The Best Motorcycle Shipping Company: What to Look For (and Watch a Real Delivery)

Watch a real motorcycle delivery from our crew

This video is not stock footage. It is one of our own jobs: a Honda CBR sport bike in Repsol colors, shipped door to door and delivered to a customer's home on a quiet residential street.

1. 1At pickup, we rolled it onto its own pallet. A fully faired sport bike has low plastics that crack easily, so we never drag or tip it. We walk it onto the pallet by hand.
2. 2We strapped it down. Soft tie-downs hold it upright through the whole trip, so the bike and the pallet move as one piece inside the truck.
3. 3It rode inside a large enclosed truck. No open trailer and no small low trailer. The bike stayed covered from the weather and road debris the whole way.
4. 4At delivery, we rolled it out by hand and lowered it on the liftgate. You can see our driver walk the bike to the edge of the truck, ride the liftgate down with it, and roll it off onto the pavement.
5. 5We set it down in the customer's driveway. Not at a terminal across town. The customer had a young fan watching the whole thing from the driveway, which is our favorite kind of delivery.

That is what every shipment looks like with us. It is the same process for a sport bike, a bagger or a vintage bike. The rest of this guide is the checklist we would use if we were the ones hiring a shipper.

What makes the best motorcycle shipping company

1. 1Every bike is palletized. The bike is rolled onto its own pallet and secured before it ever moves. With us that is standard on every shipment, not an upgrade you have to ask for.
2. 2It rides in a large enclosed truck. Your motorcycle travels inside a large enclosed truck, out of the weather and road debris, not on a small low trailer behind a pickup.
3. 3It is strapped down the right way. Soft tie-downs hold the bike without scratching paint or chrome, so it arrives the way it left.
4. 4It is handled by hand at both ends. Loading and unloading is done carefully by our crew with a liftgate, as you can see in the video above.
5. 5The price is straight. You get a clear quote for your bike and your route before you book. No deposit to ask for a price.
6. 6A real person answers. Live agents are available 24/7 at [(866) 216-7742](tel:+18662167742). You should never have to chase a shipper to find out where your bike is.

What motorcycle shipping costs and how long it takes

Typical price range

$750 to $1,200

Coast to coast

About $1,300

Transit time

10 to 15 business days

Your exact price depends on the pickup and delivery locations, the size of the bike and the date you need it moved. For a number for your own bike, request a free motorcycle shipping quote or read how much it costs to ship a motorcycle.

Red flags to watch for when choosing a shipper

• A price far below everyone else, with extra fees added after you book.
• No clear answer on how the bike will be secured or what truck it will ride in.
• Open trailers or small low trailers for long-distance moves.
• Nobody answers the phone once the bike has been picked up.
• Pressure to pay a large deposit just to get a quote.

Before you book with any company, ask how the bike is loaded, what kind of truck it rides in, and who you call during transit. A good shipper answers all three right away.

What we ship

We ship sport bikes, cruisers, touring bikes and baggers, dirt bikes, vintage motorcycles and electric motorcycles across the country, and we ship overseas too. Trikes and Can-Am Spyders are welcome as well; because they do not fit the motorcycle skid, a tow truck lifts them onto the unit at pickup and delivery, and that tow is added to the quote.

Buying a bike out of state, selling to a buyer across the country or sending your ride ahead for a trip? See selling a motorcycle to an out-of-state buyer and vacation motorcycle shipping.