The Best Solution for Long-haul, Interstate Motorcycle Transport

Cagri Sarigoz Cagri Sarigoz · Updated January 16, 2024

Ship Your Motorcycle with Ease!

  • Fast and easy
  • Only pay when you book
A long-distance motorcycle parked on a dirt road.

Do you need to get your motorcycle from A to B but don’t have the time to do it yourself? Whether you’ve recently bought a new bike that’s located a few hundred miles away, want to ride somewhere but don’t have the time to ride back, or are relocating and need the bike to come too, there are all sorts of reasons why you may need some type of motorcycle transport.

There are several different options out there, each of which brings its own set of pros and cons. Here we take a look at five considerations when picking the type of motorcycle shipping that’s going to be right for your individual circumstances. We also take a look at the benefits a specialist motorcycle haulage company may provide.

What Options are There for Motorcycle Transport?

When it comes to motorcycle shipping, there are four main options:

  • Have the bike transported by a hauler.
  • Use a specialist motorcycle shipping company.
  • Crate the bike up and use a freight firm.
  • Hire a suitable trailer and transport the bike yourself.

Each one has different requirements when it comes to the equipment needed, the packing methods, the time it will take, the degree of expertise you can expect, and the level of insurance that’s available. 

1. What Equipment is Needed to Complete the Transport Process?

A hauler or an experienced company that specializes in hard-to-ship items will provide everything needed to transport your ‘cycle. They will pick it up, pack and anchor it securely and then transport it where it needs to go. In contrast, if you use a freight firm, you’ll need to arrange for the bike to be crated up, or do the job yourself. 

If cash is an issue, you may wish to build your own crate. This is cost-effective but can be time-consuming, and you’ll need suitable tools.

For bike owners who opt to self-drive, you may not need a crate but will need ropes and fixings to hold the bike in place on the trailer, as well as a protective cover. You will also need to hire suitable transport if you don’t already have a trailer and a vehicle that can tow it.

2. Packing Materials

As already indicated, a specialist firm and a hauler will both provide the packing materials that are needed. You may pay slightly more if you use a specialist company that frequently completes long-distance motorcycle transport, but can be confident that they are using the very best packing materials and fixings to make sure your bike arrives at its final destination in one piece.

Many haulers are perfectly capable of transporting bikes and will do an excellent job. That said, the quality of the experience you get will vary considerably between haulers – some will have transported many motorcycles and you can count on them to do an excellent job; others won’t have specialist experience of motorcycle transport. 

Freight means crate! Crating the bike yourself can be a benefit, as at least you know that it’s been securely packed up. That said, there’s no guarantee that the freight company will treat your crate in the way that you’d wish whilst it’s in transit.

For a significant number of motorcyclists, it’s well worth the extra money to use a specialist motorcycle transport company. Few people want to leave their precious bike at the mercy of a generic freight company or unknown hauler.

3. Time

It’s common for motorcyclists to need their bike transporting when they simply haven’t got time to ride it themselves. For this reason, a DIY transport job isn’t usually a good option – after all, if you’ve got time to transport the bike on the back of a truck, you’ve probably got time to ride it.

Using a freight company will mean you’re going to spend time crating up the bike (or have to pay a professional extra to do it for you).

A hauler will usually pick your bike up from its current location and drop it off at its destination. If time is an issue, a hauler can work well, if you’re prepared to leave your bike in the hands of someone who may not have transported one before.

A specialist firm that regularly provides long haul transport for motorcycles will probably be the fastest choice – unlike a hauler, you won’t need to give them detailed instructions on how best to load and secure your bike in order to minimize the risk of damage in transit. The specialist shippers arrive with everything needed for your bike to be loaded up and transported safely.

4. Familiarity With Transporting Motorcycles

Are you prepared to leave your motorcycle in the hands of a freight firm or hauler who may have only transported a few bikes (or even no bikes) in the past? We thought not. Ideally, you need to know that your motorcycle is in the custody of people who know exactly how best to transport it safely. 

That’s why, for most motorcyclists, if they can’t do the job themselves, they prefer to use a motorcycle transport company that is a specialist in motorcycle transport.

5. Insurance Whilst in Transit

Adequate cover for your motorcycle is essential during its journey. Ideally, insurance should cover any damage to the motorcycle that’s sustained whilst it’s in transit, as well as cover in case the bike causes injury or damage in some way during its journey.

Freight companies, specialist bike transport companies, and haulers should all have suitable insurance in place. If you’re planning to do your own motorcycle transport, you will probably need to take out additional insurance to cover your motorcycle whilst it’s on your truck.

Although specialist transport for your motorcycle may not be the cheapest option, it’s often the fastest, safest, and most reliable method of getting your bike across the country in one piece. Fortunately, longer trips are often not as expensive as you might think.

Visit our site for a FREE quote on your next motorcycle shipping job.