Im sure many of you purchaced your bikes out of state. Id like to get an idea how much you payed for the shippment if you went that route. I found an o2 gs500 for under 3k! sure wish i could get it :( :x
There are a couple of companies that specialize, or have a special method, in shipping bikes. One even has a pallet designed for the task that almost ensures the bikes protection. I believe Forward Air is that particular player. If you scrutinize the Ebay listings, you will wee a few companies mentioned over and over. You can expect to pay $400 to $750 easy.
I was looking (drooling to tell the truth) at a new bike while in Cleveland, OH this past fall. Riding it home was out of the question so shipping was discussed. Around $700 was their ballpark figure.
An option to consider are independent truckers. Ask some friends if they know any. Sometimes they will swing a little out of the way for a small fee. This is basically lunch money for them. Quality of packing and storing may be an issue though.
If the bike is not cross-country, do what I did. Make a buddy an offer he couldn't refuse to drive you there in his big Dodge truck. I makes for a road trip, you buy his gas, meals, etc. and you get your bike. An overnight run would be a little imposing though.
Good luck!
The only bike I have shipped was my SV to Hawaii. I used JC Motors www.motorcycleshippers.com and it cost about $1400 but just to CA it was a little more than $300. The gas prices now will surely increase the cost. Forward Air www.forwardair.com will probably be the cheapest since they only pick-up and delivery to airports.
Driving to pick-up a bike is usually the best. I have gone as far as 10 hours one way to pick up a bike. If you are too far then having someone to look at it for you before shipping is always good. If you need someone, post up here and maybe someone can check it out for you.
I had my GS shipped from PA to Dallas,TX for $300.
You also have the problem of registering a bike in CA if it was bought out of state. Has to have a certain amount of miles I believe. 6000?. I would look in to that first.
When i got my GS we did about a 13 hour round trip to pick it up in Nevada. 6 hours there, spent around an hour there for lunch and whatnot, and 6 hours back. I enjoyed the road trip got to see some new places. I probably would do it again given the opportunity, it was fun :).
Hey That,
Have you considered riding it back home?
The idea of buying a bike a long way off and riding it home is extremely appealing to me. I know, it does takes a great deal of trust to buy something "sight unseen" and then expect to rely on it for the trip home. But just think of the euphoria you'd have riding that distance on your new steed, stopping where you'd like, taking the back roads. Wild... :)
A great way to get to know what the bike is like. Kerry did it (http://www.bbburma.net/Trips/2004_12_GlobeAZ_to_OremUT/index.html) -- you can too. :thumb:
You'd want to be absolutely certain that the bike is legitimate. I've seen no few than 4 or 5 obvious scams in the last local cycle trader magazine. They all had the same MO- weird email address, very low price, out of state, Nigerian accent :lol: . So it does pay to check these out carefully. Good luck.
Derek
Quote from: That guyIm sure many of you purchaced your bikes out of state. Id like to get an idea how much you payed for the shippment if you went that route. I found an o2 gs500 for under 3k! sure wish i could get it :( :x
02 for 3k isn't that great a deal. 02 for 2K is good if bike is cherry and not have over 10K miles. I knwo of one that sold around here for 2500 with like 1000 miles.
Cool.
Srinath.
I have recently priced out GS 500 from Houston, TX to Minneapolis, MN.
I have quotes from about 8 shippers and they range from a low $423 to a high $1,325 (which is more than I paid for the bike!!!). the 423 is dock to dock and would be $200 more for door to door. the dock to dock is Federal, with AMA discount. http://www.federalcos.com/motorcycle.html
If going door to door AA motorcycle transport http://www.1aamotorcycles.com and eagle one express http://www.eagleoneexpress.com were cheaper than federal.
ask if enclosed, on pallet, same truck start to finish or going through terminals.
as to the scam part, consider using Escrow.com.
Daily Direct, LLC out of Milwaukee shipped from New York to El Paso, TX for 448.00 door to door with $0 decutible insurance. And you don't have to crate the bike or drain the fluids.