Cycle Hauling, Transport & Tour Service to Out West?

At the Easy Rider show here in Charlotte a few weeks ago, I ran across a company (http://lynnisenhour.com/) out of Winston-Salem that has a service where they will transport your cycle (on pre-scheduled tours) with other bikes, and then take everyone on planned rides. For example, Sturgis, SD; Daytona Bike Week; Calif Coast; Las Vegas (Grand canyon, Hoover Dam, etc.).

My wife dreams of the Jackson Hole Wyoming/Montana/Yellowstone trip. You pay for your airfare, and hotels and they transport your bike and coordinate the tours. I talked to Lynn the other night and he said that Wyoming has been sold out since Nov and has 9 on the list for next year. Worse, when he found out I had a Spyder, possibly two, he talked about charging me triple per Spyder, based on the amount of room it takes up. I get it. Don't like it, but get it. He told me if I was up his way that he would love to get my bike in his truck to check for spacing for other Spyder ryders.

The fee is already pretty steep, but double or triple is out of the question to make a trip affordable. By the time you add airfares and hotels and food, this is becoming a second mortgage. (Before you say it, NO, I am not going to drive my Spyder 2000 miles to Wyoming to ride another 1500, then 2000 back. Besides the fact that I don't have a month to do it in, I value my ass and bike a little more than that. If you are retired or don't have work commitments or think I am a candy ass, I can live with that. ) I can rent Harleys out there, but I didn't buy one of those because I like my Spyder better. What's the point of owning a Spyder if you have to rent a Harley? Plus, shipping is almost cheaper than renting for a week. I have started looking into a trailer but who wants to drive 4000 miles pulling a trailer?

Here is my question: Has anyone heard of another services like this that will take your bike, round trip, for a reasonable amount of money? I don't need the tour, but do need the transport. I have found shipping companies that will do it it from anywhere from about $600 per bike. per direction, all the way up to $1000 each way, each bike. If you know a bike shipping company that is reasonable, that may work. How can I ship 1-2 Spyders out to tour Wyoming without breaking the bank?

Try this: http://www.uship.com/

Drivers bid for your job and you might get a good price.

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Originally Posted by captblack

Try this: http://www.uship.com/

Drivers bid for your job and you might get a good price.

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I'll take a look at that. Thanks.

trailering it. With airfare for two, etc, might be a wash!

I have this trip hopefully in the plans for the summer.

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Originally Posted by WingmanRT

At the Easy Rider show here in Charlotte a few weeks ago, I ran across a company (http://lynnisenhour.com/) out of Winston-Salem that has a service where they will transport your cycle (on pre-scheduled tours) with other bikes, and then take everyone on planned rides. For example, Sturgis, SD; Daytona Bike Week; Calif Coast; Las Vegas (Grand canyon, Hoover Dam, etc.).

My wife dreams of the Jackson Hole Wyoming/Montana/Yellowstone trip. You pay for your airfare, and hotels and they transport your bike and coordinate the tours. I talked to Lynn the other night and he said that Wyoming has been sold out since Nov and has 9 on the list for next year. Worse, when he found out I had a Spyder, possibly two, he talked about charging me triple per Spyder, based on the amount of room it takes up. I get it. Don't like it, but get it. He told me if I was up his way that he would love to get my bike in his truck to check for spacing for other Spyder ryders.

The fee is already pretty steep, but double or triple is out of the question to make a trip affordable. By the time you add airfares and hotels and food, this is becoming a second mortgage. (Before you say it, NO, I am not going to drive my Spyder 2000 miles to Wyoming to ride another 1500, then 2000 back. Besides the fact that I don't have a month to do it in, I value my ass and bike a little more than that. If you are retired or don't have work commitments or think I am a candy ass, I can live with that. ) I can rent Harleys out there, but I didn't buy one of those because I like my Spyder better. What's the point of owning a Spyder if you have to rent a Harley? Plus, shipping is almost cheaper than renting for a week. I have started looking into a trailer but who wants to drive 4000 miles pulling a trailer?

Here is my question: Has anyone heard of another services like this that will take your bike, round trip, for a reasonable amount of money? I don't need the tour, but do need the transport. I have found shipping companies that will do it it from anywhere from about $600 per bike. per direction, all the way up to $1000 each way, each bike. If you know a bike shipping company that is reasonable, that may work. How can I ship 1-2 Spyders out to tour Wyoming without breaking the bank?

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First of all, your wife is right. I did that trip, 6,600 miles or something like that, three years ago with 5 others that joined up in Jackson Hole and went from there. GREAT time. Secondly, I'll bet I know a nice, quiet, reserved old guy who would ride one of your bikes out there for expenses, including air fare back to NC. Bike has to have a back rest. I'd even ride to your place from GA at no charge. I need a max of 5 minutes notice! Not quite sure of the economics for you, but I'm ready.
Tuck

The uship company referred to above has been featured on one of those "reality" shows--Shipping Wars.

After looking at a couple of the shows--I am not sure that I want the lowest bidder hauling :spyder2: across country for me. There were a couple that looked like they knew what they were doing, but the jury is out--as far as I am concerned on the other featured haulers.

The trip your planning is beautiful, but just like you, I don't want to drive thousands of miles just to drive more thousands of miles in one trip. Not enough time, and driving worn out is also not fun.

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Originally Posted by akspyderman

The uship company referred to above has been featured on one of those "reality" shows--Shipping Wars.

After looking at a couple of the shows--I am not sure that I want the lowest bidder hauling :spyder2: across country for me. There were a couple that looked like they knew what they were doing, but the jury is out--as far as I am concerned on the other featured haulers.

The trip your planning is beautiful, but just like you, I don't want to drive thousands of miles just to drive more thousands of miles in one trip. Not enough time, and driving worn out is also not fun.

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I contacted Uship and posted the specs and did not receive one bid. I think because it was of the return trip issue. If I just wanted to ship one way, that may have been less of an issue. but one way and then back a week later. ????

Have you considered renting one out there? We have a sponsor here who rents Spyders in Colorado and Arizona.

I'm sorry, but you bought an RT (TOURING model), but you're not willing to do any TOURING on it? I guarentee I value my Spyder just as much as you do, if not more, and I have put 36K on it in 20 months. And I plan on putting another 4400 on it in April when I go to SpyderFest. In my opinion, Spyders, wether Touring or Sport, don't deserve to be garaged or trailered.

Sorry if this seems Soapbox-ish, but it just irked me a little.

As for the site Uship. I have used them once with no problem. I shipped a brand new trailer from Michiganto California, while I was deployed to Japan, I had lower offers than the one I chose, but they also didn't meet my specifications. The company I chose was based out of where I was stationed st the time, and they even stored the trailer at their location for free till I got back. I highly reccomend the site....and wouldn't base it off a reality tv show.

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Originally Posted by joet82

I'm sorry, but you bought an RT (TOURING model), but you're not willing to do any TOURING on it? I guarentee I value my Spyder just as much as you do, if not more, and I have put 36K on it in 20 months. And I plan on putting another 4400 on it in April when I go to SpyderFest. In my opinion, Spyders, wether Touring or Sport, don't deserve to be garaged or trailered. Sorry if this seems Soapbox-ish, but it just irked me a little.

As for the site Uship. I have used them once with no problem. I shipped a brand new trailer from Michiganto California, while I was deployed to Japan, I had lower offers than the one I chose, but they also didn't meet my specifications. The company I chose was based out of where I was stationed st the time, and they even stored the trailer at their location for free till I got back. I highly reccomend the site....and wouldn't base it off a reality tv show.

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Joe,
Sorry you're irked. Bottom line is: We just don't have time to ride 4000+ miles round trip... plus 1500+ miles once we are there. My business, her job, pets, limited vacation time for this trip, and a few other factors, don't make that possible for us right now. I sort of wish we had the time, but unfortunately we don't. If we were retired, maybe. I ride my Spyder about 3-4 times per week all year round as transportation, regional road trips, and time willing... on vacations. Since buying it in Sept., I have put on 3500 miles (more than I put on my car since then) just running around Charlotte.

I appreciate the fact that some people's situation are different and they have the freedom to do that, but it's just not practical for us. More than that, I don't know that I would WANT it to be, at this point. 6000 miles divided by even 400 miles per day (8 hours at 50 mph average) is 15 days, without any lee way for side trips or stay overs. 15 solid days of riding with out a break, is starting to sound an awful like a "job" and less like a vacation. Truthfully, that muched 'forced riding' doesn't sound like that much fun to me. The Wyoming tour is broken into 7 days of 250 miles each, which seems both easy and casual with plenty of time for site seeing and side trips. Cool if the bike is there when I get off the plane, not so much, if I have a sore ass just getting it there. I'm willing to "tour" just not be a slave to it though. 1500 miles seems like a pretty good tour to me. 6000 miles sounds like a career move. Different strokes I guess.

As for Uship, I didn't put too much stock in the TV show either. But even after altering our specs, I couldn't get any bids. I am working on an alternative plan. Hopefully we will get out there this year.

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Originally Posted by SpyderAnn01

Have you considered renting one out there? We have a sponsor here who rents Spyders in Colorado and Arizona.

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Yeah, I actually did think about that, and investigated pricing etc. but it "irked me" (as Joe said) to rent two Spyders when we would have two sitting in a garage in Charlotte. Plus, on a purely selfish note, I want MY Spyder out there. Is this rational or even practical?... not really. But after spending all this money, it seems a shame not to have ours under us when touring. And as childish as that seems, it may make the difference between affording the trip, having the time for it, or not going. I haven't given up yet though. Time for Plan C...

If you don't have luck with the uShip route, some suggested shippers (note that I haven't used any of these, but they're the ones I've seen most highly recommended):

Federal: http://www.funtransport.com/

JC Motors: http://motorcycleshippers.com/

Keyboard Carriage: http://www.keyboardmotorcycleshipping.com/

Forward Air: http://www.forwardair.com/prepaid/MCmainpage.jsp

Cross-country rates are usually in line with what you quoted, $400-$750 per bike each way; for size reasons alone I'd expect the Spyder to default at the high end, sadly. Some do door-to-door service, others will store a bike at a delivery location, i.e. you should be able to fly in, cab there, and ride out.

I'd second the rental option, if only because with shipping you may not get your bike on time, and worse, if something broke during shipping you're left with a broken bike. That said, the prices I've seen for rental Spyders make me sick to my stomach, so you're most definitely not going to save money going that route versus shipping.

Another route to consider is finding someone who can ride your Spyder out west and hand it off to you. Don't laugh, it's pretty common with bikers, I know that if I had the free time I'd ride out a nice bike for free if someone bought me a plane ticket home.

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Originally Posted by daveinva

If you don't have luck with the uShip route, some suggested shippers (note that I haven't used any of these, but they're the ones I've seen most highly recommended):
Federal: http://www.funtransport.com/
JC Motors: http://motorcycleshippers.com/
Keyboard Carriage: http://www.keyboardmotorcycleshipping.com/
Forward Air: http://www.forwardair.com/prepaid/MCmainpage.jsp
Cross-country rates are usually in line with what you quoted, $400-$750 per bike each way;
I'd second the rental option, if only because with shipping you may not get your bike on time, and worse, if something broke during shipping you're left with a broken bike. That said, the prices I've seen for rental Spyders make me sick to my stomach, so you're most definitely not going to save money going that route versus shipping.
Another route to consider is finding someone who can ride your Spyder out west and hand it off to you. Don't laugh, it's pretty common with bikers, I know that if I had the free time I'd ride out a nice bike for free if someone bought me a plane ticket home.

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Thanks for the leads on shippers. The rental option is about $200 per day x 2 bikes (she wants her own) x 7 days = $2800+. ugh. Plus airfare and hotel. That is a BIG vacation for one week. (For about half that, we could fly to Aruba and leave the damned bikes home!) About the same price range for shipping more or less. If I could get the low end of the spectrum, it could be financially feasible. As if. I have had one offer to drive the bike out, but part of me feels like it would be handing over my Baby. Plus adding a ton of miles I didn't get to enjoy. I am going to check out the shippers you listed and see what they say. If I can find a moving van line with a partial load that can fit the bikes at least one way and then pay the bike shipper to get them back... that might work. As for breakage, even if they have insurance, that would suck and put the trip off to a downer. No way to avoid that, that I can see.

My wife and I took that trip last year - got in the middle of a heard of buffalo that wanted to cross the road right where we were (they are bigger than the Spyder, by a bunch!!) We went in September, after the rug rats went back to school. We spent 5 days in and around Yellowstone - and the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway - which was the best road on the trip.

While we were there, we met three other Spyder riders, who trailered their Spyders from your area to Denver in a large horse trailer, owned by one of the riders - they spent three weeks getting to Yellowstone, and around the area, then back to Denver. Sounded like a great way to go.

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Originally Posted by daveinva

If you don't have luck with the uShip route, some suggested shippers (note that I haven't used any of these, but they're the ones I've seen most highly recommended):

• Federal: http://www.funtransport.com/
• JC Motors: http://motorcycleshippers.com/
• Keyboard Carriage: http://www.keyboardmotorcycleshipping.com/
• Forward Air: http://www.forwardair.com/prepaid/MCmainpage.jsp

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Just an FYI on anyone looking to ship a Spyder out west round trip...

• Federal: http://www.funtransport.com/ Round trip to Wyoming: $2200 per Spyder, with them having the bike 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the trip.
• JC Motors: http://motorcycleshippers.com/ Won't do "trikes"
• Keyboard Carriage: http://www.keyboardmotorcycleshipping.com/ Won't do anywhere out west
• Forward Air: http://www.forwardair.com/prepaid/MCmainpage.jsp Ran me around from one phone number to the next, pass the buck.. errr... Spyder
• Dream Ride Tours http://www.dreamridetransport.com/blackhill-tour.html - AUGUST 2010 BLACK HILLS TOUR RATES Single person and motorcycle $3,900; Passenger $770
• EdelWeisss Bike Travel http://www.edelweissbike.com/en/allT...yon-tour2.html May, Sept, 2012 DURATION: 8 days vacation, 6 riding days ROUTE: Total distance 1320-1560 miles (2120-2510 km). Daily rides 110-300 miles (180-480 km). Wide open roads, some twisties in the mountains. $3200-$4980 includes BMW or Harley rental
• A-1 Motorcycle Shipping http://www.a1motorcycleshipping.com/...ycle-shipping/ $3250 per Spyder

It was worth a try. Thanks for the leads. Still working other angles.

:yikes::yikes::yikes:

You may try some LTL (less than truck load)companies like Conway Freight http://www.con-way.com/en/freight/ But I believe the bikes would have to be crated to go that direction. May be worth a check.

Wingman, had this come up last tuesday I could have asked the shipper who stopped by my place to pick up a Honda Helix to haul to N.J. to the person who bought it from me. He was coming up from Daytona picking up bikes along the way and by his comment it sounded like $500 per bike regardless of distance. I helped him load it on a tall 18 wheeler and it was nearly full with 3 abreast. Based on what I saw an RT would take up 3 spaces, plus we had to take off the windshield since he had a VW on a top rack! It was a nice truck, and he mentioned buying/hauling for Jay Leno, Springsteen, & Billy Joel....had a nice 85 Guzzie on board going to Joel! His name was Dan and company is D&K, Newton NJ, 973 534 7823. Buyer of my Helix said it arrived it perfect condition. I think it would be a hard thing to for you to arrange pick-up time wise, aside from the cost. Best of luck, sounds like a great trip.