transporting a motorbike?

[thegift]

Going to do my DAS after the new year, but was planning on getting a bike now to store in the garden ready for after ive passed my test!

Question is im thinking about hiring a transit van, find the bike I like (gixer 600) and picking it up. How would this be done? Can it even be done?? What would I need apart from another pair of hands?


Ta!

[Mystery]

you will need ropes and stuff to keep the bike in place while moving it
____________________
Carbon knuckles assure you maximum protect against debris and unfortunate accidents or if someone cuts you off, their side mirror.Mopeds are like chubby chicks.. they are really fun to ride until you're friends catch you on one

[cammy mack]

you'll nee at least 2 tie down straps 1 on each side of the bike tensioned up so it wont spill over. maybe a ramp as well

[ms51ves3]

A couple of cable ties for the front brake.

[G]

[thegift]

Cheers! And how would I get the bike on board? Guessing its going to be to heavy for two blokes to lift the bike on?

[ms51ves3]

Two planks of wood, one for the bike to go up, and one for you to walk up as you push the bike into the back of the van.

The second plank isn't necessary but it's helpful.

Make sure the plank is free from nails as the last thing you want is a puncture on your new bike.

[69.9mph]

Get your licence first then get your bike. You'll have trouble insuring it even against theft without a licence.

[SamJL]

I always tie mine down with 4 rachet straps.

I have 2 holding the rear pegs down and 2 holding the handle bars down, never had a bike fall over on my yet. You can pick up cheap rachet straps from pound shops, mine are Fro Systems ones, and there about £15 each, you can get them for about £5 for 4 if you want cheap ones, they work pretty well, make sure you don't do them so tight that they end up braking the rachet mechanism!

If your going to be transporting it quite a bit, you might want to invest in a ramp, there not that cheap, but make loading the bike so much easier then planks of wood. If its just a one off, save some money and just get some wood, make sure its strong, you don't want it breaking when your pushing your bike up it!

[stirlinggaz]

most, if not all vans have tie down points at front & back.
tied a few bikes down with 2 lenths of nylon rope from pound shop.
looped from front brake lever.
onto back hook & through both wheels.
cheers,
GAZ

[27cows]

It's sounds obvious but you need to be very very careful to put the ratchet straps somewhere that will ensure the bike says upright during the journey. I've seen people strap bikes to be transported too low, allowing them to fall over. I think I'd probably want to sit in the back with the bike.

Wouldn't recommend using any kind of rope as it sometimes works loose.

[dodgydog]

A ramp.

At least four ratchet straps.
Position the bike at the front of the van and cable tie the brake lever on, (bike in gear too).
Strap the bike from the rear footpegs, you should have a strap going from the left, over the seat, to a point high up in the van on the right. Another from the right, over the seat, to somewhere high on the left.
I always used either kitchen roll or a blanket so the straps don't rub on anything. (keep the ratchet mechanisms WELL out of the way too)

I use the other straps at the front, attached to the clip ons (or bars) you need to be very careful there, so as not to put any strain on the plastics. Again, I always crossed the straps over, right to left and vice versa. Try to strap it so the bike can not move backwards when you accellerate.

I sold a bike last year, the guy came to pick it up in a hired van, all he brought with him was an Oxford security chain . He was seriously just going to stand the bike up in his van and put the chain through the wheels?? Luckily I had some rope so we managed to get it secured eventually, but I told him to stop frequently to check it all.

we got four bikes into an Iveco van for the Isle of Man, looked like a spiders web inside but nothing moved
____________________
I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realise that what you heard is not exactly what I meant

[stinkwheel]

Yep, ratchet straps. Even the cheapo car boot sale tool stall ones work fine.

I usually put two on either the handlebars or the fork stanchions between the yokes and two on the grab rail/rear footpeg hangers.

I usually put a chock of wood in front of the front wheel to stop it rolling forwards as I ratchet it down.

If you're pushing it up the ramp, leave it in gear and pull the clutch in. Then if you need to stop, you can let go of the clutch and the bike will stay put.

If you're brave enough to try riding it up the ramp, mind your head and if you don't get it all the way in, DO NOT give it more throttle, roll back down and try again. If the front wheel is in and the back is still on the ramp, gassing it will cause the ramp to shoot out backwards and down you will go.

Storing a bike outside and not using it all winter is going to leave it in a shit state come spring.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

+1 for rachet straps.

Put in in gear and tie the front brake on.

From then it depends on what the van you're using has.

If it's just a rental then you'll need about 4 straps from the bike to the floor(most vans have 4 tie down points on the floor as standard). One from each pillion footrest and one from each bar.

If it's got tie points on one wall, then you just need one strap from the footrest, over the tank and to the wall.

A plank of wood is ok, but super bendy, so if you know someone with a ramp that's probably better to be using.
____________________
My Flickr

[Pete.]

I use one ratchet strap. I have the loop hooks on the floor of my van, I hook the strap onto the hook just forward of the rear right wheel arch, run it under the front of the bike seat and the ratchet on the rearmost left hook. With the bike on the sidestand and in gear I ratchet it down just like that. Never had one move like that.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[WildGoose]

[Reppyboyo]

In the past I`ve only used 1 rachet strap and a plank of wood.

2 of us push the bike up into the van.
1 hold the bike in place the other put the rachet strap over the seat and hooked into the van floor, tension it down to the suspension is loaded.

Works fine.

[vt6]

another +1 for ratchets.

Personally I use a ramp, slap it on its side stand. motrax bar straps and ratchet straps into those. I find it more stable strapping it down on its side stand too. Then one from each pillion peg and job done.

Have tried the tip the bars to lean the bike against the side, one strap from pillion peg up over and down. Works but that was for a track bike and scratches didn't matter. The first idea for road bike if your fussed about marking it.

[G]

[Gazz]

[G]

I often use a tie down wrapped around the front bar to do that - never had a lever snap, thought it has slightly concerned me in the past.
I did one time acquire a velcro cable tie specifically for this purpose, but it soon got lost.

[cazmal]

If you or a mate has a tow ball, you could hire bike trailer - might be cheaper and/or easier than a transit.