Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

shipping an electric bike across the country

Search
Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

shipping an electric bike across the country

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-17-23, 12:02 PM
  #1  
adlai
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 808
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 54 Times in 34 Posts
shipping an electric bike across the country

A family member is moving to the opposite coast. He won't be taking the car and will be living carless with just a bicycle. We are thinking of him taking one of my bicycles. The best bicycle for his situation would be an electric bicycle that I already own.

I looked on bikeflights and it was $167. Another problem is the battery because I believe many shipping companies hate transporting the large battery.

Is there a better way? I'd really like to keep it at or around $100. Any much more and it makes sense for him to just buy an electric bike once on the ground.
adlai is offline  
Old 07-17-23, 12:29 PM
  #2  
Calsun
Banned
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,280
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 608 Post(s)
Liked 382 Times in 288 Posts
With a 50 lb e-bike the battery is probably only 8 lbs and not a factor. More important is isolating the battery from the bike and wrapping it for safe transport. Smarter to have the family member take the bike as checked excess baggage on the plane, train, or bus.
Calsun is offline  
Likes For Calsun:
Old 07-17-23, 01:16 PM
  #3  
Juan Foote
LBKA (formerly punkncat)
 
Juan Foote's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Jawja
Posts: 4,299

Bikes: Spec Roubaix SL4, GT Traffic 1.0

Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2208 Post(s)
Liked 960 Times in 686 Posts
Is this individual already shipping their belongings? Perhaps the bike can stow with his stuff?

If there is no 'stuff' maybe they can make the move into a bike trip across the country?
Juan Foote is offline  
Old 07-17-23, 01:32 PM
  #4  
Fahrenheit531 
52psi
 
Fahrenheit531's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 4,015

Bikes: Schwinn Volare ('78); Raleigh Competition GS ('79)

Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 790 Post(s)
Liked 802 Times in 391 Posts
Not sure how $167 in shipping = makes more sense to spend 5-10 times that on another ebike...?
__________________
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
Fahrenheit531 is offline  
Likes For Fahrenheit531:
Old 07-17-23, 02:33 PM
  #5  
cb400bill
Forum Moderator
 
cb400bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,650

Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista

Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3091 Post(s)
Liked 6,601 Times in 3,785 Posts
Merged duplicate threads.
__________________












cb400bill is offline  
Old 07-17-23, 02:42 PM
  #6  
squirtdad
Senior Member
 
squirtdad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,847

Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque

Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,827 Times in 1,543 Posts
Lithium batteries have shipping restrictions due to fire risk

here is what bike flight has to say https://www.bikeflights.com/e-bike-shipping

I seriously doubt there is anything cheaper than bikeflights
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)



squirtdad is offline  
Likes For squirtdad:
Old 07-17-23, 02:47 PM
  #7  
MattTheHat 
Senior Member
 
MattTheHat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Allen, TX
Posts: 2,636

Bikes: 2021 S-Works Turbo Creo SL, 2020 Specialized Roubaix Expert

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 762 Post(s)
Liked 4,040 Times in 1,430 Posts
Originally Posted by Calsun
With a 50 lb e-bike the battery is probably only 8 lbs and not a factor. More important is isolating the battery from the bike and wrapping it for safe transport. Smarter to have the family member take the bike as checked excess baggage on the plane, train, or bus.
My understanding is that you can't fly with an ebike. I'm guessing ground shipping with bikeflights is going to be the OP's best bet.
MattTheHat is offline  
Old 07-17-23, 04:32 PM
  #8  
Garthr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Right where I'm supposed to be
Posts: 1,634

Bikes: Franklin Frames Custom, Rivendell Bombadil

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 117 Post(s)
Liked 209 Times in 127 Posts
Try pirateship.com https://www.pirateship.com/rates

Many Rivendell riders use it(another forum) and most Riv bikes are tanks.
Garthr is offline  
Old 07-19-23, 02:23 PM
  #9  
gilm
Newbie
 
gilm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: West Central Florida
Posts: 1

Bikes: Surly Disc Trucker, Trek Madone

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Recommend Bike Flights

Yes, BF is more expensive.
Batteries can be dangerous items. Best not to 'sneak' it through.
You can ship the battery on the bike via BF. You just have to let them know.
Do the right thing
gilm is offline  
Likes For gilm:
Old 07-19-23, 10:39 PM
  #10  
Camilo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,763
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1109 Post(s)
Liked 1,200 Times in 760 Posts
Seems like $167 is pretty darn reasonable, especially if you already think $100 is good. Declare the battery, follow the rules and don't waste time trying to save $67 on a valuable bike that will be even more valuable in use by the guy it's going to.
Camilo is offline  
Old 07-20-23, 08:06 AM
  #11  
rosefarts
With a mighty wind
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,594
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1088 Post(s)
Liked 862 Times in 490 Posts
The last bike I bought new was $200 to ship I think.

When moving, I called a local shop to see what they could do. It was basically 50-60 to pack plus the price of bike flights. It came out to over $200. So onto the uhaul they went.

This is for sub 30 lbs, including the box.

You aren’t going to beat 167.
rosefarts is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.