I'm a ACD for the GWRRA chapter in Chattanooga,Tn and have certification for 120,000 mi. and cert for 26,000 for last year. My "Wing" currently has 103,000+ mi. on it with only scheduled preventive maintenance completed on it & NO MAJOR REPAIRS HAVE EVER HAD TO BE MADE TO IT.
I'm only a beginner, though. I bought my first bike in 1956.

I was at hotel where the 3Flags ended this year, it is about 1500 ft from here. Anyway there were a lot of Goldwings and a lot of Harleys plus other bikes, pretty sure most of them got there under their own power. At least a few of the Harleys had simple bolt on the handlebars windshields no real fairings. I talked to one fellow rode his HD it did not have much touring gear on it, his partners Goldwing, I had to get him to explain what the extra stuff on the bars was. 1 camera mt, 2 radio mounts, a GPS mount..that was all between the bars.

More important though they all had fun and most of them made it..to me more important THAT you ride Than WHAT you ride.

Gotta admit though I would not mind riding the 3 Flags if I had the chance..

I would love to do Three Flags myself. I have several friends that have done it, some more than once. One of these days I need to get my name in the draw.

Wyde, do you think you would recover from the TJ hangover by the time you reached Canada? It sounds like a great ride {72 Guzzi 850 Eldorado and 73 Comando}

For starters, do not waste time with Uship, which you'll find giving a so-called "quote" on Ebay motorcycle listings.  I wasted a week by having them put my delivery up for bid.  Do not get involved with brokers who will represent that they are motorcycle shippers when in reality all they do is charge a fee to try to find a trucker.  Find an independant trucker with whom you can deal direct.  Google Erv Boorn, a trucker who operates out of Texas and hauls anywhere in the US.  He is scheduled to deliver my motorcycle and has excellent references.

I've heard that the most cost effective way to ship a motorcycle is to use airport to airport air-shipping services. You'll need to pack the motorcycle in the same fashion as if you were shipping via boat (put it in a secure crate). Here's an article about shipping motorcycles overseas that might help http://www.michaelpadway.com/travel-and-touring/how-to-ship-your-motorcycle-overseas/