Why have shipping prices for vehicles gone up so much in the last few years? Fuel doesn’t cost any more and in a lot of cases, it’s less than it was four or five years ago. Is it insurance? Or is it just the fact that everyone else is raising their prices so shippers may as well jump on board? Sadly, it always factors into listings several states away, such as this rare 1974 Rickman Montesa 250VR listed here on eBay in Pasadena, California. The seller is asking $2,650 or offer, but shipping would add $1,200 at least to that price. That was the whole point of my sad rant. Maybe I’m just bummed because I didn’t move to California after high school, where a lot of the cool vehicles are located.
In case you were wondering where all that fake rage and overacting came from, I would have been in on this one if it wasn’t for crazy shipping costs. I recently had to pass on a rare and obscure 1970s battery-powered riding tractor/mower because the shipping bids were coming in at $1,200! Twelve-hundred dollars! A handful of years ago it would have been $500 all day long to have it shipped from Ohio to Minnesota, but not in 2025. I guess I’ll stick to lying on the couch, watching TV, and dreaming of the ol’ days rather than buying any more fun vintage vehicles.
You can see that this rare Rickman is a project, but it looks like a very nicely preserved bike. Derek and Don Rickman were motocross racers who built their first frame in the late 1950s and a decade later were a force to be reckoned with. Montesa started in Barcelona, Spain just before the end of WWII and built some of the best motocross engines around. Combining a Montesa 250 engine in a Rickman frame seemed like a sure bet, and it was. Named after Kalevi Vehkonen, the Finnish MX racer who took home win after win for Montessa, the 250VR (VR = Vehkonen Replica) is the bike you see here, and I want it. Without $1,800 in shipping charges.
The engine is a Montesa 244-cc two-stroke single with eight horsepower shooting through a five-speed manual and chain to the rear wheel. This bike doesn’t appear to have the usual off-road clunks and clangs, the seller says the underside of the exhaust pipe isn’t scratched, scuffed, or dented. In fact, the whole bike looks like it should be IN MY GARAGE! Enough of that, sorry. Have any of you passed up a vehicle due to shipping costs? Or better yet, do any of you know the name of a good, inexpensive (i.e., reasonable) shipper?! Have you seen or owned a Rickman? Let’s hear those motocross or vehicle shipping stories!
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“Have you seen or owned a Rickman?” Yes, a Rickman Hodaka! It was in terrific shape, and when a friend/bike shop owner mentioned one day that he was getting into vintage motocross we made a deal. He still competes with it and in trade I get a small break on work he does for me when I fix something that doesn’t work afterwards.
This is a good one Scotty it’s easy to see why you’re “Jonesing” for it.
Okay, one at a time, ONE AT A TIME,,,regarding the bike, having had a Bultaco ( 200 Pursang), folks that had non-H-K-S-Y oddballs kind of hung together. I knew of Rickman, a British bike more known for its flat track racing, and Montessa, but never saw a Rickman Montessa. There were so many, even Harley made a decent MX bike, but most failed to make it to the next level, and only a handful remain today.
Now, far as shipping costs, unless it can be put in a small box and handled by package carriers, anything big is going to cost you, mostly because it’s specialized, and requires a human being that wants $30/hr. to move it. We’re simply doomed in that regard. If you look at the bigger picture, well, maybe better not.
Bah – shipping is for cowards or people with some money and no sense.
I bought a 1979 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham diesel sight unseen, flew from Oakland CA to Cleveland OH to pick it up, and drove it cross-country. By myself. In three days. In January.
And then, by god, I LS swapped it. NOBODY complains about THAT swap.
Agreed, Chunk! Today you might as well take a mini vacation adventure when you want a car that is in your wheelhouse. The people with money don’t want to be bothered and money is never an issue. It is usually about the investment and investments at that level are really just a game for them. Their affordability and survival are never in question. 25 years ago, I bought an old clunker BMW 320is for $100 from a friend. I got it mostly because, it had Recaro seats that I wanted. I took the seats and put a set of basic seats back in and put it up for sale as a parts car for $800. The car ran but I wouldn’t take it anywhere non/local. A guy came over, bought the car and said he was going to drive it to Florida ( we were in NJ). He drove it 1200 miles, phoned me when he got there and said the only problem he had was that he had a flat tire!! He was no coward!! We all did good on that deal!!
Just for the record, I’m no fan of shipping either, but driving your prized possession home( with seller grinning) can turn out to be your worst nightmare, especially these here days. You happened to make it, but many,sadly do not. Car repairs for a classic may be a hassle, $150 motels, and worst case, another flight or rental car back home. My solution is rental all the way. Fly out and rent a truck/trailer and let UHaul mess with it.
Somehow, I just can’t picture Scotty riding this 74 Rickman Montessa all the way home from Pasadena, California
Did the fly and ride myself last summer to finally score a unicorn BMW motorcycle. It did not go at all as hoped or planned, but we made it. Someday I’ll get her running right again.
For what it’s worth. I hope you end up with this kool nostalgic bike Scotty. Live your dream friend be blessed.
It is MONTESA not Montessa !!!
GAAAAAA! My apologies for that, uuuf, that’s embarrassing, sorry. Thanks for the correction, sir.
Thank you for writing this nice presentation, and for discovering such a rare bike
Pull the front end off it, and the rear wheel and seat/fender assembly, and you could pack this down into a pretty small box. I shipped a 2003 CR85R from MD to MT that way for less than $300.
Just go buy it, rent a van and take the scenic route home with the bike. You get the bike and also get to see a lot of our beautiful country along the way.
How about some common sense? If you have enough money to travel across country and pick up said vehicle and have the money in your back pocket to pay for the potential expense of break downs on the way back and procuring possible rare parts if they exist and if found staying in a motel with that cost..I do believe advantage would go towards paying the shipping costs, and get said vehicle delivered safe and sound along with your physical and mental sainty…I have heard of too many desperation calls regarding do it myself option
You must have missed the part about renting a van to haul it in, which you can also crash in at rest areas on your way home. Truck drivers do it all the time and you can get meals and showers at most truck stops.
I think it had more like 25 horsepower, it would barely get out of it’s own way with 8.
I read an article several years ago by a man who bought a 74 yamaha dt360 in Cali and rode it home to Florida.
It can be done, but by the time I made it home to Alabama, I’d probably never want to get on the bike again.
WOW, get over it, what a waste of time looking at your rant, try living in Alaska and then you can cry about shipping. I love barn finds for the pics,stories, and learning about vehicles .
… or Hawaii, which makes shipping to Alaska a piece of cake. Thanks for being at least semi-polite, anyway. It was just another angle to start a little article about a motorcycle; these things aren’t meant to be incredibly well-written novels. Thanks for the comment.
I live near Eugene Oregon , three years ago i purchased a 2014 2ss Camaro from a car lot in Spokane Washington ( 462 miles one way ). The purchase was conducted through text messages and email , all from the comfort of my home. I then contacted an independent vehicle shipping broker , who then contacted one of the many vehicle shippers that already had their 40’ double deck Freightliner trailer half full of vehicles to deliver South of Eugene . I provided the address of the car lot , and the destination address. I paid $500 to have the vehicle picked up and delivered to my house. The whole process was incredibly easy and smooth. No stress , no extra miles on me nor the vehicle , and no sitting at the car dealership for hours , no trains, planes or busses , and no motels or rest areas with food. Why be restrained to shop local when you have the luxury to shop national with a much larger selection of what you desire ! And you can do it all while laying on your couch. Think bigger than the Rickman to make paying the freight feel easier
That was 3 years ago, same as shipping my brand new Bronco from the dealership in WV to NH. Prices have more than doubled since then, like Scotty says.
It was easy as pie to do – I got 4 quotes emailed to me by simply filling out a form on the freight brokers websites. I was going to fly down and drive home, but life got in the way.
Oh, and I bought that vehicle also without ever speaking or meeting anyone. Placed my order and the on-line sales guy took care of the rest.
Yes , three years ago is exactly what i said !
Also , the price of auto transport has NOT more than doubled from three years ago ! Todays average auto transport rate from spokane to eugene is $645 !
I did not nor was not arguing against ,nor disagreeing with Scotty concerning the outrageous inflation !
My comment was geared towards weighing the cost versus hassles , and how bad you want the item .
You may enjoy what i consider a hassle , etc..
just because something is relatively rare does not really mean that it is worth more?? This particular bike seems to be overpriced seems nothing is said about its running condition motor/ transmission?? these were motocross bikes not something you cherry out and leave in your garage, if it was a bigger bore bike the price might be justified- beware buyers and really think why you are thinking about buying this project? its not street legal and even if u converted it with lights its pretty small on the freeway