5 Essential Tips for Motorcycle Shipping 

This month, the 10-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally rumbles into South Dakota for the 82nd time. 

Native-American motorcycle dealer J.C. “Pappy” Hoel, who passed away in 1989, is considered the father of the festival, which has become the world’s foremost celebration of motorcycles and their place in American culture. It annually attracts more than 500,000 motorcycle enthusiasts from across the United States and beyond. 

The Sturgis event isn’t just about a  means of transportation; it’s about a way of life.  

A motorcycle is often its owner’s prize possession. It represents freedom, speed, maneuverability, and the beauty of a finely crafted machine. Naturally, if you want to go somewhere and need your motorcycle to meet you there, you’re not taking any chances; you plan your bike’s journey down to the last detail. 

Whether you just bought a motorcycle or want to have it shipped to your new home when you relocate, ShipLux can make sure that great set of wheels of yours arrives in perfect condition after a brief shipping duration.  

Here are five important motorcycle-shipping tips: 

 1. Clean Your Motorcycle Before Transport 

The best way to ensure your motorcycle arrives in pristine condition is to send it that way. 

Preparing to ship your bike is the perfect opportunity to polish, clean, and inspect every inch of it. Remove all coarse dirt and grit from the motorcycle with a microfiber cloth and perform a full inspection of all working parts. 

Make note of every scratch and nick. Take your bike for a test rumble around the block to make sure everything is working properly and feels right. Check the engine and the brakes. Then polish the finishes to make sure your bike is gleaming on pickup day. 

 2. Choose Open or Enclosed Motorcycle Shipping 

There are two different ways to have your motorcycle shipped. You can ship your motorcycle in an enclosed trailer, which is called enclosed shipping, or you can opt for open shipping, which involves the use of an open-air flatbed or vehicle-transport trailer in the shipping of your bike. 

Open motorcycle shipping is a practical choice for motorcycles that have already seen a few miles and will surely see a few more. If the occasional nick from road debris is not a concern, open shipping is the economical choice. 

If even minor wear or damage is a concern, though, especially if you’re transporting a brand-new, custom or luxury motorcycle, enclosed shipping is the better choice for its added protection. 

Whether you choose enclosed or open motorcycle shipping, you can rest assured your motorcycle will be tightly secured and shepherded every step of the way by the ShipLux concierge team. 

3. Ensure Full Insurance Coverage 

Make sure your motorcycle is insured against damage in transit before you commit to a motorcycle shipping service. ShipLux offers complete insurance coverage for vehicles while in shipping, giving owners peace of mind and an easier experience without having to source separate insurance for the trip. 

 4. Photograph and Secure Tightly 

Before your motorcycle goes on the truck, snap a few detailed photos for your personal records and make sure your bike is secured tightly in its frame or slot. You can ask your concierge shipping team from ShipLux to show you the securing mechanisms used to keep your bike upright and scratch-free during the trip. 

 5. Quarter tank of gas and no more 

Finally, make sure your gas tank is a quarter full and no more—just enough to drive the motorcycle to drop-off and away from pick-up.  

A full gas tank can pose a risk inside the trailer, while an empty gas tank can make easily moving the bike impossible. 

Ship Your Motorcycle Anywhere, with ShipLux 

Whether you need your motorcycle transported over a few cities or across the globe, ShipLux is there. We provide concierge, white-glove vehicle transport door to door, around the world. Which means if you want to slalom the legendary sands of Peru or to lace the California Cascades and just need your best motorcycle to make the trip, we will ensure it reaches you in time for the action. Even if the action is on the edge of the Black Hills, hundreds of miles from the nearest major city, during Pappy Hoel’s motorcycle festival, in Sturgis, S.D. 

Contact us today for an estimate on enclosed or open motorcycle shipping anywhere in the world with ShipLux.