Motorcycle Shipping Crate & Pallet Guide

Uncrated motorcycle shipping on our large trucks

Uncrated motorcycle shipping is how every bike travels with us. Your motorcycle is rolled onto a pallet, the front wheel sits in a chock, and soft-tie straps wrap solid points such as the frame and the lower triple clamp. The pallet then rides inside a large enclosed truck, a full-size tractor-trailer with an enclosed van trailer, so the bike is protected from weather, road grime, rock chips and curious hands.

Because the pallet and the enclosed truck are the protection, a standard road bike gains very little from being put in a box first. That is why we tell riders to skip the crate and keep the move simple.

What a motorcycle shipping crate is

A motorcycle shipping crate is a box, usually wood, built to fit around the bike. Motorcycle shipping crates are common for international moves and for long-term storage, where the bike may be lifted by equipment and stacked with other freight.

A crate has to be built to your bike, which adds weight, handling and setup before the bike ever leaves your garage. For a domestic move on an enclosed truck, that extra work is rarely needed.

Pallet shipping: how every bike is loaded

Every two-wheeled bike is rolled onto a pallet and secured with soft straps before it is loaded into the truck. The bike stays upright and strapped to the pallet, and the pallet gives the bike a solid base for the ride.

Because the bike rides on the pallet, it does not need to start or run. Palletizing is standard on every move, including custom, low and high-value bikes, so there is nothing extra to request.

Crate vs. pallet vs. uncrated

• Palletized (standard): the bike is rolled onto a pallet, strapped down with soft ties and loaded into the large enclosed truck. This is how every bike ships.
• Uncrated: there is no crate or box around the bike. The pallet, wheel chock and soft-tie straps hold it inside the enclosed truck.
• Crate: a box built around the bike, usually arranged by the owner for storage or an overseas move, and not needed for a domestic move on our trucks.
• Trikes and Can-Am Spyders cannot be rolled the way a two-wheeled bike can, so a tow truck loads them, adding about $125 at pickup and $125 at delivery.

When someone might still want a crate

• A bike going into long-term storage after delivery.
• An overseas move, where a crate is common for ocean freight.
• Parts or accessories that travel with the bike and need to stay together.

Get your bike ready for shipping

The prep is the same for every bike. Wash the bike so existing marks are easy to see, photograph every side and the odometer, leave about a quarter tank of fuel or less, check that the battery is charged, and remove saddlebag contents and loose accessories.

Tell us about aftermarket parts, a lowered suspension or anything unusual, and keep the keys ready for the driver. Our prep guide has the full checklist.

What it costs

Most motorcycle shipments run $750 to $1,200, and coast to coast is about $1,300, with typical transit of 10 to 15 business days. Every bike ships palletized as standard. A trike or Can-Am Spyder needs a tow lift, so mention it when you ask for a quote and we will give you an exact price for your move.