As I do here occasionally, I have a posting from a guest blogger. This one is from uShip.com's Alyssa Moskowitz. uShip.com is a marketplace for shippers to bid for your shipping needs. They ship all kinds of stuff, but for these purposes, we're talking about motorcycle shipping.
I've agreed to let uShip.com do this, because I've never shipped a bike, but know some of my readers are looking for this type of info. Without further ado, here's Alyssa.

If you are a fan of touring all the great battle sites of history, there are likely few places you have always wanted to visit but could not due to the great amount of time it would take to travel there and back. Shipping your motorcycle, even just one way, can save you a lot of time and allow you to fit in more stops on your journey. Here are a few tips to help you prepare your bike before shipping it:

Remove Extra Items

Your carrier should provide insurance when shipping your motorcycle, but this does not cover accessories or other things being stored in the bike. Be sure to remove anything that is not a part of the bike itself, including any loose parts, since they will not be covered by insurance if they are lost, stolen, or damaged.

Check for Damage

Make sure to take a detailed inventory of any existing damage on the bike before sending it with the carrier. Clean the bike first to make it easier to see any imperfections. Taking pictures of the bike from several different angles, including detailed shots of any cosmetic damage, is a good way to document scratches or dings. This way, if any damage occurs during shipping, you can prove that they were not there before in case of a dispute.

Bike Preparations

Some companies will require that you empty or drain your fuel tank and disconnect the battery prior to transporting it. Check your carrier’s policies ahead of time to make pick-up run more smoothly. Also be sure your tires are fully inflated and fix any leaks.

Have a great time touring and ride safe!