Transporting a bike in a van...

[Redliner]

Where I can I get ratchet straps for lashing the bike up?

Can I tie it up with rope?

The bikes only going about half hour up the road, but the engine's fubar, so van is the only option.

Thanks.
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Learning...

[Davo]

I bought a load of rachet straps from Wilkinson for £2.99 a pack.

Seem strong enough, have towed a 2.5 ton 4x4 with one.

[Rookie]

You can pick cheap ratchets up easily, I found 4 were needed - 2 off the handlebars and 2 off the pillion pegs. Front brake applied.

Never moved an inch.

[Cillit-BANG]

You don't need ratchets as such. Just normal tie-straps are fine, the ones you just pull through by hand, then press a little flappy bit to release. Wilko do a pair of 8' ones for £1.99. I always use these when off to track days etc.

Strap up front brake
Lash down right clip-on to floor, compressing suspension.
Lash down rear right pillion peg hanger to floor
Repeat on other side

Most vans have tie anchors bolted to the floor.

[Whosthedaddy]

So, whats the best way to get the bike into the back of the van, will scaffolding planks be ok?
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Redliner]

[Whosthedaddy]

[0ddball]

Well the easy (if a little more expensive) way is to hire a luton tail lift van. Then just roll the bike onto the lift and hit the up button.

Bit big for just 1 bike though.

[MattEMulsion]

Either roll it up a good strong plank very carefully or if there are loads of you, just lift it into the van one end at a time.

When driving to your destination please drive carefully. I have seen quite a few bikes that have fallen over in vans and vans that have crashed with bikes in the back. It is amazing how much damage can be done to a bike whilst it is travelling in the back of a van.
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Yamaha YZF-R6

[KevTM]

had to transport mine about 30 miles last weekend as my chain snapped and fecked my engine case..

basically just used a plank of wood on a ladder up, in the bike went, strapped it down at the front end, tie grip on the brake lever and i just sat on the bike all the way back to keep it upright...

and no i wasn't making engine noises whilst sitting on the bike.

[Whosthedaddy]

[KevTM]

[Whosthedaddy]

Did you try for a knee down
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[McJamweasel]

Make sure the suspension is compressed, that way it can't bounce about and lose the straps. One strap on each side would probably be enough - but I would always go for at least 2. Then it doesn't matter if one breaks/comes loose. Tie the front brake on and leave it in gear.

Another alternative is to put it upright against the right side of the van (with some padding - sofa cusions etc - to stop it getting damaged) and tie it from the left side up to the roof of the van - so that it is being pulled into the side. Thats how we do it at work and it doesn't fail - even with 350kg Rockets.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[Jebus]

This kinda information is floating around all the time, mabye it should be made a sticky with a guide for stoping you bike from bouncing around the back of you van.
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2nd time around CBT: 8/9/11
125 Varadero

[Zimbo]

Scaffold plank should be fine, as long as it's in reasonable condition. It's all I've used for the last 3 years!
You can buy ratchet straps almost anywhere, even Halfords do them.

[T1z3R]

moved my YZF in a transit a couple of weeks ago.
two scaffolding planks side by side and basically just jogged it in me and the shmoo. piece of cake.

strap it down using ratchet straps. used three...one up, under and over the top yoke pulled down to compress front end. one up through and around the rear wheel and one over the seat. front brake tied off.

solid as a rock
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duck my sick!

[benc]

my approach is just sit ont he bike in the back of the van and hold on to something. wouldnt fancy it for a long trip and cant say its legal but it works.

[Whosthedaddy]

Cheers, for the tips and tricks

Its just another couple of questions answered and tempting me more and more to take the bike to the track
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Davo]

[Cillit-BANG]

I agree with Davo re. side stand pressure. I always do the offside first with enough pressure to just lift the side stand up off the floor. Then go around to the nearside to put enough pressure to pull the side stand back down to the floor.

FFIW I don't think it's a good idea to sit on the bike whilst in transit. The last thing you want is 200 odd kilo's of arkward bike on top of you in the back of a van should anything happen.

[Redliner]

[Sephiroth]

When I crashed my bike my dad and his mates who came in a transit van just picked the bike up and chucked it in .

So that's one way of getting it in there.

[Kaben]

This is how i tied mine up in the van - was abit like a crystal maze challenge when we finished!

There are plenty of looping holes in the side panels of a van to tie it up just using ropes, but i had ratchet straps too.

kaben
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Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
My Deviant Art homepage https://robabloke.deviantart.com/

[Ste]