A lathe lives or dies on precision, and that precision comes from a heavy, rigid bed that resists vibration, which is exactly what makes it brutal to move. A small wood lathe is a two-person job; a full-size metal lathe is a rigger-and-crane job.
Pro tip: If you are hiring riggers for a heavy metal lathe, ask specifically whether they have machinery-moving experience, not just general furniture movers; the weight distribution is very different.
Watch out: Never attempt to move a full-size metal lathe with a couple of friends and a dolly; these commonly weigh 500 to 2,000+ pounds, and improvised lifting is how people get crushed.