For an event or day out, rigging bikes to the back of a ute or using a trailer does the trick, but there are times when a long distance journey or cross country trip needs a better solution.
You might be looking to attend an event hundreds of kilometres away, or you could need transport as part of a sale. This guide will take you through the advantages and potential disadvantages of the various MX and dirt bike transportation options, whether you are doing it yourself, or using a specialist moving company. With this guide you can avoid common pitfalls, confidently prepare your bike and save money.
Do it yourself or use a transport company?
These are your two options, and below, we’ll break down each.
Do it yourself
If you own a ute, van or a vehicle with a tow hitch, you can transport a bike yourself. This can be an excellent solution for shorter-distance trips if you have experience securing a motorcycle and driving with the extra weight. Remember that you may also have limited visibility at the rear as the motorcycle may obstruct your view.
Moving a bike yourself may seem like a cheaper option, and it can often be for shorter distances. However, if the move is interstate or a long distance, a motorcycle transport company will usually work out more cost-effective as they’re moving several bikes simultaneously.
Using a transport company
The good news is that there are several motorcycle moving companies across Australia; however, ensuring you use a reputable and reliable one is more challenging.
There are a few things to help you make a decision and watch out for:
- Read their reviews, both on the website and on Google
- Get multiple quotes to make sure you’re getting a fair price
- Check they have insurance
Tip: If all this feels a little daunting, you can use a website that can source multiple quotes from vetted and trusted motorcycle transport providers in one request, it’s called Upmove.
When moving an MX or dirt bike over longer distances, outsourcing the move usually makes sense cost-wise as it saves you fuel and multiple days on the road going there and back.
Preparing your motorcycle for transport
MX and dirt bikes aren’t shy of damage, but it’s still essential to verify the condition of your motorcycle before it is transported, preventing any conflict about the condition it arrives in, at its delivery point.
Get out the tools and remove all non-OEM accessories, categorising bolts with their mounting accessories into marked plastic bags or containers to prevent frustration when reattaching them.
Do you need additional insurance?
Even the most reputable motorcycle transport companies can suffer an unfortunate event or issue en route. The cost of escalating your insurance coverage for the few days involved in motorcycle transport is negligible, especially compared to the payment for uncovered damage.
Before any motorcycle is loaded, ensure that your coverage has been comprehensively updated for any eventuality. It’s always best to be over-insured for transport damages instead of having to quibble when something has gone awry after the fact.
What to avoid when transporting yourself
Ratchets and looping points can be tricky for the inexperienced, and although rubbing or vibration issues are never present when loading, that doesn’t mean they won’t happen once you get moving. At cruising speeds, a few hours into the journey, you could suffer a flailing ratchet strap end, creating a lot of avoidable cosmetic damage to your motorcycle.
Because MX and dirt bikes are so much lighter than other motorcycles, loading and unloading can be done by one, which means you don’t need to have a mate helping, although it’s always a good idea.
To conclude
For transport close to home, it’s often cheaper to rig up the ute, or rent a trailer, and do it yourself. But when a motorcycle needs to journey many hours, or out of state, it can be smarter to use a transport specialist.
Discovering motorcycle transport companies to work with your requirements is easier than ever before.