I am moving and I need to ship/deliver a bike from AL to CA:) Has anybody had any good (or bad) experience with the shipping companies? Any suggestions on delivery?
Is there any place I can rent a bike trailer (U-haul and many others can rent them only for local delivery). However, I do not have a hitch and the price of the hitch installation + trailer = :x

Thanks,

D.

I have used JC Motors (//www.motorcycleshippers.com) when I shipped my race SV from SC to HI. I went to a dealer and got a factory shipping crate for a gix1k. Added OSB sides and top. Had to remove the windscreen. No problem with them at all. They even came to my house and picked it up. All at the buyers expense. I contacted several companies but JC Motors was the only company that was responsive to providing shipping quotes.

I shipped my bike from CA to NJ then back again to CA.

CA to NJ: I used one of the you-load-yourself shipper.  The truck took the 20-foot container and dropped it at my place.  It was empty, and the cost depended on the number of feet of space I used.  I packed everything in there--boxed stuffs, loose stuffs and the motorcycle.  Called the guy and he came back and secured my bike with a piece of  2x4 across the width of the container, then built a separating wall, which I guess they would get more customers for the rest of the container or somesuch.  When the container arrived at my place in NJ, same thing but in reverse.  I unloaded it myself then called them to haul the container away.

NJ to CA: I used a shipper.  They came in and took everything.  Everything had to be boxed.  They took my motorcycle as well.  When my stuffs arrived at CA, they unloaded everything--boxes and motorcycle.

In both cases: (a) the motorcycle was squeezed in with the rest of the stuffs as-is, i.e., no crate for motorcycle; (b) the gas tank had to be emptied out.  Disconnect/remove the battery for your own convenience.  Take out the mirrors as well.

Both cases were "local" movers, not a national chain mover.  I did a bit of calling to get a good deal and to make sure that they can take my motorcycle as well.  Also, it only takes three guys to lift the GS500 vertically up four feet onto the container (NJ to CA the movers forgot to bring the key to unlock the ramp).

HTH.

Cheers,
e.

you can Rent just a Trailer for a one way trip from U-haul, that's how I got my bike back from Ohio. I went out picked up the trailer in Ohio picked/loaded the bike then transported it back to Maryland here where I live, only had to drop the trailer off at the U-haul station down the street here.   But like you said price of a hitch is  :x

I know from looking on e-bay that alot of people refer to
www.fowardair.com

and I know that overnight trucking can also ship...I was going to get my bike shipped from Ohio but for the price I said heck I'll just take a more senic tour

Thanks for replies, guys. I will most likely use the shipper.

Re Jace009: With my car weighting around 2600, the biggest trailer I can rent from U-Haul is 4'x8'x4'
Well, actually I should be able to fit my bike in it, gosh, I will even have around 3'' at the top However, I am not sure I can fix it in such a small container somehow.

For what it will cost to ship your bike you may as well buy a trailer and hitch...

When I bought my SV the lowest quote I found was at 600 and a couple weeks delivery time... So I flew out and rode 1500 mile to get her home.

You are right. This is another option, however I will have to drive around 2500 miles with a MC trailer. However if I sell the trailer after I get to Cali, I should get some $ back.