Back when I was still working and had limited vacation days, I'd always ship the bike at least one-way and I'd fly out or back. The big national shippers that use 18-wheelers are great if you're in no hurry. I've always found them to have the best prices. The downside is they load your bike in with all the other freight, pianos, refrigerators, office furniture, etc. Every bike I've ever shipped that way has had some damage, usually just a paint rub mark on a saddle bag. They move the bike from truck to dock, and from dock to truck, time and again...they're bound to bump into something. But once the idiots damn near totaled a Ducati by transporting it on the side stand and using the handlebars as tie-down points. Took six months to get that one resolved. The safer but more expensive way is the individual shipper. Your bike gets loaded into their trailer (usually only once) and is delivered to it's destination. No Fork Lifts!
