Shipping advise

[rydr1]

Can anyone that has shipped a complete bike give me advise as to which shipping company I should use?

I assume that I should also break the bike down into several boxes, right?

Thanks

 

[CCR]

FEDEX is always cheapest for me, but if your box is too big it ends up doubling the cost. i'm told the golden rule is to keep the dimensions under 90" (the box length + height + width = needs to be under 90") and the weight needs to be under 50lbs.

it usually costs me about $35 to ship a 20" muscle bike and somewhere around $40-50 to ship a full size 26" cruiser through FEDEX. In cases where the box was too big (even slightly) double those prices.

i use USPS flat rate boxes for small stuff that wont fit in envelopes, UPS for stuff that wont fit in flat rate boxes (because theres a UPS pick-up in town), the next town over has a FedEx drop-off so big stuff always goes through them because they're the cheapest for me, basically if I will save more than the cost of gas, I will make the 30 mile round trip

 

[rydr1]

Thanks :!:

That is perfect advise.

 

[CCR]

i should probably add though, those prices are a whole bike in 1 box, it might be worth breaking it down into a couple boxes if youve got something "worth" boxing separately and little experience shipping a whole bike. but most bikes can be done in 1 box without much trouble. good luck :wink:

 

[Rat Rod]

Wrap everything in pipe insulators from Home Depot and when you put everything in the box, separate any non attached parts with sheets of cardboard and zip ties. The goal is to make everything inside the box one giant solid mass that is not able to move around at all during shipment. I also use Wal-Mart bags to wrap everything in...don't waste your money on peanuts or bubble wrap.

 

[udallcustombikes]

Review this thread on how to pack the bike for shipment
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=23583

And the cheapest shipper that I have worked with is Greyhound. But the reason for the savings is that you have to drop the package off at the bus station and it has to be picked up at the bus station. If you and the person receiving the bike don't mind the extra leg work, the savings are worth it.

 

[rydr1]

Great info guys. I missed the thread about how to ship.

Thanks

 

[CCR]

I just wanna know how you got the post office to let loose of the packing tape, i know they used to give it out but the stopped that around here a couple years ago. i guess you could be buying it ... but i just have to ask :mrgreen:

 

[frameteam2003]

Also leave the rear wheel in the frame or cut a small block of wood the correct size and screw it in,this keeps the frame from being smashed.Standard size bike boxes from a local bike ship are great.Be sure to wrap some cardboard around the sprocket if left in the frame---those teeth will cut a hole in the box---and shippers like to drag the boxes across the cement floor till the teeth are gone!