Ducati Monster Forum

I might be relocating from DC to Miami in a couple months and I'm trying to figure out the best way to transport the moto. I don't have place down there yet but work would be in the Coral Gables area so if you're familiar with the area and can recommend any places that would be great too.

1) I dug up some old U-Haul threads and saw that it is possible to get a box truck and strap in. I'd most likely get a Baxley Sport Chock if I went this route. Then I could load up the rest of my stuff and do it all in one trip.

2) I was also thinking of renting and SUV and a moto trailer but I've never towed a bike before. (not sure if this would be any cheaper)

3) Drive down with my stuff in a rental, find an apartment get situated, fly back up to DC and Auto Train with the moto to Orlando and ride to Miami. (obviously more time and $$)

Seeing that it's a 17 hour drive I'd most likely make it a 3 day trip. So for anyone who's had to relocate I'd love any suggestions you might have. BTW, I don't own a car, just the moto.

Thanks

just ride down and leave your stuff at a friends house then mail it to your address when you find a place. thats what im doing.

im riding from NYC to Colorado.

Take it when you move. Maybe even contact a dealer there and drop it for a week or two while you find a permanent place to store. I'd fly down first and get a place to live worked out. 

It's gonna be hot and flat

Some years back I u- hauled (boxed) my bike from OH to AZ towing it with my shitty VW.  I didn't have a wheel-choke and had to adjust and straightened her up.  You are right the wheel choke is a must.

Rent a pickup truck.
Moto in the bed.
Uhaul tow behind.

Enjoy the beach, not to mention the scenery.  [thumbsup]

ive done it without a wheel choke. you just need to anchor them properly. the bike must be anchored DOWNWARD and the rear of the bike must be ancord to the front of the trailer, and the front of hte bike to the rear of the trailer.

if you do it any other way, then a slip from the anchor point in one means that there is no restraint in that direction.

I've used U-ship before with good results basically like ebay but with shippers that bid on items and have a histrory record from previous users. Brought my bike from West Virgina to my door step (Atlanta) for a decent price.

I travel for work and usually leave my motorcycle home for months at a time. I have been thinking about buying a small enclosed trailer, kind of like my own personal garage. you can trailer your bike with you and lock it up in a storage facility until you have a place. [drink]

I'd move the stuff down, fly back and ride it.  1100 miles is three days ride taking it easy; two days not very hard.

Or even do it the other way -- ride down with your basic stuff, look for a place to live (easier to do because you'll have your transportation with you and won't have to be dealing with all of your belongings in a rented truck while you look), when you find the place, park your bike there, fly back to DC, and then get your stuff and bring it down.

PhilB

There are plenty of people down here that frequent this board. Especially me. I don't live in coral gables but i am about 30 minutes north. Push come to shove and your in dire need I have a garage with plenty of space. PM me if you need any more help.

FWIW - you do know that the AutoTrain takes bikes right? So IF you wanted you could ride the train down with it. I've got some buds who've done that for southern vacations (skip the winter riding up north part).

Personally I would (and have) ridden it. But never on a Duc....

SUV and trailer is a good option too, but if you don't own one already the rental could be steep.

I've had friends relocate across country using a U-Haul box truck for their belongings AND their bikes, but I think you need to lie to U-Haul about that... Also you need to be extra careful loading, especially if you get a tall one (buddy and his CBR took a tumble off of one years ago).

I love to travel by motorcycle, and take any opportunity to do it.  I've had to travel for work the last couple years, so I'm sort of "moving" each time, although not truckloads of stuff.

Nevertheless, in 2010, I took a project in Cleveland, so I flew out with a couple big suitcases of stuff, got started on the job, flew back to San Diego and finished my previous project off there, then rode the Monster back to Cleveland.  That was not a perfect trip, since I only had 4 days between the two, and 2700 miles in 4 days was a stretch.  But I did it, and enjoyed doing it.

The project I'm on now worked out similarly, but better.  I'm New Hampshire now; started last September.  Same deal -- flew out with suitcases, started the work, flew back to San Diego and rode back to NH (by way of New Orleans and the Barber Raceway).  This time I took two weeks, and spent 4 days of it at Barber for a vintage bike race weekend and to see the bike museum.

Live while you can, because after that, it's too late.

PhilB

Thanks for all the great suggestions, and thanks to Latinbalar for your generosity, if I need your help I will let you know. I guess it all depends on the time frame I have to work with and if I can find a somewhat decent place to rent. I would like garage parking or at the very least a gated community for the bike.

i would love to be able to take the time to ride all the way down, but something tells me I'd be too paranoid to make the long trek by myself. I'd be too worried about breaking down and getting stranded somewhere.

In any case, I'll keep you posted on the next step and again, thanks for all the help!

You could also ship it down to one of the various dealers. You'll need to pay for storage fee.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241245666320 (http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241245666320)

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4 hour drive from orlando - Miami

*Update*

So here's the deal, I found a place and I'm planning on renting a truck and driving it all down. I checked out Penske trucks and the price seems right for a 16ft box truck. I ordered a Baxley Sport Chock and 4 tie downs but when I went to go look at the truck I noticed there were no tie down points on the floor of the cargo area. They have 2 wooden rails that run along the sides of the truck, the lowest one being about 20" above the floor.

I'm planning on putting the wheel chock all the way up front towards the cab (unbolted), and center the moto in the cargo area. Then put small boxes between the moto and the sides of the truck.

Q: Will the lower rail about 20" above the floor of the truck be sufficient to tie down from the rear grab rails or does it still need to be lower?

(http://www.motherearthnews.com/uploadedImages/Blogs/Greening_House_and_Home/movingonup2(1).jpg?n=222)

If it was my bike, I would look to find a way to tie it down to the floor. The rail *should be* low enough to do the job.

So if I were to secure it to the floor, do you think 2 surface mount D-rings with 3/8" x 2" lag bolts would be ok? Does it matter how far out they're on the floor, like to the front corners of the cargo area or better to be closer to the moto? I would imagine it's better to be closer to the moto right, a foot from each side of the bike behind the front wheel?

Sorry for all the questions, first time transporting the moto...

Ideally you would need 4 D-rings on 4 sides. Not sure how 2 would work.

From experience, secure all the boxes around the moto, and do not leave anything loose around. I moved my bike from FL to NYC last november, and have paint scraped off from having cardboard boxes too close.

Also, after the first 20-50 miles pull over and check the rachet tie-down tensions and continue to do so every 3-400 miles

I don't know how much time you have but maybe grab two pallets and screw them together. Then mount d-rings to it. Put it in the truck then roll the bike on and lock it down.  Make sure to keep boxes away and maybe cover the bike with one of those heavy packing blankets to protect it.

Auto Train!