If you’re planning to transport your motorcycle from point A to point B, you no doubt want the safest, fastest and most affordable option available. You also need to decide if you’ll handle the move yourself, or hire a professional service to do it for you. Here are some tips when transporting a motorcycle in Canada, to ensure you have the best experience possible.
1. Hire a Professional Service or Do It Yourself?
Doing the transport work yourself may make sense if you already have a trailer (either open or enclosed) or a pickup truck and loading ramps. You’ll also need straps, and it’s often recommended that you use a handlebar harness and/or wheel chock as well (1). Keep in mind, depending on the weight and size of the motorcycle and the amount of help you have, loading it into a pickup truck can be a difficult task. You may also need to move more bikes than you have room for – or perhaps you’ve purchased or sold a bike that needs to be picked up or delivered.
If you’re planning to make a special trip just to transport the motorcycle and it’s a long-distance away, hiring a professional transport outfit could actually be more economical. This is especially true when you factor in the value of your time, cost for lodging and the fact that a company will insure the bikes being moved. In contrast, if you accidentally damage the bike while underway on your own, you could be on the hook for the cost to repair it.
2. Document Your Bike’s Condition.
Assuming you’ve chosen to use a professional transport service, it’s important that you take plenty of pictures of your motorcycle before shipping. Why? This will give you documentation for insurance reimbursement, should any nicks, dents or more substantial damage occur. This is definitely a case where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and you don’t want to get into a situation where the shipper refuses your claim due to lack of proof.
3. Prep Your Motorcycle For Transport
There are a few checklist items that you need to address before your motorcycle will be ready for shipping. It’s recommended that you remove any loose accessories (like saddlebags), and confirm that the battery has a full charge. 
Many motorcycle transport companies also require you to disconnect the alarm (if applicable) and only allow the gas tank to be a quarter full or less. Finally, you should verify that your motorcycle has no leaking fluids, as this could cause issues during transit.
4. Consider Opting For Enclosed Shipping.
A long trip down the highway on an open-air transport vehicle is typically cheaper, but it comes with some potential pitfalls to keep in mind. Your bike could be exposed to road hazards like flying debris, which could lead to possible chips and dings. In addition, the weather here in Canada can be beautiful – but it can also be harsh. You may want to avoid having your bike get hit with snow and the accompanying road salt which is hard on metal components.
Now, if you own a touring motorcycle like a BMW R1200RT, Honda Gold Wing or Harley-Davidson Road Glide and regularly ride it in all weather – then this won’t be a concern for you. However, if you have a valuable vintage motorcycle or a high-end Ducati that you only take out on sunny days, then an enclosed trailer is definitely the way to go.
5. Only Hire a Reputable Company.
Using a cut-rate transport service to shave a few dollars off the bill is a mistake, which could cost you far more in the end. Hiring a reputable company like A1 Auto Transport is critical, as this will ensure that the industry best practices are followed during the move (2). For example, loading your bike onto a pallet first or installing custom blocks best suited for your particular model, when using an enclosed transport vehicle
This also means looping the tie-down straps around the best securement points (like the triple tree, frame, passenger handgrips, the frame and crash bar intersect or even part of the engine) (3). Finally, a legitimate transport outfit will be fully licensed and bonded, plus have any additional certifications required. A well-respected company will typically offer more transport options as well, such as convenient door-to-door service.
With the straightforward tips covered above, transporting a motorcycle doesn’t need to be an ordeal. It can be safe, affordable and efficient, ensuring that your bike reaches its new destination without a hitch.
SOURCES:
(1)
https://www.motorcycletouringtips.com/how-to-transport-a-motorcycle-in-a-pickup-truck/
(2)
https://www.a1autotransport.com/about-us/
(3)
https://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/right-way-to-tie-down-and-transport-your-motorcycle/
