Moving a bike in a rented van?

[Nope.]

Hi Guys,

Ive just bought a GSXR 400 and It's lack of MOT means I can't ride it home. I plan to rent a van to move it in, anyone have any tips/ideas on how to load it into the van and fix it down so that it doesnt move around or fall over? I dont have a chock and cant afford to buy one ATM nor do I have a trailer hook to tow a trailer with so that alternative is out of the window.

Oh, and if you have any photos of your bikes in vans, I would appreciate seeing the strap arrangements.

Thanks!

[Handsome]

No other biking mates that can go with you and sit on it in the back ?...

Had to do that a few times when I broke down a few years back, thank god for mates with Transit vans, longest was about 17 miles of country roads, it got a bit hairy at times...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[mistergixer]

Ratchet strap it down - either hooked onto the headstock or with a bar-strap like this:

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/product_images/barstraps1.jpg

Once the forks are compressed it won't go anywhere.

As you're local to me, i can give you a lend of some straps if you need them, may even have a scaffold board around so you can load the bike in to the van.

If you need a hand, just ask.


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[Handsome]

Or go with that above...

Nice one Mistergixer...


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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[Poseidon]

I've moved my beast of a triumph in a van twice now, once from bradford to york and then from york to colchester. Both times it was a swb tranny. I've no pics of her in the van, but I have some pics of her next to the van that brought her home.

My advice regarding transporting them:

Try and get a proper ramp or at least a wide strong plank. I used a plank not much wider than the rear wheel (as I had nothing else suitable) and it came perilously close to falling off.

Ratchet straps are your friend. I borrowed a set the first time, but bought my own for the second time.

Put a sheet of something non-pourous on the floor of the van with something absorbent on top to catch any leaks/sloshes of fluids. I took a van back with petrol soaked into the wooden floor of the van, which they would probably have charged me for if they'd checked the load area before signing the forms off.

As for how to tie it down, the method I've used both times hasn't failed me despite some very twisty roads and several emergency stops:

Roll the bike forwards until the front wheel is against the bulk-head and put the bike onto its side stand. Then wrap a ratchet strap around the right-hand handlebar and brake lever, putting on enough tension to pull the brake leaver in, then attach the other end to the anchor point in the front off-side corner of the load area, applying just enough tension to the strap to keep the brake lever held in. Then do the same to the left hand handle bar, but don't bother wrapping it around the clutch, just the grip. Anchor this one to the front nearside anchor point and apply enough tension to make sure the strap is securely in place (i.e, it doesn't slip). The add a couple of turns of tension alternatively to each strap, which will pull the bike firm against the bulk-head thus stopping it moving backwards and forwards (which the front brake will also help with) and it will also pull the suspension down stopping any up/down movements of the bike which could topple it during transport. You don't have to put so much tension on that it bends the handlebars/side-stand, but you need to put enough on there to remove any movement. Each time I've used this method, I've been able to violently shove the bike in any way possible without it moving a mm, and absolutely no damage has been done to the bike.

https://cdn.bikechatforums.com/files/purdy1.jpg
https://cdn.bikechatforums.com/files/purdy2.jpg
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[CaNsA]

Get some-one else to ride the bike for you?

[G]

Where's the bike? Looks like I'll be coming past you with an emtpyish van next week (from near the top of the M1 to kent).

Poseidon offers good advice . Though personally I'd avoid putting anything under the bike wheels.

I will generally leave the sidestand out, but make sure it's not in contact with the floor when ratcheting the bike down.

[chris-red]

Go to Shiply

https://www.shiply.com/

100% you could get somebody to deliver it for cheaper than hiring a van and playing the diesel.

I bought MattSpratts KTM he lives 280 odd miles away from me, I got the bike delivered for £70.

Somebody picked up and delivered a bike to me travelling 280 miles for £70.


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[MarJay]

Myself, G, Bendy, Danny, and various other forum regulars have moved bikes in vans before on many occasions.

The way I do it is this:

I usually use a proper bike ramp to get the bike into the van. I usually need assistance for this.

Once in the van I push the bike right up against the bulkhead in the van or up against the passenger seat, and either use a cable tie to tie on the front brake, or if using a handlebar strap, I make sure the handlebar strap is holding the brake on.

I get a mate to hold the bike upright while I loop ratchet straps either around the fork legs just above the lower yoke, or I use a handlebar strap as pictured above. There are usually tie down points in the van, and usually the bike is sat centrally between them. I hook the ratchet end of the strap over the tie down point, and take the long part to loop around the fork leg. I put the free end through the closed up part of the hook so that the strap cannot become unhooked through movement.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/ratchet_213.jpg

I then take the free end of the strap, pull it through the capstan part of the ratchet, pulling it back out towards the bike. I then tighten it so there is no slack but it is not fully tight. I do the same on the other side, then tighten both up equally until they are tight.

Your mate should now be able to let go of the bike.

Next, I take two more tie down straps and attach them to the rear peg hangers, grab rail or subframe. I make sure these straps go diagonally away from the rear corners of the bike so that they prevent the bike from moving forward and side to side. Having four straps is probably overkill, but I do it for my own peace of mind. Again I tighten them progressively so that the bike is not leaning over to either side.

This should hold the bike sufficiently for any journey.
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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[thegubner]

I used to just strap the fuckers to the side of the van rather than in the middle, they go no where.

Common sense required to stop things breaking though, I've moved a few and never broken or scratched anything.

[Phoenix]

2 straps on the front is usually sufficient but if you're moving multiple bikes or have enough straps already I would do exactly as Marjay says, used to regularly take 4 large bikes in a sprinter and without 4 straps on each the small chance of movement could mean bikes rubbing against eachother, not relevant to you though.

I would definitely cable tie the front brake and not attach it to the strap in any way, the ratchet tension could easily be way more than you should be putting on the lever.

[bacon]

I used a ramp to wheel the bike into the van, stick it in gear then ratchet strap it down, 3 is enough, one for each clip on, and one through the rear tyre

Most vans have tie down points

[MarJay]

[Paxovasa]

Try and get someone to ride it back for you if it is taxed and tested.

If not, then also cable tie the front brake lever on.
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[Chalky.]

I stick mine in the back of a hilux, on it's sidestand and loads of ratchet straps, jobs a goodun.

[G]

[Phoenix]

[G]

I often slot the brake lever in to the handlebar straps when I use them.

[CaNsA]

dont tie it down on the side stand,
Tie it in place, upright, but put the side stand down.

If it does go then you have a 50/50 chance of it resting on the stand

[Raffles]

Most of the vans that I have ever hired have been ply-lined and devoid of anchor points.
Save yourself a load of cash, stress and hassle by doing as chris-red suggests and use a respected, reliable courier service.
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[Chalky.]

[stinkwheel]

I've seen people bend their sidestand bracket with ratchet straps so definately don't have it on the ground when you tie it down.

Remember you'll need to get it into the back of the van too. If you ride it up on a ramp, the bike has to go all the way in in a oner. If you get the front wheel in but don't have the momentum to get all the way, roll back down and try again. If you gas it with the front wheel in the van and the back wheel on the ramp, it'll shoot the ramp out from under you. Posts on youtube ensue.
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[thegubner]

Nice wide ramp with you at the handlebars going up with it and a mate or two on the floor pushing the back.

Simples.

[G]

Only shot the ramp out once using gas on the ramp - and then I'd got stuck halfway up when my brake lever hit something.
Wouldn't recommend doing it at all, however until you're at least confident using the ramp not on the bike!

[thegubner]

Should your comma be after however?