Motorcycles, being smaller than a standard car, actually cost less to ship, on the whole. Whether you’re transporting a small racing bike, a dirt bike, a chopper, or even something like a trike or a quad, anything resembling a motorcycle or ATV will be shipped in much the same manner. That is, they will be loaded onto a specialized crate and secured via a locking mechanism on the bottom of the crate that will prevent movement while at the same time being enclosed and unable to fall or otherwise get damaged during transport. However, you should read our ATV transport services page for more information about some of the nuances of shipping larger bike-based vehicles.
Most carriers that provide motorcycle shipping services drive an enclosed carrier, but that doesn’t mean you should expect to see enclosed prices. Motorcycles are smaller and thus more can fit in an enclosed trailer than can regular automobiles. This means that carriers can haul more motorcycles at a time, which means more customers per load, which means more money per load. This is a major part of why motorcycle shipping is cheaper than standard shipping, and by crating the motorcycles they not only prevent damaging them during transport, but they also maximize their space and are thus able to fit more motorcycles into their trucks safely and securely.