Do you A, B, C or D

This question is for those who state they have Motorcycles in their armament of vehicles either in their profile or on the web. ****THIS IS NOT**** aimed at anyone in particular. It is a general question but one that is noticed by us Bikeys. I dont expect many answers, but check your profile or website first.

You as a courier business advertise by whatever means, that you have Bikes in your area. Scenario.. Now a client rings and asks for a motorcycle because, A. destination is LONDON? B. because you advertise the fact? C. Its cheaper? either way do you?

A. Decline and give an excuse and offer another vehicle in your fleet

B. Take the Job and maybe sub or stick it on an exchange, or again offer another vehicle.

C. Call or Build a relationship with someone who supplies Motorcycle couriers in your area, in hoping he might help out.

D. Pass the Job onto a Motorcycle Courier Business direct, in turn receiving work for bigger vehicles, and no longer advertises anymore, because of the hassle involved.

E. Other.

I would build a relationship with bike courier firm BEFORE advertising thus allowing me to offer more options to my customers . Any jobs that then came in i would pass onto said company and would expect they did same when a small van was required.. A win-win

There is an assumption that bikes are cheaper and I have no idea why, so if someone asks me for a bike, then as you say its normally for London, and I have several bikers to choose from if thats the case. I charge the same whether tiz small van or bike but I do know that bikes are cheaper than a smallvan in London, but thats for obvious reasons. A to B anywhere elese, no difference, and if anything should be more cos the customer is asking for the courier to break the law seems to me!

I sometimes despair at the amount of couriers local to me that offer a bike service when clearly they haven't got one, its counter productive as I have picked up 3 customers who cited that their last courier never had any bikes when they asked for one.

Answer C is an interesting one as I used to help out a couple of people but the favour was never reciprocated so I bought a van.

Why advertise something that you cannot deliver? Astounds me!

Who's doing that then?

Just added bikes to my profile... Up north i will pass on to Gas and down south will pass on to MK.. better add MR G to your profile lads

Same goes for 7.5 t & 18T work ... We get enough of it, but do not run any ourselves. BUT however do work very closely with a company who work to the same standards we do, - simple get a price, add a mark up and cover the job.

We very rarely get asked for motorcycles, I know who I would call when the question pops up though, if they are able to help then great, if not then seek other methods of obtaining the required vehicle, (and no that doesn't mean go nick a motorbike lol)

So to answer the question ... C

Like HSP we dont get asked for motorcycles very often, if a customer rings and asks for a motorcycle we always ask why? Barring a severe hold up with traffic then a van will be as quick as a motorcycle. Lets say we get a call for documents from Middlesbrough to London, thats approx 260 mile, a van can do that in 4.5 to 5 hours (same as a motorcycle if you stick to the speed limits (couldnt ask anyone to break the law)) the problem the motorcycle has is he has a range of approx 100 miles before he has to start thinking about looking for fuel - thats 2 fuel stops required where as a van can nearly get there and back on one tank - I know because I started in this business 22 years ago on a Kawasaki z1000 h1 fuel injection (bet no one can remember one of them) and later on on a fireblade So my answer is A

Speed Couriers (Stansted) said:

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Who's doing that then?

Several of the couriers in my area that happen to be on the yellow one, maybe they think they'll get a bike off there

Parkway Express Couriers said:

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Like HSP we dont get asked for motorcycles very often, if a customer rings and asks for a motorcycle we always ask why? Barring a severe hold up with traffic then a van will be as quick as a motorcycle. Lets say we get a call for documents from Middlesbrough to London, thats approx 260 mile, a van can do that in 4.5 to 5 hours (same as a motorcycle if you stick to the speed limits (couldnt ask anyone to break the law)) the problem the motorcycle has is he has a range of approx 100 miles before he has to start thinking about looking for fuel - thats 2 fuel stops required where as a van can nearly get there and back on one tank - I know because I started in this business 22 years ago on a Kawasaki z1000 h1 fuel injection (bet no one can remember one of them) and later on on a fireblade So my answer is A

Studies have show motorcycle journeys are approx 25% quicker than four wheels, my bike has a range at 80mph of 300 miles, thats the sort of argument a courier without bikes try's to put forward LOL

Motorbikes tend to quicker, but they tend to break the law.