Looking at shipping costs for a Valkyrie.

[John Schmidt]

It's my old 2-wheeler which now belongs to Carman Allen who originally planned to come for a visit and either ride or tow it home. Meaning flying here and ride home or drive up dead-head from Ft. Worth and tow it home. Problem is, health issues for first his wife then him so is unable to make the trip for the forseeable future so thought I'd see what the shipping cost might be. I just ckd. with Montway but they're asking $1k, I told the agent good grief I could ride it down there and fly home for less.

I know there's other shippers out there so looking for names and personal experience.

[scooperhsd]

Keyboard Motorcycle shipping . Elizabethton KY is who I used when we moved from Raleigh NC to Kansas City KS

http://www.keyboardmotorcycleshipping.com/

Yes - they also move pianos. They have purpose built motorcycle racks, and their trucks have a liftgate (no loading dock required).

[Willow]

... but they're asking $1k, I told the agent good grief I could ride it down there and fly home for less.

Perhaps the best question to ask is whether one of our retired members near Ft. Worth would be willing to ride it there for the cost of a plane ride and travel expense.

[Rams]

... but they're asking $1k, I told the agent good grief I could ride it down there and fly home for less.

Perhaps the best question to ask is whether one of our retired members near Ft. Worth would be willing to ride it there for the cost of a plane ride and travel expense.

An excellent idea.   I've transported and ridden several bikes in deals like that but, I'm afraid I wouldn't be a good choice due to where I live.

But, the closer the bike gets to Texas, the better for the buyer.   So, I wouldn't limit this to just folks local to the buyer.

Rams

[Valker]

I've used Haulbikes.com before. I really liked them and their door to door service. They were reasonable, but NOT fast.

[John Schmidt]

Only one night on the road...and for that I'll take a blow up mattress along and sleep in Carl's garage.   Just kidding !

Or rent a U-haul truck for a one day "local" job and sleep in it in Wal Mart's pkg lot before turning it in the next morning. Of course, last time I did that it wasn't midsummer but was less than half a hotel room.  

[John Schmidt]

Only one night on the road...and for that I'll take a blow up mattress along and sleep in Carl's garage.   Just kidding !

Or rent a U-haul truck for a one day "local" job and sleep in it in Wal Mart's pkg lot before turning it in the next morning. Of course, last time I did that it wasn't midsummer but was less than half a hotel room.  

Are you a YMCA member?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k

No...and especially that particular club. That's more like the YMQA. 

[Willow]

...
Or rent a U-haul truck for a one day "local" job and ...

U-Haul also rents motorcycle trailers with a chock up front.

[scooperhsd]

U-Haul only rents their Motorcycle trailers for local use - you would have to get one of their other trailers for a long distance trip like that - at least that was policy the last time I checked them.

[Rams]

Or rent a U-haul truck for a one day "local" job and sleep in it in Wal Mart's pkg lot before turning it in the next morning. Of course, last time I did that it wasn't midsummer but was less than half a hotel room.  

Just curious here but, didn't you just buy a trailer to transport your trike on?   I can't imagine why that trailer wouldn't handle a two wheeled Valk.

Rams

[Oldfishguy]

I've used "USHIP" with good results.

Basically, you input in to the web site what you want transferred from where to where.  Then independent shippers bid on the work; they are typically small one man outfits that travel across the country picking up and dropping off items along the way.  There will be reviews of each shipper and many will have tracking available live. Cell phone contacts with the driver and such.  The closer one is to larger cities the better off you are as there will be more bidders for the work.  But, about 5 years ago I had a 1971 CB500 picked up at a residence in rural Indiana and dropped off at my house in rural Minnesota for I think about $550, plus tip.

[Rams]

I've used "USHIP" with good results.

Basically, you input in to the web site what you want transferred from where to where.  Then independent shippers bid on the work; they are typically small one man outfits that travel across the country picking up and dropping off items along the way.  There will be reviews of each shipper and many will have tracking available live. Cell phone contacts with the driver and such.  The closer one is to larger cities the better off you are as there will be more bidders for the work.  But, about 5 years ago I had a 1971 CB500 picked up at a residence in rural Indiana and dropped off at my house in rural Minnesota for I think about $550, plus tip.

Just my opinion (for whatever that's worth), I have seen different results from UShip transporters in the past.   It all depends on what you expect (I guess).   Most Uship transporters are auto and cargo haulers.   Most use open trailers (not necessarily bad) but, what I have seen is bikes get loaded onto open car haulers and get secured all kinds of ways.   Most of these haulers don't have a clue as to how to secure a motorcycle on a trailer nor the appropriate tie down spots.   As I said, just my opinion.  I'd make sure and verify that the Uship transporter has in fact hauled bikes in the past.  Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.  I personally helped a friend after he had a Goldwing shipped to him, the end result of the transport was the shipper returned half of the transport fee due to damage the GW received.   The transporter completely compressed the front forks and the rear. tied it down as tight as it would go.   We took the GW to a dealer to ensure the bike frame wasn't damaged/bent.   That bike wasn't going to fall off the trailer for sure.   The cheaper the fee means the transporter already has a load near the pickup location and a drop off near the destination.

If I was going to ship it using a commercial carrier, I would definitely consider Keyboard Motorcycle first.

Rams

[John Schmidt]

Or rent a U-haul truck for a one day "local" job and sleep in it in Wal Mart's pkg lot before turning it in the next morning. Of course, last time I did that it wasn't midsummer but was less than half a hotel room.  

Just curious here but, didn't you just buy a trailer to transport your trike on?   I can't imagine why that trailer wouldn't handle a two wheeled Valk.

Rams

The answer is obvious but my reason isn't...I don't want to have to make a trip and definitely don't want to do an 1100 miles dead head back. Pluggy is right in his analysis, the cost to make the trip would be close to what it would be to have it shipped.

[Willow]

U-Haul only rents their Motorcycle trailers for local use - you would have to get one of their other trailers for a long distance trip like that - at least that was policy the last time I checked them.

I guess I  cheated U-Haul.  I rented one to Montana and back.  Perhaps they thought it was local as it came back to the same shop.

[Rams]

Or rent a U-haul truck for a one day "local" job and sleep in it in Wal Mart's pkg lot before turning it in the next morning. Of course, last time I did that it wasn't midsummer but was less than half a hotel room.  

Just curious here but, didn't you just buy a trailer to transport your trike on?   I can't imagine why that trailer wouldn't handle a two wheeled Valk.

Rams

The answer is obvious but my reason isn't...I don't want to have to make a trip and definitely don't want to do an 1100 miles dead head back. Pluggy is right in his analysis, the cost to make the trip would be close to what it would be to have it shipped.

Apparently, I mis-understood the U-Haul comment.

Rams

[Rams]

Hey, John.  Save yourself a week and let someone else haul the bike.  Up North, the motorcycle year ends in October.  There are better things to do than hauling around a trailer.

Whole hearted agreement.

Rams

[RainMaker]

You might find someone around the area (DFW) to work with you but not until this heat wave has dropped from Hellfire status to Somewhat Miserable status.

[Rams]

Just curious if this ever got settled? 
I know it's none of my business but, if a question is asked here, it's nice to know how things worked out.

Rams

[Avanti]

Motorcycle on a motorcycle trailer pulled by a motorcycle makes for a motorcycle trip.

[Rams]

Motorcycle on a motorcycle trailer pulled by a motorcycle makes for a motorcycle trip.

This I can do.   Almost did that on the last InZane.   Good thing I didn't.  Twisted and injured my knee in the dumbest of ways.   Would have been a very long ride home (time wise).

Rams

[John Schmidt]

Just curious if this ever got settled? 
I know it's none of my business but, if a question is asked here, it's nice to know how things worked out.

Rams

Going to put it in storage nearby just to get it out of my garage. Will probably do the same with the trike when snow flies so I can get both cars inside.

[Jack B]

My son has 10x20 storage units for $65 a month

[John Schmidt]

My son has 10x20 storage units for $65 a month

Jack, where is he located?

[Rams]

Heck, pay for my expenses to come get it and I"ll store it for nothing till the buyer can come get it.

But, it might be cheaper to store it up north. 

Rams

[Jack B]

My son has 10x20 storage units for $65 a month

Jack, where is he located?

Manitowoc
He only has a few left but will be building 80 more this fall