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shipping your motorcycle

3K views 27 replies 13 participants last post by  hamburglar49 
#1 ·
Was wondering if anyone had any experience with shipping their motorcycle coast to coast with any company and if so, how much did you pay? I just got stationed in Camp Lejeune, NC like a month ago and my bike is in California. My best quote i found so far was $600 by Shippingmasters.com
 
#2 ·
For that far of a distance I'd say $600 is about the best you'll find, or pretty close. I paid $370 or so for a bike shipped from Atlanta, GA to Lincoln, NE....you're going at least twice the distance by the sound of it.
 
#4 ·
Uship.. I have used it personally to ship my bike from Texas to Georgia. You set the pickup and delivery address and numerous drivers will bid the trip. Folks will keep beating other people so you end up with a good deal.

You could get a better deal if you're flexible with delivery, more than likely a carrier who already has a dropoff in your area will beat the best deal just to fill any empty space on their trailer with your bike.
 
#5 ·
You ever seen the show on tv featuring those people who bid on Uship? I would never hand a pristine bike over to those yahoos! You need someone who ships motorcycles professionally to make sure the risk of damage is minimal. I once had a shipper want to lash my new Ducati to the inside wall of the 18 wheeler with a blanket "protecting" it. Needless to say it never left with them.

I'm glad to hear Schooley had a good experience!
 
#8 ·
If you are an AMA member, one of your member benefits:

"Federal uncrated motorcycle transport
In the United States, call Federal Companies, an agent for Specialized Transportation Inc., at (877) 518-7376. To get your discount, be sure to have your AMA number handy. Motorcycle Express also offers temporary international insurance."
 
#9 ·
Definitely not riding it. I looked into uShip about two weeks ago and my bids were from $850-1100 which seem a little outrages. Not too worried about having some damages since my bike already has some beauty marks already courtesy of me but just as long as there are no fairings are broken, I couldn't be any happier lol. Seems like I might have to settle for the 600$ one since it seems like a decent deal! Unless someone has a better source.
 
#13 ·
so i just put an order in through shippingmasters.com for $568 for my bike to be transported from california to north carolina. They are a broker and the company "Daily Direct" will be transporting my bike. It required a down payment of $70 which i assume is the brokers fee. The rest of the balance pending of $498 is due at scheduling. I will keep this thread updated incase anyone is interested.
 
#20 ·
Got my bike picked up today in California! Contracted/Paid on March 31. Bike was picked up on 4/5/2017. It was a little hassle in my case since i live in a dead end street so i had to get one of my friends to move my bike to another friends house where a 18 wheeler would be more accessible. Daily Direct is also Haulbikes.com. It will take 1-2 weeks to arrive here in North Carolina. I am planning to meet them at Wal-Mart since I live in a military installation so they're are not allowed in.
 
#27 ·
You're oging to experience a number of things that are similar, but most certainly not the same. Don't rely on your expectations........

I've found most of the freeway driving on the East Coast is done at higher speed than on the West.... and with a lot more tailgating. Must be the NASCAR influence......:eek:

Here in rural VA, there are a lot more passive aggressive farmers. If someone is pulling out of their field, they have absolutely NO intention of coming up to speed. It also happens with traffic on secondary roads..... pull out into traffic doing 50 or 60, and not accelerate up. Chug along at 30, until they are good and ready.:rant

'Yield Right' is not a concept that has taken root here. :O

There are a lot of uncontrolled, unmarked intersections between highways, and secondary roads, which are meant to be wide enough to allow traffic flow both directions -- no one here seems to understand that you are supposed to stay on your side of the road, even if it isn't marked. A two lane (each direction) divided highway, will frequently have a chunk of pavement allowing exit and entrance for side roads, with pavement going across the center 'island'. Sometimes you are lucky enough to have a turn lane feeding into that, sometimes not. When some dipstick pulls into the pavement, and goes diagonally across the entire thing to make it to the right side of the lane they want to go into it blocks the rest of that pavement from anyone else...... incredibly short sighted and somewhat arrogant.:coocoo

You will also find that off ramps are nowhere near as well designed as what you are used to in CA. Many, many, many more decreasing radius, off camber, rough pavement turns.:eek:

Roads on the east coast were laid long before high speed transport was the norm. It's been a long series of bodging to make it what it is, and it ain't great. The West Coast had a much 'cleaner' slate, as a lot more of the expansion out there has occurred since automobiles became the norm. Certainly do-able..... but learn the lay of the land, before you start ripping around.

This also plays into choosing your friends, at that first duty station. As a general rule, the people who walk up to you immediately on arrival and want to become buddies are the ones who have already been ostracized. The outliers, who have already made a name for themselves by their actions.... best to lay low, and keep to yourself for a few weeks and wait for the solid people to assess you. The ones who are performing well will wait to see how you perform, before they make your acquaintance. The old rule that it takes 10 'attaboys' to make up for one 'awshit' is still true. Better to have a reputation to live up to, rather than try and recover from the one you earn the hard way....

Either way, good luck, and thank you for your service. May you walk away from the experience with the positives greater than the negatives. Some of the best times you'll ever have........
 
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