle is actually very exposed on the road. It will be exposed to rain, dust, and other debris that may come from the road. This makes the enclosure important since it will reduce the exposure of the motorcycle.
It is just the feeling of being at peace because for years you have maintained the sports bike and see it go ahead on the highway through an open trailer.
The use of the enclosed trailer actually creates the sense of control for the owner from pickup to delivery of the motorcycle.
The Hayabusa is also a sport motorcycle and therefore when loading it on a carrier, the size and accessories of the motorcycle must be considered. From Suzuki, the size of the current Hayabusa stands at 85.8 inches long and 28.9 inches wide but there could be some difference between the size of the 2012 model and the current one.
How a Hayabusa Is Prepared for Transport
Transportation of the motorcycle is not about just throwing it on the trailer and securing it with something.
Before loading, the motorcycle has to be inspected and its initial condition noted. This process may seem quite simple – photographing it during pickup will be helpful since everybody will have a visual representation of the bike’s appearance prior to transportation.
Once inside the trailer, the motorcycle can be put in a proper place and fixed with the wheel chocks. Using soft straps will be a way to ensure stability of the machine.
This is when the experience comes handy.
The straps have to be arranged in a way that they do not exert any unnecessary stress on painted parts, fairings, brake lines, wires and other weak spots of the motorcycle. It may vary depending on the carrier and on the motorcycle as well.
One more point to remember is that the bike has to be properly fixed without any excessive compression of its suspension.
It might seem like a minor issue, but these are those little things which distinguish moving a motorcycle from its proper transportation.
What Did the $1,000 Motorcycle Transport Cost Cover?
The total transportation cost for this Hayabusa shipment was $1,000.
With approximately 727 miles between the two locations, that comes out to roughly $1.38 per mile.
But here’s the part that’s easy to miss when comparing motorcycle shipping prices: a per-mile calculation doesn’t tell the whole story.
The carrier still has to account for fuel, equipment, loading and unloading, securement, insurance, scheduling and the market for the return trip. An enclosed motorcycle trailer also requires different equipment and operating costs than a standard open car-hauling setup.
That’s why two motorcycle shipments covering a similar distance can have noticeably different prices.
The route, pickup and delivery locations, motorcycle type, trailer availability, timing and market conditions can all affect the final number.
Why Motorcycle Size and Equipment Matter
A Hayabusa is not some light-weight dirt bike that can be just squeezed wherever there happens to be an opening.
A Hayabusa is a sport motorcycle with a big body, and the carrier has to have enough space for its loading and enough equipment to do it right.
It is very important for the enclosed towing in particular since trailers come in different sizes and interiors.
When your motorcycle comes with some accessories like saddlebags, customized exhaust system, some extra luggage, or whatever else, it would be better to let the carrier know about it beforehand.
There is one simple thing that a carrier has to do – he has to know exactly what he will be loading.
Some extra inches or even pounds may matter.
The Human Side of Shipping a Motorcycle
Shipping motorcycles may be somewhat different from shipping an average vehicle.
Motorcycles are usually very dear to their owners. The Hayabusa is not an object that simply should be transported from one ZIP code to another; rather, it is something that an owner has bought and taken care of, and likely rode quite a lot.
That is why communication is vital.
Being aware of such details as the time of motorcycle pickup, the process of loading, the type of trailer that will be used, and the way in which your bike will be secured will help avoid a lot of doubts and confusion.
And if you have never been in a situation of shipping a motorcycle, it is absolutely natural to want to know the answer to all these questions beforehand.
Transport summary
- Origin: Sumter, SC 29150
- Destination: Franklin, TN 37067
- Distance: Approximately 727 miles
- Service cost: $1,000
- Cost per mile: Approximately $1.38
- Vehicle: 2012 Suzuki Hayabusa 1300
- Transport type: Enclosed trailer
- Vehicle type: Motorcycle
