Who's had a bike shipped recently?

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

Anybody shipped a bike recently, and have good or bad stories, recommendations, or cost thoughts? Every Valk I find is multiple states away.

[northernvalk]

What about the tv show....u-ship 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I’m no help with the shipping. But I would consider a Fly and Ride trip. Personally I would have a hard time buying a bike without seeing it. If you find one you are interested in, there are many that would take a look for you if nearby. Good luck in your search 

[northernvalk]

I bought my magna sight unseen but I did have a trusted friend and rider check it out for me.  Nerve racking for sure, but it turned out great as it was far cheaper than others for sale locally and has been a great bike.

[Hook#3287]

Personally I would have a hard time buying a bike without seeing it

I've bought 4 Valks that way.

3 were misrepresented.  2 of those on purpose and 1 I honestly feel the owner had no clue.

The forth was as advertised.

I only really cared that they started.

I got them all at very good prices and enjoyed the rescue.

Would I do it again?   Yep.

Am I glad I did it?  Yep.

Would I do it if it was my first?  Nope.

Asking for someone here to check it out is good advice.

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

So, does anybody call San Antonio, TX home?

[The emperor has no clothes]

So, does anybody call San Antonio, TX home?

There are few. Most of them just hang out in the Texas Chapter. I'd post over there, I'd bet somebody would help. 

[sheets]

First time I ever had a bike shipped was roughly this time last year. Was not a Valk or full size cruiser/dresser. Was a 650 dual sport. Surfed the web and threw a dart. Landed on AA Motorcycle Transport. Impressive website. Ass-u-me-ing it would be a dedicated MC transport I pulled the trigger. Only to soon realize they sub out the haul to whoever is nearby. They did secure the bike on a steel motorcycle specific type of pallet for moving with a forklift. Goes by local bobtail truck to interstate hub for long-haul . . . to another local transfer location to another sub hauler. Went from Las Cruces, NM, to Chicago - to San Jose, CA., to up north to my neck of the woods. Showed up in a relatively timely manner . . . sandwiched between wash machines, refrigerators, etc, with an old mattress tucked in-between for padding. Local hauler was a bobtail rig from over 400 miles away. They slept in the truck (January) to save money. It did have a hyd lift gate to get the bike out of the rig. Worked out okay in the end, just glad it wasn't a big fancy bike.     

[Rams]

Picking up a bike in VA tomorrow and bringing it to Central KY, not a Valkyrie but..........

Rams

[Raider]

I used Heritage Motorcycle Shipping.  Bike had a few small scratches, and it looked like one exhaust pipe was bent (turns out that it was slightly twisted so the end cap looked/was canted; easy adjustment and problem may not have been due to shipper).  Here's the feedback I gave to Mary Lou.

Thanks, Mary Lou.  For what it's worth, I was impressed with the way the bike was strapped down on an individual pallet.  I was not impressed with how difficult it was for the men to get it off the pallet and out of the truck.  One of the men didn't know which was the brake and which was the clutch.  They were working against each other as he was pulling the brake and the other guy was pushing/pulling.  They almost knocked the bike down several times.

Also, you may want to take a look at the shipping documents.  One of the inspection documents literally had scratches marked on every single part of the bike.  Neither I nor the delivery men could find any of the scratches marked.  It appeared as though someone was trying to "cover their butts" just in case the bike got scratched, they'd be able to say, "It was like that when we got it."

You guys have a great reputation among the big bike community, so I know you would not accept this and would want to hear of it. 

I have to go out of town next week; I'll try to get the paperwork done before taking off, but I'm sure I won't be able to get an estimate before I leave.  I'll stay in touch.
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FWIW, they were very responsive in getting me the claim paperwork and willing to help out.  I did not end up submitting a claim as I've just been way too busy to get an estimate and the scratches are mild enough to buff out. 

[sandy]

I shipped one over a year ago. www.shippingmasters.com  They are a booking agent with access to numerous companies. The company that shipped it was CRST. They put the bike on a metal pallet and handled it with a fork lift. Very good experience.

[Ice]

I shipped one over a year ago. www.shippingmasters.com  They are a booking agent with access to numerous companies. The company that shipped it was CRST. They put the bike on a metal pallet and handled it with a fork lift. Very good experience.

+1 on Shipping Masters, I shipped both of my bikes from VA to ID in my recent move, and they did a great job getting them here safe and fast. Good company in my experience and the price was good too.

[MarkT]

STAY AWAY FROM HAULBIKES.  They make promises they don't keep, with my shipment took about 6 weeks when they promised 2 weeks, if you get them to respond to queries they come back with more lies, the price is high and they damaged my bike. It was shipped from MI to CO.  They ran it all over the country and had it sitting on the east coast not moving for 2 weeks. At least the trucks they use are dedicated, very professional looking.  No doubt, with the high charges they can afford it - it was nearly $600.  The truck driver also was stupid and parked not where he asked and I advised, but where I couldn't find him, on the only level and hidden place (close behind the Elizabeth walmart on their property next to the building, not visible from any road) where the bike could not be roll-started as the battery was dead and the gas was very old.  Something he should have anticipated when he decided not to park at the top of the hill that goes around Walmart where I asked him to.  He abandoned us there with a dead battery. I had to go home and get jumper cables.

Fortunately the bike was pretty much as advertised, other than being neglected for some time it had been stored inside, was low miles, and the only blem on it had been reported by the seller.  Except for the missing rear view which Haulbikes stole.

In sum, I was pissed at Haulbikes for broken promises and taking 3 times longer than they promised and poor communication. The mirror was minor but it was still another disappointment.  And their stupid driver.  I'd grade them a D.  Only because they eventually got it here.