Bike Transport Charges: City-wise Rate Card

Bike transport pricing is fairly standardised across India. Most movers use covered trucks with custom wooden crating — open carriers aren't used for two-wheelers. The pricing depends mostly on distance, bike size, and crating quality.

Whether you're moving a Royal Enfield, Activa, or a sport bike, here's what you should expect to pay and what should be included.

City-wise indicative rates

Standard rates for a 100-200cc commuter bike (Activa, Splendor, FZ, etc.). Bigger displacement (Royal Enfield 350+, KTM Duke, sport bikes) typically adds 10-15% for heavier crating.

What proper bike transport looks like

Quality bike movers do all of this:

1. Fuel drainage — completely emptied before crating (regulatory + safety). ₹150 charge or you can drain it yourself first.
2. Battery disconnect — terminals taped, battery secured separately. Free service.
3. Custom wooden crating — built around the bike with foam padding at contact points. NOT just shrink wrap.
4. Mirror retraction — folded or removed
5. Fairing protection — bubble wrap on faired bikes (sport bikes, tourers)
6. Pre-loading photos — 8+ photos covering all sides, dashboard, odometer, paint condition
7. GPS tracking — live link shareable with family
8. Transit insurance — minimum ₹1 lakh; up to ₹5 lakh for premium bikes

If a mover is using cardboard or just shrink-wrapping the bike on a flatbed truck, that's not professional crating — the bike will get scratched at minimum, dropped at worst.

Bike-specific risks during transit

Things that go wrong with cheap bike transport:

• Scratched paint — bikes packed too tight against each other
• Bent handlebars — improper securing during loading
• Damaged fairings — uncovered sport bikes hitting truck walls
• Battery drain — long transit without disconnection
• Petrol smell on arrival — incomplete fuel drainage
• Missing parts — mirrors, side bags, accessories not properly secured/labelled

The wooden crate adds ₹400-700 to base cost but eliminates 90% of these risks.

What to do at delivery

Don't sign the Delivery Acknowledgment Form until you've done a 5-minute inspection:

1. Walk around the bike comparing to pre-loading photos
2. Check both sides for scratches/dents
3. Check handlebars are aligned (sit on bike, look down — should be symmetric)
4. Check mirrors and accessories — any missing?
5. Photograph any damage you find with the carrier truck visible
6. Note all damage on the Delivery Acknowledgment Form BEFORE signing

Battery may be disconnected — that's fine. Re-attach + start the bike before delivery person leaves so you can confirm engine is OK.

When NOT to ship your bike

Sometimes shipping isn't the right answer:

• Distance under 200 km + you're traveling same route → just ride it
• Bike is older than 10 years and worth less than ₹15,000 → cost of shipping is more than bike's value; sell + buy used at destination
• Bike is registered in another state and you're moving permanently → factor in re-registration cost (₹3,000-12,000 depending on state)

For interstate move from old state, you'll need to surrender the existing registration and apply for new state registration within 30 days of arrival. Some movers help facilitate this; ask before booking.