Vintage bikes are beautiful and majestic for bike enthusiasts, but they can also be fragile and high maintenance. As a result, they require appropriate special care and attention to detail during both storage and transportation.
There are a variety of reasons why people ship their motorcycles, but the most prevalent is
relocation. Because they have a lot of stuff to take care of during the relocation, hiring a
motorcycle shipping company is the best option. Consider how much preparation you will need to undertake if you are planning to relocate. You will not have much time to get out on your bike and ride to your new place.
Delivering motorcycles to buyers or sellers, taking them on vacation, and attending motorcycle events and rallies are possible reasons as well. Those who own luxury or vintage motorcycles would also do this to avoid adding miles to the odometer. Vintage motorcycles are already old, so they require special care. If you fail to ship your old motorcycle appropriately, you will end up finding expensive bike parts – not to mention that they are hard to find now.
Whatever the reason, there are numerous factors to consider before shipping your prized
motorcycles to a new location.
Preparation Steps for Shipping Vintage Motorcycle
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for transporting bikes. Though, if you want your vintage or classic motorcycles to arrive safely and securely, you should use an enclosed transportation carrier. This way, you can prevent your bike from damaging while driving through narrow streets and turns or while driving during bad weather in winter.
Read more about Types of Trailer Used for Shipping Vehicles.
Before loading your classic motorcycle onto a truck, take the following steps to ease your
motorcycle shipping experience:
- Remove all accessories such as hard-shell cases and side bags. be prepared with all documents.
- Drain all of the fluids (keep in mind that a wooden crate is easily flammable).
- If at all possible, unplug or remove the battery.
- Wash the motorcycle.
Costs to Ship a Vintage Vehicle
Below are some of the factors that may influence the total cost of your motorcycle shipment.
Open transportation carriers are cheaper, but if you want safe shipping, look for an enclosed truck that offers more protection against the elements. In both cases, special safeguards in the trailer will secure your bike. The difference is that the enclosed auto transport also provides maximum defense against any damages thanks to enclosed sides and a roof. Hiring an enclosed truck does not mean paying for the entire truck. Note that there can be no remaining space due to other loaded vehicles. Hence, other vehicle owners will also cover the truck cost.
Rates vary a lot throughout the year. Because some transportation companies assess the
insurance costs by weight, the weight and size of your bike can affect the cost of shipping.
Lightweight, easy-to-manage motorcycles are less expensive than bulky Harley-Davidsons are. It means that you should expect to pay an additional fee to ship large motorcycles. What is the reason for this? Keep in mind that shipping large bikes will necessitate the use of oversized crates, tie-downs, and other specialized packing materials to ensure their safety and condition. You can get an instant motorcycle shipping quote by using our instant quote calculator.
Some full-service shipping companies provide their clients with affordable deals as long as their pickup point is within a range. It means the closer the distance, the cheaper it is and vice versa. The proximity of the pickup and drop-off location to major highways is also another consideration. Generally, shipping a motorcycle within a city is less expensive than moving the bike to a rural or remote place, especially for door-to-door service.
