motorcycle shipper
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 187
Likes: 107
From: galway ireland
I would agree... except, I live in SoCal.
If I bought a bike in the NorthEast US, the drive could be 3000 miles.
Plus, regardless of distance, if you bought that bike between late October through April, it could be a very miserable (if not impossible) ride due to the weather...
I bought a bike in February from a place in Wisconsin, 1900 miles away. They were snowed in when we negotiated price. I had the bike shipped for $650. I got it 6 weeks later. There was no riding in freezing temps, no one-way plane tickets/fuel/overnight hotel bills, and I didn't have to wait 3 months to go get the bike... Cost me less than flying out and riding back, even if it was during the summer.
I would always prefer to ride, but sometimes it makes more sense in terms of cost & logistics to ship a bike...
If I bought a bike in the NorthEast US, the drive could be 3000 miles.
Plus, regardless of distance, if you bought that bike between late October through April, it could be a very miserable (if not impossible) ride due to the weather...
I bought a bike in February from a place in Wisconsin, 1900 miles away. They were snowed in when we negotiated price. I had the bike shipped for $650. I got it 6 weeks later. There was no riding in freezing temps, no one-way plane tickets/fuel/overnight hotel bills, and I didn't have to wait 3 months to go get the bike... Cost me less than flying out and riding back, even if it was during the summer.
I would always prefer to ride, but sometimes it makes more sense in terms of cost & logistics to ship a bike...
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 399
From: Vancouver, BC
Not sure how this would work in the US but up here I went to my local H-D dealer for help when I bought an FXR4 from ON and had it shipped to BC. My brother-in-law visually inspected the bike there, made sure it ran, paid for it, loaded it up in a trailer and dropped it off (pre-arranged) at a local H-D dealer. I paid them for packing it on a factory skid (dealers keep a few around for various reasons including this one) and had my dealer arrange for pickup and shipping to BC. I can't recall the amount paid but I recall that it was a significant saving over me working directly with a transport company that specialized in vehicle transport. This is because H-D (factory and dealers) have a network of shippers they work with and get far better rates and (I suspect) treatment than I would be able to get with my one-off transaction.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,067
Likes: 11,085
From: San Diego, CA
I know, I was born and raised in Upstate NY...
I was very surprised to find it had lower mileage, lower price, and was at least 50% cleaner than five other bikes I personally inspected in SoCal and neighboring AZ...... go figure...
Even with the shipping charges, it was $1500 cheaper than it's closest competitor, and in much better shape...
I was very surprised to find it had lower mileage, lower price, and was at least 50% cleaner than five other bikes I personally inspected in SoCal and neighboring AZ...... go figure...
Even with the shipping charges, it was $1500 cheaper than it's closest competitor, and in much better shape...
Last edited by hattitude; Oct 24, 2023 at 02:04 PM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
soft 02
General Harley Davidson Chat
1
Jul 12, 2012 01:24 PM
