[Skyguard]

anyone know the best means to ship a motorcycle to Vancouver?

trains?
planes?

greyhound? (I've seen them towing a trailer before always wondered if they can fit a motorbike or not.)

I'd prefer not to have to dismantle the bike to get it there if possible.

I am planning a few summer trips with a departure from Vancouver.

Thanks for any assistance!

 

[Heavy]

I used PMI Motorcycle Shiping to ship my 1000 from Vancouver to Ontario. Kind of expensive but really easy. Just tell them the pickup and dropoff points and set a pickup date. They do everything else.

 

[Keith Falkner]

But that journey is a wonderful ride!

I'm puzzled.

Calgary to Vancouver is a stellar ride. I do not understand why you don't simply ride the bike to Vancouver and then come home by public transport.

Unless you are absolutely starved for time, that looks best to me.

But it's your bike and your journey. And you will surely enjoy any ride you take from Vancouver. If you ride 99 north of Whistler, you may find some one-way-at-a-time bridges, and you may prefer to ride that route southbound. When I went northward on it, I had to yield right of way to southbound traffic at all five bridges. In fact, there was no traffic to yield to, but each occasion was nervewracking.

Good luck, whatever you do.

Keith

 

[Heavy]

I'm puzzled.

Calgary to Vancouver is a stellar ride. I do not understand why you don't simply ride the bike to Vancouver and then come home by public transport.
......

mmmmmm...roads between Calgary and Vancouver....so many to choose from....so many curves...so many mountains.....mmmmmmm

 

[Heavy]

I just figured out a cheaper way....pay for a flight for me and I'll deliver it.

anyone know the best means to ship a motorcycle to Vancouver?

trains?
planes?

greyhound? (I've seen them towing a trailer before always wondered if they can fit a motorbike or not.)

I'd prefer not to have to dismantle the bike to get it there if possible.

I am planning a few summer trips with a departure from Vancouver.

Thanks for any assistance!

 

[chris swann]

one day

the ride could be done in one day if you got up early

 

[rcacs]

I just figured out a cheaper way....pay for a flight for me and I'll deliver it.

Damn you Heavy, that was my plan!

Cheers!

 

[safetybeeich]

even cheaper

just pay for the gas and I will find my own way to calgary

 

[Skyguard]

I'm puzzled.

Calgary to Vancouver is a stellar ride. I do not understand why you don't simply ride the bike to Vancouver and then come home by public transport.

Unless you are absolutely starved for time, that looks best to me.

But it's your bike and your journey. And you will surely enjoy any ride you take from Vancouver. If you ride 99 north of Whistler, you may find some one-way-at-a-time bridges, and you may prefer to ride that route southbound. When I went northward on it, I had to yield right of way to southbound traffic at all five bridges. In fact, there was no traffic to yield to, but each occasion was nervewracking.

Good luck, whatever you do.

Keith

Hey Keith,

As stupid as it may sound, I hadn't thought of it that way... I don't disagree that it's a great ride from Calgary to Vancouver. I've done (parts of) the ride to Vancouver from Calgary before but I have to say I did enjoy it.

A friend of mine (crotch rocket rider) suggested that I should do this way (I think they would break that trip into 2 days) I've done 10+ hours on the bike with stock seat and no issues/complaints before so I know I could do it. It's funny - he can't fathom riding the bike for 5+ hours at a time. I've been trying to convince him to move to a better class of motorcycle but I think he's slowly coming around to the idea.

I guess the thought was it should give me *one* (or part of one) more day of riding time for riding the Pacific Coast Highway down to California.

Last summer I rode out to Whistler but came at it from the North (Sea to Sky was closed due to rockslide)... I rode Duffy Lake road 4 times (met a friend on bike and escorted him from Lillooet to Whistler since I knew he was tired) that stretch of road was the HIGHLIGHT of my trip.

I am hoping to take from 1 to 2 weeks of travel time to hit California (Napa Valley) and back with wife following in a car.

 

[Keith Falkner]

More comfortable than you may think.

Skyguard,

I have had seven multi-day rides on my 2006 Wee-Strom. The first was in 2006, from Toronto to Vancouver via USA and back mainly through Canada.

Once, in 1965, I had ridden 440 miles in one day. I figured with a new motorcycle I could average 400 miles per day and complete YYZ-YVR in eight days. I crossed Yonge Street at noon on a Sunday, expecting to reach Chicago by Tuesday. I reckoned I would know what to do by then, either shove the horrible hunk of iron into Lake Michigan, ride on, park the bike and rent a car, rent a truck and lug the bike ... all sorts of plans came to mind.

Well, I did not reach Chicago by Tuesday. I did not reach Chicago by Monday. I passed Chicago late Sunday, and rode to the middle of Illinois before putting up my tent. 564 miles, starting at noon.

The next three days I also rode over 560 miles, and there I was in Coeur D'Alene Idaho, less than 1000 miles from my goal. I completed the ride in six days, and enjoyed every minute of it.

Sure, the seat is not wonderful, but a five-minute break after 60-100 miles is all I need to work out the numb butt and be ready for more. I admit that Calgary to Vancouver is a very long day, but if I can ride 1423 kilometers from St. John NB to Toronto in one day at the age of 65, you can manage that ride just fine.

Be courageous, but not foolhardy. Sometimes we are at the mercy of the weather, and have to hole up for a while. So long as you are prepared to take an extra day, and can put up with the boredom of the bus ride home, you will be OK.

Just think of the welcome you will get when you get home.

Keith

 

[rcacs]

I'm with you Keith, done Winnipeg to Halifax in 3 days, and very often do Winnipeg to Calgary in a day (1340km). If you have no desire to stop and smell the roses, multiple +1000km days are no sweat.

Calgary to Van would be a breeze actually.

Cheers!

 

[Heavy]

Calgary to Van would be a breeze actually.

Isn't downhill too?

 

[CowtownBB]

anyone know the best means to ship a motorcycle to Vancouver?

planes?

Possible, but not the option you want to choose. Even with discount, you pay per pound. Plus there will be lots of prep, from strapping it to board to draining it of all combustible fluids. So when you arrive in Van, you have to figure out how to get it back to life again.

trains?

Not outta this city, buster.

greyhound?

Nope. 100lb limit, and probably a dangerous goods restriction similar to aircraft.

My bike's previous owner shipped it by crate on a truck to Cali, that's probably your best bet. Truck/ground, lots of traffic between the two cities.

However...if time is an issue (it must be, if you are not just wanting to ride it there yourself) there is always the option of letting CowtownBB deliver it to your destination. Here's how it works:
1. Plan your trip. Ready your bike.
2. Two days before you want to ride out of Vancouver, you ride the bike over to CowtownBB's house.
3. Continue to get ready for your trip; pack all the stuff you need; fly to Vancouver.
4. Pick up bike at Vancouver airport as you deplane.

Total cost to you? Two days of separation anxiety from yer bee.
If this doesn't work for you, see above about shipping by truck.

 

[Vinoveritas]

Me too me too

Hi Sky,

Let me add my name to the long list of people that will ride your bike to vancouver for you, in return for airfare home. Now that you have opened Pandora's box, it will be interesting to see what you do!

Regards.
Vino

P.S. I went out to Norma's Place in Cochrane for lunch yesterday after hearing your comments. The food and service were great... thanks! It would be a good place to meet up for a morning ride.

 

[rcacs]

I will do one-up on Vin...I ride out to Calgary on my Wee, ride yours to Van, you fly me back to Cowtown, Vin buys me lunch in Cochrane.

How can you pass this up???

Cheers!

ps: ( I have snacked at that cafe, very tasty indeed)
pps: (how do I tow a GT550 with a Wee?)

Hi Sky,

Let me add my name to the long list of people that will ride your bike to vancouver for you, in return for airfare home. Now that you have opened Pandora's box, it will be interesting to see what you do!

Regards.
Vino

P.S. I went out to Norma's Place in Cochrane for lunch yesterday after hearing your comments. The food and service were great... thanks! It would be a good place to meet up for a morning ride.

 

[Vinoveritas]

Just to add more confusion

Hi Sky and rcacs,

LOL, I see I've just been out-negotiated. At this rate Sky, you should take a poll to see how much people will pay you to ride your bike to Vancouver! But remember, I get 15% as your agent.

Seriously though, I have a son that lives out there and I will probably be riding from Calgary to Vancouver once or maybe twice this summer. So if you do want to hire a jockey, I'd do it for expenses just for the ride and a good story to tell.

But rcacs gave me another idea. I bought the infamous "trailer-in-a-bag" last summer and I would be happy to lend it to you. You could tow your bike to Vancouver, ride around as you wish and then bring it back.

Same for you rcacs, you scoundrel... I'd be happy to lend it to you. The bearings are rated for 150,000 miles and I doubt I will put more than 2000-3000 miles on the trailer in it's life. Also, I am quite serious about coming out to see your project bike. I kind of have a Corner Gas pilgrimage in mind this summer so it's not much of a jaunt from "Dog River" to Morden.

Regards to all,
Vinoveritas

 

[CowtownBB]

As possibly the only one here with a yellow jacket to match that bee, I declare myself in the lead in the race to ride Sky's bike, on the basis of fashion.

Also I am the only one to not mention a need for a return airfare, that is not necessary in my case...somebody call Mills Lane to count them out...interwebs contest won! Woo, when do I ride it?

 

[Skyguard]

thanks to all

Hey guys,

Thanks for all offers, advice and comments on my delivery options.
I had no idea that I would get such a strong response :-D

 

[Keith Falkner]

Consider adding THIS to your trek!

Hi Sky and rcacs,

... I kind of have a Corner Gas pilgrimage in mind this summer so it's not much of a jaunt from "Dog River" to Morden.

Regards to all,
Vinoveritas

I was watching a TV show from London Ontario (I get Star Choice in Florida just fine) and it featured the town of Vulcan AB, which has adopted the Star Trek theme and become a mecca for Trekkies.

I missed it when I crossed your province. I guess I have to go back and do it right.

\\ //
(__)/ <-- best I can do from here.

Keith

 

[rcacs]

I have stopped in at Dog River 3 times, twice during actual filming. The one time I was there and they were actually done for the season, they had removed all reference to Corner Gas/Dog River, etc on the buildings. I wonder now that the show is over if there is anything to actually see. The "Corner Gas" and "The Ruby" were already devoid of all signage.

Its about another 7 hrs from there to my place.

Cheers!