Transporting Bikes?
 

Hi,
want to take my bike with me to wales and wondered the best way to transport it?
Got way too much stuff to ride so wondered about hiring a van for the weekend.
whats the best size of van, how would you tie it down and how do I get it in & out of the van safely?

cheers

Nige

Are you going on your own,with a mate or your misses/girlfriend?
Not trying to find out your sexual preference it’s just that getting a bike in the back of a van safely depends on the help available.
Transit size with a high top so you can stand up is easier. I use ratchet straps, Two from just forwards of the bike and Two from just rear most vans have tie down points in the floor pane in the right sort of area. Normally you can get a strap off the frame on a duke for the rear straps and round the bottom yoke for the front. You can adjust each strap to pull down on the suspension with the bike on its side stand. Tie it right in the middle of the van then pack all your other stuff round it
As for getting it in the back and out again you need a nice eight-foot lump of eight by two timber for a one off trip. A shallow angle makes it a lot easier to do but it’s still a bit tricky. You will need to get someone to stand on the end of the ramp because you can’t have to much of it in the van as it will hit the bottom of the bike if its sticking up in the air.
If this sounds a bit of a pain and you have a tow bar on your car then I have a single bike trailer you are welcome to borrow but you will still need some help holding the bike up on that to tie it down in the same way.

Hope that’s of some help but its late and I’m a bit ****ed

Don’t know why you wont to go to Wales though.
:lol::lol::lol:

You can get away with a smaller van, something like a VW Transporter or Vito but as has been pointed out you won't have the headroom, which may or may not be important.

Main thing to check is that the van has tie down points mounted to the floor, so you can use rachet straps to anchor your pride and joy in place.

Also get a long plank, or two shorter ones and lay one on top of the other but extended to make the run into the van shallower (if you can understand that). If you have a paddock stand use that, but it isn't essential.

I personally use 2 straps and pull the bike down from around the subframe area downwards to the two central tie down points, and put a cable tie on the front brake, never had a problem yet.

You can do it on your own, but I'd recommend getting someone to give you a hand the first time, probably the hardest bit is getting it out of the van and down the ramp/plank until you're used to doing it.

If you're not used to getting out of a van by yourself and you are taller than 5 foot then go for a hightop as it is very awkward to manoeuvre without practice.

I learnt this lesson the hard way when I had to call TP out at 2am when my bike was stuck in the back of his midget-mobile!

borrow or rent a trailer £15 A DAY

:saint: I'm 6ft 2" and put my 749 in the back of my Mercedes Vito with no problems,headroom would be an issue if in the back for longer than 10mins,but you won't be.I use 4 ratchet straps and put it on the side stand with the steering lock on and the front wheel jammed against the bulkhead.Some people bungee the front brake on,i don't bother.I use a scaffold plank (6ft) as a ramp,if your not very confident or strong you'll need help,good luck.If it becomes a regular thing,buy a trailer.

hi,
thanks for the replies,
I am considering a trailer, but still looking for a suitable car and probably won't have it in time, so giring a transit seemed like a good option

thanks again

Nige

:lol:

I'd forgotten about that! It was very funny to see you pinned like that, although I was trying not to laugh at the time.

I roll mine up the ramp, and lean it on the side wall (my van is ply lined) put one ratchet strap through the bottom yoke to the eyelet at the front right of the van, and the same to the left (if you've got one, mine doesn't but I won't bore you with how I do mine).

Then you'd put one that runs from the right hand side rear eyelet either through your subframe or over your seat to the eyelet on the left hand rear of the van to compress the rear suspension so it doesn't bounce around. And Robert's your mothers brother.

If your van has a bulkhead behind the seats that you can wedge your front tyre against your front two straps will pull it tight against that and it won't move. If you don't you may want to consider zip tieing the front brake on.

yeah - it didn't help that it was a trailie so the handlebars were 5 inches from the roof. I need to start working out.

i hired a wide ramp from hss hire, it was wide/long enough to wheel the bike on and off the van by myself, stable too. it's excellent if you're going to be on your own. definately worth the extra few pounds.