Transporting a motorcycle.

[ar0ck]

How many of you guys have put a motorcycle in the back of a pick-up? I've never done it before and don't really know anyone else that has and that can help me. Besides the obvious using some straps; any other tricks, tips, or hints?

This is probably a really stupid question too, but If I want to know weather or not a bike will fit in the back of my truck without physically having the bike yet should I go by the bikes wheel base length or over-all length?

[sweetbmxrider]

isn't the wheel base axle-to-axle? i've put quads in the back of pick-ups and bikes in trailers. deff have straps and a couple buddies.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

I'm assuming you have lil holes and places to hook to in the bed of the S10?
As for length, I would go by overall length. Bikes tend to have short enough overhangings where I wouldn't think it would matter.

[BillFromTR]

If you have a full length 2x10 laying around, you could use it as a ramp. I wouldnt suggest riding it up, although I've ridden dirtbikes up like that before, but having a guy on each side push it up.

[Mike]

alex in an s10 you will probably have to leave the tailgate down....i used to use one strap on each handlebar (or you can use the fork crown).......i never used anything in the rear, but then again my tailgate used to shut right against the rear tire

[iamsickofitall]

the length you care about is the end of the front tire to just past the axle on the rear...that way you have the meat of the tire at least planted on the tailgate. who cares if the rest hangs off. I have done this numerous times, albeit with my buddy's dirtbike which weighs alot less.

having more than one person helping you lift the sucker is an absolute must as well. when we lift my cousin's bike into his truck, we pop one guy in the bed to hold it straight while the other two lift the front end in and then pop the rear up and in while the other guy walks the bike back into the bed. it's best not to get too brave and toss it in all at once.

[Mike]

i would just run into the local shop and tell them you need to trailer the bike for the first time....they will show you the selection of ramps and straps available....

DONT buy a ramp, just measure and get ideas.....then go to home depot and buy some wood and "ramp ends", bolt the ends on the wood and you have your ramps

[johnjzjz]

if its too long we have put a 2 X 8 -8 foot long under both tires tie it on the k stand side first and then pull it over to the right using the handle bar and tie it down you should also use a tie through the tire to both sides at the rear to keep it from moving side to side a trailer is best if you are doing this alone you will need 3 or 4 people if none off you have done it before < its real easy to drop a bike 4 feet in the air and end up under it because you think you can save it ask me how i know this - jz

[91DropTop]

do yourself a favor and get the strap that slips over the handlebars and make sure you compress front suspension all the way to avoid any bouncing out. if you do that you wont have to secure back wheel at all, thats how i used to tow motorcycles on a flat bed, best scratch free way to do it

[chrisfrom nj]

it just about fits in the back of a s10 i delivered a bike to draven last year the katana my bro sold him

[Tru2Chevy]

do yourself a favor and get the strap that slips over the handlebars and make sure you compress front suspension all the way to avoid any bouncing out. if you do that you wont have to secure back wheel at all, thats how i used to tow motorcycles on a flat bed, best scratch free way to do it

Yea, this is how I hauled my brother's dirt bike in the back of our pickup. One strap on each side of the handlebars to the front corners of the bed, with the front suspension fully compressed. Wouldn't hurt to have a strap in the back since you'll most likely need to leave the tailgate down with your short bed.

- Justin

[V]

i just put my 99 CBR600f4 in the back on my parents 2001 dodge caravan... lol

put yeah, most sport bikes aroubd 600cc are in the range of 6.5' long so it wont fit with the tailgate up, but should if you angle it in. On my bikes, trailered or in my Ram, i used rachet strap on the rear pegs, and the straps for the handle bars and then rachet straps on those.

[sweetbmxrider]

i just put my 99 CBR600f4 in the back on my parents 2001 dodge caravan... lol

do you have a picture?? :rofl:

[Mike]

i love seein the guys at englishtown and atco unloading busas from the back of astro vans

[V]

sorry, lol, i have no pics of the bike in the minivan but it was a salvage when i bought it and without the windscreen it just barely fit lol.


Or you can transport it like this...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/BikeCarrier.jpg

[97slpss]

Alex what kind of bike are you getting?

[iamsickofitall]

chevy lumina FTW!!!

[sweetbmxrider]

wow i bet that thing did wheelies over railroad tracks and big bumps. thats great.

[jola]

I picked up a bike in my friend's S10 this winter. Go by overall length. I picked up a GS450, which is pretty short, and we had to bungee cord the tailgate up. We could have just left it down and it would not have mattered. Anyways, we used 2 ratcheting straps from the rear section of the frame and then 2 for the front. Some people say to compress the forks all the way, 80%, 25%, whatever. I compressed them about 20%, which gave it plenty of room to absorb bumps in the road and I didn't have to worry about bursting seals.

[jims69camaro]

I would go by overall length.

:werdmelissa:

p.s. i always thought wheelbase was contact patch to contact patch, but i could be wrong.

[ar0ck]

Now can you wash a motorcycle with car wash soaps?

[V]

Now can you wash a motorcycle with car wash soaps?

...you serious?

[ar0ck]

...you serious?

Yeah, I've never owned a motorcycle before, and have never seen anyone do it or even talk about it.

[V]

well yes you can use any type of soap to wash a bike with for the most part. just dont armor all the tires

[sweetbmxrider]

:rofl:

[ar0ck]

I don't understand why its a dumb funny question? Its not in any manual so how on earth are you supposed to just know weather or not car wash or wax is going to eat into the paint, body work, or something else I wouldn't know about being a first time owner. Every one I knew with a bike had a dirt bike or quad, and most of the time left it covered in mud. The way I see it is your shooting water at an exposed engine, which to me is a no no (considering I have an LT1) so do you hand wash, get a bucket of soap and water, and apply water liberally to the plastics, then clean up any chrome you may have, and maybe add some grease to the drive train?

[V]

ok, but keep in mind you can ride a bike in the rain, it wont be affected, heck ive ridden for 3 hours straight in a downpour, i was soaked. bikes have paints with clear coats just like cars, and stand up just the same to the elements as a cars finish. Anythign you use on a car you can use on a bike. as for chain lube, due that per service instructions. you dont wanna over lube it either.

and i think bmxrider was laughing about my armor-all comment.

[sweetbmxrider]

yeah i was. from the craigslist ad, right? that was so funny. got any pics of the bike?

[01SS]

My buddy fit a 2002 Harley springer softail into his Chevy 1500 8ft bed. We had to stack 2 ramps on top of each other to get the grade just right but it works. Dangerous loading by yourself tho he used its own power to load it and it did a burnout halfway up the ramp. Laid it over onto the side rails of the bed.