We’ve moved this article to our website. To read it, click here: Motorcycle Rally Shipping.
Why not grab a group of friends (or just your main squeeze), and plan to hit that rally you’ve always wanted to go to? If your time is too short or it’s too far to ride, you know we can help with rally motorcycle shipping discounts, motorcycle shipping prices and meet you there!
With the 4th of July only days away, we’re feeling pretty patriotic here at HaulBikes motorcycle shipping and thought you might want to get into the holiday spirit with some of the most all-American motorcycle events and groups we could find. Here are a few that got our red, white and blue blood pumping.
Tour of Honor benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project
The Tour of Honor is a way to hit the open road, honor our heroes, and contribute to a good cause, the Wounded Warrior Project. This group’s aim is to support military service members who incurred service-connected wounds, injuries, or illnesses on or after September 11, 2001. Events, rides and awareness events are are held nationwide, but you can participate and support them on your own by registering for a season-long, self-directed ride to memorials and monuments around the continental U.S. and Hawaii, with more than 25 states participating. Now through October 31, visit as many sites as you want, with any route you choose. Trophies are awarded to the first three riders to visit all of the destinations in a state or region. Register at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
Patriot Guard Riders
The Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) is a motorcycle club whose members attend the funerals of US armed forces members, firefighters, and police at the invitation of the deceased’s family. Patriot Guard Riders do not make any political statement but ”Unwavering respect for those who risk their lives for America’s freedom and security.” You’ll see them making the news shielding service members’ families from protesters, and attending funerals for service members with few mourners. This video is a few years old, but it will give you a good idea of what they’re all about.
Rolling Thunder
The Rolling Thunder event in Washington DC every year is a demonstration of solidarity and respect for all veterans, with special emphasis on remembering prisoners of war or MIA soldiers. It’s not too early to plan to attend this unforgettable event for Memorial Day 2013. If you need any additional motivation to get a group together, check out this Why We Ride video.
Cool Stuff
If you want to make a permanent statement of your patriotism, check out this patriotic gallery of custom paint jobs by Pamela Shanteau, or, if a whole new paint job isn’t in the budget, just get yourself a motorcycle flag and ride on!
Rally Shipping Info
It’s time to make shipping plans if you want to ship a motorcycle to the Milwaukee Rally or Thunder in the Rockies this year.
And don’t forget, we offer a motorcycle shipping discount of 10% off for members of the military and service personnel in the police department, fire department, rescue squad and EMS.
Is this the year you’re finally going? Have you heard all the stories, enjoyed all the photos, researched and planned how to make your trip to Daytona, Arizona Bike Week, Americade or Sturgis as much fun as possible? Any big bike rally has so much going on it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of any rally.
It’s not too late to get your ride on for one of this summer’s rallies! Get a group, get planning, and if you need help with motorcycle shipping, or discounts on shipping to motorcycle rallies, you know who to call!
If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, chances are there’s going to be some point in your life when you’re going to want to get a bike from point A to point B without busting your butt on a thousand-mile ride. Maybe you’re moving, and don’t want to risk your pride and joy getting squished and scratched by the dining-room table. Or maybe you have only a few precious days off and want to hit a motorcycle rally fresh and ready to rock. Perhaps Great Uncle Joe remembered you in his will and left you his 1962 Harley-Davidson FLHF …on the opposite coast (THANKS UNCLE JOE!) How do you find a reputable, reliable means of motorcycle transport?
1. Do your research online. If you’re like most people, the first place you turn for information is the internet. Google away, and dig into your motorcycle shipping company‘s website. A good shipper will have plenty of information online to answer questions you may have.
2. Make sure your bike is adequately insured. Find out if your insurance policy covers shipping damage. If not, you may be able to purchase insurance from your shipping company.
3. Read the fine print. Will you be required to crate up your bike, palletize it, or drain all the fluids? Doing so may be convenient for the shipper, and may give you a rock-bottom price…but you’ll more than make up for any savings in the hassle of getting your bike running again.
4. Do your due diligence. It may be tempting to put a classified out there and find someone with an empty pick-up bed heading where you want to send your bike, but this avenue is risky. Will your bike be exposed to the elements? Tied down properly? More importantly, how do you know you’ll ever see your bike again?
5. Ask other riders. Ask your riding friends for recommendations. Try message boards, or even Facebook pages of groups you belong to. Word of mouth goes a long way!
6. Consider a specialist. There are a lot of shipping companies out there. Motorcycles have special shipping needs. Make sure the one you choose has the correct tie-downs and configuration to keep your bike safe.
7. Plan ahead. To keep prices low, motorcycle shippers combine shipments to keep trucks full. This means your shipment could take a month or so to get to it’s destination. We know it’s hard to wait…but it’s worth it to allow plenty of time to get there safely.
8. Think about your location and availability. If you live on a steep mountain cul-de-sac, you may want to work with your shipping company to meet at an easier location for a semi-truck to access. If you’re not always available, it’s possible you can make arrangements with you local motorcycle dealer for pick up and drop off.
With a little research and planning, motorcycle transport doesn’t have to be a hassle. And if you choose Haul Bikes, you’ll be able to complete any delivery with plenty of peace of mind.
Sometimes, getting there is half the fun. If you have the time, spending a few days riding or trailing your bike to and from a big motorcycle rally can be a great way to start and end your vacation. But if your vacation time is limited and you’d rather spend your precious time enjoying all the music, food, fun and games that motorcycle rallies have to offer, why not consider shipping your motorcycle to the rally and meeting it there?
There’s a common misconception that motorcycle shipping is inconvenient – that you might have to drain the gas and other fluids, crate it up, or palletize your bike. Not exactly a fun way to start a vacation. Plus, then you have the hassle of getting your bike un-crated and gassed up before you can ride once it reaches your destination. Fortunately, there are companies that have specialized trucks with tie-down systems that allow your bike to roll right off the truck and onto the street.
For even more convenience, you can see if your motorcycle shipper provides door-to-door pickup and delivery. For groups or popular rallies, your shipper might have you meet at a local dealership or other drop-off location. Many times you’ll also find motorcycle shipping discounts for big rallies, like Sturgis or Daytona. This option has the added benefit of letting you meet other riders in your area who are heading to the rally. Why not start the party early?
Are you confident your bike will be safe on cross-country trip? Some shipping companies you may find online may say they can ship a motorcycle, but they don’t specialize in motorcycle transportation. This could put your bike at risk for being on a truck crowded with livestock, furniture…or worse. This can be the case if you choose a “general” shipping company or a small-time independent shipper. You could get lucky and get a deal, but if you go this route, you have to be willing to take the risks. Whatever company you choose, shipping insurance is always a good idea.
If you’re looking for the ultimate in convenience and care for your bike – not to mention peace of mind for a successful rally vacation, make sure to choose a company that specializes in motorcycle shipping. Call or look online for special rates for rally shipping, book your shipment far enough ahead of time to make sure you get a spot on the truck, meet your bike there, and enjoy a worry-free vacation.
For those that live in cold climates, that means your motorcycle will hibernate for the winter. If there is no motorcycle off-season where you live, then you will likely scan this article, chuckle, and then go for a ride while the rest of us are doing a bit of work in order to NOT ride our motorcycles. Or even better — you’re planning on shipping your motorcycle to some great, warm-weather rally!
Consider this checklist a gentle reminder of the basics of winter storage. Remember, proper winterization will greatly increase the chances your bike will start right up in the spring. So, before you tuck your baby away for its long, winter sleep:
One of the most common questions we get here at HaulBikes is: How long will it take to ship my motorcycle?
We understand. You’re anxious to get your bike where it needs to go. And you don’t want to be separated from your baby any longer than absolutely necessary.
Shipping times depend on a few things — how far your bike is traveling, the time of year, and how your bike can be grouped with other shipments.
In general, we pool as many motorcycles as we can during our cross country runs. Understand we are not just driving across the country to pick up or drop off your motorcycle alone. Pooling bikes together for shipping is the key to making motorcycle shipping affordable for you.
When a driver leaves our terminal, our staff contacts each of the driver’s stops to relay an approximate arrival date. Arrival dates are approximate due to traffic, road construction or weather conditions we simply have no control over. Make sure you schedule well in advance if you need the bike on a certain date.
The route driver also will contact a person at each stop when he is expecting to see them within the next 24 hours. It is important you are available to take delivery or be there when the bike is picked up. We do not leave motorcycles or pick up bikes unattended. Leaving a cell phone number can be helpful if you are not able to stay at the delivery location all day.
Our trucks depart frequently with normal shipping deliveries running around 28 days from the time the order is booked or the bike is ready (whichever applies). Some shipments may be faster, contact us to find out the shipping estimate for your shipment. If you schedule your shipment this week, typically your bike is scheduled on a truck departing Milwaukee, Wisconsin next week. The truck’s total delivery time (and essentially your bike’s pick up time) depends on the zones that the truck crosses. If it picks up and delivers in the same zone, timeframes are shorter. Returning the signed contract and payment as quickly as possible will help keep the delivery timeframe on schedule.
Don’t forget to reserve a spot early if you’re shipping your motorcycle to a rally! Rallies are popular shipping venues and our trucks fill up quickly during these times.
