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Message started by gerald.hughes on 09/17/11 at 14:42:54

Title: Need advice on shipping a bike.
Post by gerald.hughes on 09/17/11 at 14:42:54

A good friend of mine is wanting to buy a bike from a friend of his in Sevierville, Tennessee (A little southeast of Knoxsville.) He lives in Tucson, Arizona. How would he go about getting the bike shipped from Sevierville to Tucson, what would he have to do, and about how much would it cost. We know nothing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated gang.

Jerry

Title: Re: Need advice on shipping a bike.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/17/11 at 16:34:57

http://keyboardmotorcycleshipping.com/

Title: Re: Need advice on shipping a bike.
Post by Midnightrider on 09/18/11 at 11:52:01

Its a shame he cant fly to Knoxville and ride the bike back to Az. That would be one nice ride.

Title: Re: Need advice on shipping a bike.
Post by gerald.hughes on 09/18/11 at 15:49:20

I agree absolutely, but the bike is a BMW R60/2, and has been sitting in a garage for twenty years. I believe the operative word here is "restoration". George is willing to do the work, because that bike was his before he sold it to the current owner.

Title: Re: Need advice on shipping a bike.
Post by Boofer on 09/18/11 at 19:21:16

gerald, I just typed in "How to ship a motorcycle" and up poped JC Motors. They ship on a pallet like hauling it in a truck bed with tie straps. Insurance is included with more available. Just the first one to come up, but there are more. Check it out.

Title: Re: Need advice on shipping a bike.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/18/11 at 22:16:28

My W 650 came on Keyboard, they allow fuel & batteries, I got on it, fired it up & rode home, They couldnt come to my house, because of the roads, but they will deliver to your driveway IF you dont live in a place a big truck cant get to.

Title: Re: Need advice on shipping a bike.
Post by built2last66 on 09/20/11 at 07:59:56

You can rent a budget 10 foot truck one way for around $300 (that's with insurance, cheaper without) unlimited miles, and I think you get about 3 days to use it. Drop it off 50 miles out of town and ride the bike back if it's running, if not find another deal with budget where you can return the truck to the same dealer and not be charged for local use. If you talk to them on the phone you can tell them that you have a lower price from another truck rental place and they WILL lower their price.. I have no problem doing that because they don't have flatbed trucks and they tried to charge me for damage I didn't do to the truck because they marked it wrong. Take pics of the truck before you leave, any damage. Spend about $15 in tie downs (you only need 4) and put 2 sandbags around the front wheel (you get them cheap at lowes, a couple bucks maybe).

IMPORTANT: don't tell them you'll be transporting a motorcycle, even though some budget places don't care. The truck you get will probably have tons of oil and gas stains on the inside anyway from people transporting lawn mowers and crap anyway.

You tie the bike down just like this inside the truck:

http://www.discountramps.com/articles/motorcycle-tie-down.htm

Grab a cup of coffe, hit the road, and stop every 2 hours or so and check the tie straps. :D

Those trucks do take a lot of gas though, so make sure to ask the miles per gallon on the truck and figure that into your price.