Bike Guide
How to Pack a Motorcycle for Transport
A bike travels differently from a car. Get the prep right and it arrives ride-ready; skip it and you risk a cracked fairing.
We move bikes of every size — a CD-70 across town, a 125 to Rahim Yar Khan, a superbike from Karachi to Islamabad. The mistakes are always the same: full tank, loose mirror, no chock. Do the checklist below and your bike rides as safely as your car would.
For the bigger picture on two-wheel shipping, our cargo transport service handles bikes alongside goods, and cars go via our car carrier work.
1. Drop the Fuel and Check Fluids
Run the tank down to under a quarter. Petrol is a fire risk in a closed truck and just adds weight. Check for leaks at the sump and coolant — a slow drip onto a carton below is a mess nobody wants. Note any existing leak on the report.
2. Fold or Remove Fragile Bits
- Fold mirrors in, or remove them if they don't fold
- Take off tank bags, top boxes and loose accessories
- Remove the battery if it's a long, hot route
- Cover the exhaust and seat with a cloth to avoid scuffs
3. Crate or Blanket?
For a long haul like Karachi to Peshawar, a wooden crate beats everything — the bike sits still, no rub, no lean. For shorter moves a padded blanket wrap with the bike upright on a wheel chock is plenty. Bikes with expensive fairings (a 600cc sport bike) almost always deserve the crate.
4. Tie-Down That Holds, Not Crushes
Strap both sides evenly so the bike stands upright without leaning, and one over the front wheel. The goal is to take the bounce out, not compress the forks flat. Soft loops protect the triple clamp. A bike that can't shift an inch is a bike that arrives unmarked.
5. Condition Report and Insurance
Before loading, walk round the bike with the crew and note every scratch and the odometer on the report — photos help. Bike shipments carry transit cover; declare the value so any claim is clean. Our transparent pricing lists the cover as a line item, never buried.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much fuel should be in the tank for transport?
As little as possible — ideally under a quarter, just enough to load and unload. Fuel is flammable and dead weight; carriers will ask you to lower it before loading.
Should I crate my bike or use blankets?
For long inter-city routes a wooden crate is safest. For shorter moves, padded blankets and soft straps with the bike upright on a wheel chock work well. Fragile fairings decide it.
How is a motorcycle tied down safely?
Upright on a chock, with soft straps on both sides pulling evenly so it can't lean, plus a strap over the front. Never crush the suspension — just take the bounce out.
What should I remove before transport?
Tank bags, top boxes if loose, mirrors if they don't fold, and any GoPro or accessories. Note scratches on the condition report so delivery is clean.
Is bike transport insured?
Yes — our bike shipments carry transit cover like cars. Declare the bike's value and confirm the excess so a claim, if ever needed, is straightforward.
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Ship Your Bike the Right Way
Crated or blanketed, tied down properly and insured. Book bike transport with Sohail Brothers.