Bike transport - any suggestions? I found a great deal on a VFR!

I found a super clean VFR700 (2nd Gen) for a great price... but it is 600 miles away. How expensive would it be to have the bike transported that far? Are there any reputable transporters that anyone here has had experience with?

 

600 miles???????????? Ride it home! Not my way to be insulting but grow a sack and ride it home. Can't think of a better way to start oot the love affair.

 

Right on Toe! I took a bus one time to Gainesville Fla from East Tennessee and rode my Shadow Ace home...make it an adventure and dont forget the camera!

 

I would LOVE to do that... I rode my new '84 VF700F 24,000 miles in the first summer I owned it! But I haven't ridden now for over 25 years - I need to get my motorcycle endorsement all over again, and don't have a bike to do it with. :-(

 

If you look at a bike listing on eBay and click on "Vehicle shipping quote is available" you will see a half dozen quotes from shipping companies. uShip usually seems cheapest. Example here:

Honda : Interceptor | eBay

 

Good luck on the purchase. Too bad you can't go buy and ride. Bummer.

This is America! You don't need no steenkin license.

Now, if you want to give us a few more details, I'm sure we could help out. We can do a relay race - Person 1 will get the bike from its original destination, ride 100 miles, pass it on to person 2 for the next 100 miles... Before you know it, bike is home to you safe and sound!

 

Great plan Pli...

Ive only read horror stories when it comes to shipping bikes...if you cant ride it home just rent a trailer and go get it..it'll still be cheaper than shipping or stick a buddy on a bus and let him ride it home. I bought a boat once in Jersey and paid a friend with a truck $350 plus gas to go get it..he was happy to make some extra money and get out of town for the day..we went together with his son and had a blast. Boat made it back safe and sound. It was a BIG boat.

 

Rent a pickup truck, get a ramp, strap it down in back and drive it back yourself.
I drove my pickup truck each time to pick up my bikes- make it a weekend trip.

 

I agree with the suggestions above. Rent a truck / trailer and go get it. That way, you get to visually inspect it before committing to something you've never seen. Pictures alone don't tell the whole story. I have had 3 bikes shipped over the years and for that distance, I doubt you'll find a shipper to do it for less than $500.

 

I own 2 pickups, 3 Dodge Sprinter vans, and a Freightliner stepvan. If I can get away from work, that would be the best way... maybe build a ramp to roll it in there, too.

BTW, the bike I wanted sold before I could even get a second phone call in on it - it was a super clean '87 VFR700 in Powhatan, VA. Did someone here buy it?

 

I picked up a folding steel ramp for about $60 at the local Feldman's, it works great with my truck.

 

What they said above, if your shipping a old boat anchor it might make it undamaged, but from some of the stories I've read you'll be much better off going to get it yourself.

 

Just wanted to throw this out there, since so many are bashing the shippers...Iv'e had 2 bikes shipped to me in the last year--1988 Magna & 2007 VFR800. Both times was with haulbikes.com (aka-Daily Direct). Magna from IN to Denver, VFR from TN to Denver. Both cost about $550, and both arrived on time without a scratch. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again in the future. FYI-this particular company only ships motorcycles...that's their sole business.

 

Suggestions for shipping a bike? Yep. Jeff Jackson. Jeffejackson14@gmail.com. 770 917 1007. Ex-navy guy. One dodge sprinter van. One man operation. I have personally used him in the past to ship flawless, irreplaceable bikes cross country, and he treated them as his own. Arrived without a scratch. Great guy. And he even has GPS hourly tracking, so you can see online where he is @ all times. He called the day before he delivered, and emailed each night when he got off the road as to his location and expected timetable. Fantastic, honest customer service.

You will not be disappointed. I'm no relation to him, did not know him at all before I used him, no affiliation, etc. Just a fan. If I need to ship again (and I'm sure I will) he'll be the first call I make.

Tell him Greg in CA said hey-

 

I actually got a quote sent to me from Jeff, very reasonable!

As it turns out, I found a nice, well-preservedl '85 VF500 that was less than 2 hours from me (bought it from maddux5150 here on VFRW), he helped me put it in my Dakota and it is now under a cover in the garage until I get my yard chores finished today. So now I own my 2nd VF, 26 years after I sold my '84 VF700! It was great to putt around the neighborhood early this morning- don't wanna get too carried away until I get my endorsement and a helmet - but it brought back some sweet memories!

 

I've got one of the same bikes you bought (an 84 model as well). Congrats on the purchase and post a few fotos when you get the chance. Mods, or stock?

 

Looks like you have quite a collection! LOL! I'm gonna start a new post about the "new" bike. Thanks!

 

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