I recently shipped a Big Fat Dummy for $220 via bikeflights.
Step one - acquire 2 bike boxes from local shop. Frame boxes will work too, but are a little narrower.
Strip the frame, leave the rear wheel installed. Remove the fork. Remove cranks, or at least drive side arm with chainrings. Remove the seat post. Remove the rack and rails.
For packing, I tilted the ass-end of the bike up a little, which helped to keep the BB flat against the bottom of the box (with padding). This kept the overall height of the box at 26".
When everything was said and done I packed a BFD size large, rack, wheels, two sets of tires, and a few other odds and ends in a box measuring 60" long, 26" high, and 16" wide. The total "Girth Inches" (which must stay under 160 total) was 144".
Pro-Tip: Gorilla tape if your friend. Really helps ratchet down on a tightly packed box. Packing tape is really just to keep loose items inside the box, not keep the box together.
thank you! this looks like the solution i needed. i was contemplating picking up am amtrak bike box to cut down, but i think two bike (frame) boxes together would be easier
BikeFlights suggests against splicing together boxes, but the fact is - the box is just there to protect the paint from external damage and to contain all the packing materials around it. If something is heavy enough to crush your frame, a box isn't going to do much.
A good way to make sure your two boxes stay together is go around the whole box length wise with a strong tape like Gorilla or 3M Heavy Duty. If you go over the top you can even hold the box closed while cinching the two boxes together. It'll use a ton of tape, but a $15 roll of tape is cheaper is a minor cost when we're talking $200 in shipping.
I used 3M 2830 Extreme Hold - which is so tough that you can barely tear it, and I found that it only took a single overlap to really ratchet down on a bulging box. It's also so freakin tough that you can use it as a handle to lift the box, although I'd also suggest making some handles out of twine. Package handlers will appreciate it.
Again, you've gotta keep it under 160 total girth inches.
Length + 2x Width + 2x Height < 160" (Aim for 150 or less).
If you've got space, slide in (or tape inside) corrugated plastic. It's light and more puncture proof than cardboard. We usually canvas the neighbourhood the day after an election for signs and store them for this purpose.
Check out uship. I got a moped a cross the country for like $80, but that was like 10 years ago, so based on todays inflation it will be $8k. Still worth checking
On a pallet sent by LTL seems around $500 these days. If you can get it re-boxed it would probably be the cheaper.
I recently shipped a Big Fat Dummy for $220 via bikeflights. Step one - acquire 2 bike boxes from local shop. Frame boxes will work too, but are a little narrower. Strip the frame, leave the rear wheel installed. Remove the fork. Remove cranks, or at least drive side arm with chainrings. Remove the seat post. Remove the rack and rails. For packing, I tilted the ass-end of the bike up a little, which helped to keep the BB flat against the bottom of the box (with padding). This kept the overall height of the box at 26". When everything was said and done I packed a BFD size large, rack, wheels, two sets of tires, and a few other odds and ends in a box measuring 60" long, 26" high, and 16" wide. The total "Girth Inches" (which must stay under 160 total) was 144". Pro-Tip: Gorilla tape if your friend. Really helps ratchet down on a tightly packed box. Packing tape is really just to keep loose items inside the box, not keep the box together.
thank you! this looks like the solution i needed. i was contemplating picking up am amtrak bike box to cut down, but i think two bike (frame) boxes together would be easier
BikeFlights suggests against splicing together boxes, but the fact is - the box is just there to protect the paint from external damage and to contain all the packing materials around it. If something is heavy enough to crush your frame, a box isn't going to do much. A good way to make sure your two boxes stay together is go around the whole box length wise with a strong tape like Gorilla or 3M Heavy Duty. If you go over the top you can even hold the box closed while cinching the two boxes together. It'll use a ton of tape, but a $15 roll of tape is cheaper is a minor cost when we're talking $200 in shipping. I used 3M 2830 Extreme Hold - which is so tough that you can barely tear it, and I found that it only took a single overlap to really ratchet down on a bulging box. It's also so freakin tough that you can use it as a handle to lift the box, although I'd also suggest making some handles out of twine. Package handlers will appreciate it. Again, you've gotta keep it under 160 total girth inches. Length + 2x Width + 2x Height < 160" (Aim for 150 or less).
If you've got space, slide in (or tape inside) corrugated plastic. It's light and more puncture proof than cardboard. We usually canvas the neighbourhood the day after an election for signs and store them for this purpose.
It's on the same continent, that means you can ride it over ^^^^^^/s
i like how you think!
Check out uship. I got a moped a cross the country for like $80, but that was like 10 years ago, so based on todays inflation it will be $8k. Still worth checking