Motorcycle Shipping

How Motorcycle Shipping Actually Works

Your bike gets loaded onto a specialized motorcycle carrier using a ramp or hydraulic lift. The front wheel sits in a steel chock that locks the bike upright. Soft tie-down straps connect to the frame or handlebars at multiple points. Nothing touches the paint, chrome, or bodywork.

Most motorcycle carriers haul 10–20 bikes at once, which is what keeps the cost lower than hiring a single flatbed. Your bike rides alongside other motorcycles, all individually secured in their own chock systems.

For high-value bikes, we also offer enclosed motorcycle transport. The bike rides inside a fully covered trailer, protected from weather, road spray, and debris. Enclosed transport costs 30–40% more, but if you're shipping a $25,000 Ducati Panigale or a restored vintage Harley, the peace of mind is worth every dollar.

How Much Does Motorcycle Shipping Cost?

Motorcycle shipping costs less than car shipping because bikes take less space and weigh less. But prices still vary depending on distance, bike type, and whether you choose open or enclosed transport.

What Drives the Price

• Distance: The biggest factor. A 300-mile haul from Dallas to Houston costs a fraction of a 2,500-mile run from Miami to Seattle.
• Bike size and weight: A Honda Grom costs less to ship than a Harley Road Glide. Trikes and three-wheelers cost more due to the extra width.
• Transport type: Enclosed transport adds 30–40% to the base price. Worth it for bikes valued over $15,000.
• Season: Spring and summer are peak riding season, which means more shipping demand and slightly higher rates. Winter is typically the cheapest time to ship.
• Pickup and delivery locations: Major metro areas cost less than rural locations. If the carrier needs to detour 50 miles off the highway to reach you, that adds to the cost.
• Running condition: Non-running bikes cost $50–$150 extra because loading takes more time and equipment.

Types of Motorcycles We Ship

Bold ships every kind of motorcycle. No size restrictions, no brand limitations. Here's what we move regularly:

• Sport bikes — Yamaha R1, Kawasaki Ninja, Suzuki GSX-R, Honda CBR
• Cruisers — Harley-Davidson, Indian, Victory, Honda Shadow
• Touring bikes — Harley Road Glide, Honda Gold Wing, BMW K 1600
• Adventure bikes — BMW GS, KTM Adventure, Ducati Multistrada
• Dirt bikes — Honda CRF, Yamaha YZ, KTM EXC, Kawasaki KX
• Vintage and classic — Pre-1980s bikes, barn finds, restoration projects
• Custom builds — Choppers, bobbers, cafe racers, custom frames
• Electric motorcycles — Zero, LiveWire, Energica
• Trikes and three-wheelers — Can-Am Spyder, Harley Tri Glide
• Scooters and mopeds — Vespa, Honda PCX, Yamaha XMAX

Got something unusual? A sidecar rig, a track-only race bike, a non-running project? Call us at (469) 942-5444. We've shipped it before.

Open vs. Enclosed Motorcycle Transport

This is the same question car shippers face, but the calculus is a little different for bikes.

Our take: If you ride the bike on public roads and it's exposed to rain, rocks, and highway grime anyway, open transport is fine. The bike will arrive in the same condition it left. But if you're shipping a show bike, a freshly painted custom, or a numbers-matching vintage motorcycle, go enclosed. The 30–40% premium is cheap insurance for something irreplaceable.

How to Prepare Your Motorcycle for Shipping

A little prep goes a long way. Do these things before the carrier arrives and your pickup will go faster and smoother:

1. Wash the bike. A clean motorcycle makes scratches and dings easy to spot during the pre-pickup inspection. If you skip this step, pre-existing marks get harder to document.
2. Take photos. Shoot every angle, both sides, the tank, fenders, wheels, and any existing damage. Timestamp them. This is your proof if anything happens in transit.
3. Remove loose accessories. Saddlebags, GPS mounts, phone holders, loose mirrors, tank bags. Anything that isn't bolted down can shift or fall off during transport.
4. Check tire pressure. Inflate both tires to the manufacturer's recommended PSI. The bike needs to roll on and off the carrier under its own weight.
5. Reduce fuel to a quarter tank. Enough fuel to roll the bike on and off. A full tank adds unnecessary weight and is a safety concern for enclosed transport.
6. Disable the alarm. A blaring alarm in the middle of a carrier trailer at 2 AM does not make friends.
7. Note existing damage. Point out any scratches, dents, or cosmetic issues to the driver during the Bill of Lading inspection.

Popular Motorcycle Shipping Routes

Prices are estimates for standard-size motorcycles using open transport. Your actual quote depends on the specific bike, exact locations, and current carrier availability. Get your personalized quote →

What to Expect on Pickup & Delivery Day

Motorcycle pickups move faster than car pickups — usually 15–20 minutes from arrival to roll-out — but the inspection paperwork is just as important. Here's the play-by-play.

1. Driver call-ahead. The dispatched motorcycle carrier will call you 12–24 hours before arrival with a 2-hour window, then again 30 minutes out. Most motorcycle carriers run dedicated bike trailers, so the truck pulling up will look different than a standard car hauler — expect a low-deck enclosed trailer or a mixed-load carrier with built-in chock systems.
2. Bill of Lading inspection. The driver photographs the bike from every angle — tank, fairing, fenders, wheels, controls — and notes any existing scratches, dents, or paint chips on the BOL diagram. Walk through it with them. Take your own timestamped photos. This is the legal record. Insurance claims require BOL documentation at both pickup and delivery.
3. Loading. The driver rolls or rides the bike onto the carrier ramp, locks the front wheel into a steel chock, and secures the bike with soft straps to the lower triple-clamp, frame rails, or footpegs (never the handlebars under load — that can warp bar mounts on sport bikes). For trikes and dressers with loaded saddlebags, the driver may ask you to remove them and load them separately.
4. In transit. You get the driver's direct cell. Bold's dispatch team also pushes status updates if weather or traffic delays the route. Most cross-country motorcycle shipments cover 450–550 miles per day under federal hours-of-service rules.
5. Delivery walk-around. At drop, you and the driver inspect the bike against the pickup BOL. If anything looks different — a new scratch, a loose mirror — note it on the BOL before signing. A clean signed BOL closes your claim window. Bold's $0-deductible cargo insurance covers documented damage from pickup to delivery.

Carrier-balance payment (the portion not collected at booking) is due at delivery in cash, certified check, or money order. We confirm the exact balance with you 48 hours before drop so there are no surprises.