Loading & Hauling your bike!!

8878 Views 85 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Gas Man, Jul 28, 2006

Gas Man

Discussion Starter · Feb 21, 2005

When ever you go to a track day you see many different bikes and MANY different ways of loading and hauling them...

I prefer (due to what I have) the standard truck hauling. Now when it comes to loading I see alot of people trying really hard to push the bikes up! It's kinda amusing in a bad way. I like to have 2 ramps. One for the bike and one for me! The closer to 8' in length the better, due to trucks like mine that are a little high.

I start up the bike, get it a little warm and stand on the side of the bike and just idle her up the ramp. Just like you would walk a horse into a trailer.... Why not let the 136 rear wheel hp do all the work. It works well on all bikes. Have did it with my 9R everytime.

I've even seen somebody load them onto grates that are hooked into their towing reciever. Funny and scary looking. The bike is actually sitting sideways to the rear of the vechicle.

Now let's talk strapping... I do a front handle bar strapping.... I use either the standard eye loops or a "Canyon Dancer". Then I will only use a wratchet style strap in the fronts. Don't really like those pull tight style...for the fronts..

Then I usually hook the rear pegs and squat the rear of the bike. Don't really need to but it's a extra procaution.

Have attached some pics... 1. my 9R in my old truck 2. a buddies 954 3. my pocket bike :lol: (Should have seen the looks driving down the h/w! 3. a buddies TLR in my FX4

What do you guys think? How do you guys haul your bikes and what do you use?

:noob: should pay attention!!

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1 - 20 of 86 Posts

GsxrJack

· #2 · Feb 21, 2005

i use to have a nice single snowmobile trailer with a metal floor on it, the kind that tilts and I use to just drive it right up on it and it would go back down...real nice one person trailer, had a front wheel chock and used soft hooks for the handlebars and the tiedowns....trailer had nice hooks on the side and made it easy to tiedown the bike....when i went to two bikes, my friend had a large van and wed fit 2 bikes in that.....

ive seen bikes dropped trying to load them, people falling off ramps trying to drive them up on them, and people smashing their head driving into a van.....also seen trailers strewn on the highway when a wheel bearing let go in them and the wheel came off.. :crazy:

Captain Morgan

· #3 · Feb 21, 2005

My brother and I have an open trailer that we share. We use Canyon Dancer straps on the handlebars and then straps on the rear pegs.

twisty

· #4 · Feb 21, 2005

For now I have to live with my open trailer due to buying the new race bike and expences I have had to dish out to get ready for the race season. But I skim a certain amount off my check and will have the new trailer in no time.

Gas Man

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 21, 2005

Jack and everyone else... please understand.... I would NEVER ride my bike up the ramp!!!! NEVER!!! Bad idea!!!

I'm talking about walking the idling bike up a ramp. Bike on 1 ramp and me on another ramp next to the bike!!!

twisty

· #6 · Feb 21, 2005

Yeah dont ride it up, very bad idea. even worse if you do it in the rain. :bash:

Gas Man

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 21, 2005

I knew you were going to say something.... yeah, 750's don't like that!!

twisty

· #8 · Feb 21, 2005

Race slicks in the rain, up a ramp. Never listen to a women when it comes to motorcycles.

Gas Man

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 21, 2005

I know you can't be speaking of a certain coughpippicough woman... :lol:

To stay on track...Another good piece advise is...

When it's strapped down and REALLY tight....don't go for the extra couple wratchet clicks.... it might not hold!!

pickle.of.doom

· #10 · Feb 21, 2005

I always seem to have more of a problem unloading them than loading!! Whats a good way of gettin em out? I use the 1 guy in front pushing it back and holding the brake, with one behind steadying it...

twisty

· #11 · Feb 21, 2005

Yeah how would you know that? I heard of some dude totaling a bike that way...

Gas Man

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 21, 2005

2 ramps!!

With somebody watching the tires for proper line up! Cause when you're walking her down you can't see the tires!!

The key is always having 2 ramps!!!

Gas Man

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 21, 2005

twisty said:
Yeah how would you know that? I heard of some dude totaling a bike that way...

Yeah, a Honda or somin!! Cause I just know! Might have been by the guy that did it!!

GsxrJack

· #14 · Feb 21, 2005

Gas Man said:
Jack and everyone else... please understand.... I would NEVER ride my bike up the ramp!!!! NEVER!!! Bad idea!!!

I'm talking about walking the idling bike up a ramp. Bike on 1 ramp and me on another ramp next to the bike!!!

nope, not saying you did or would, just saying that ive seen people do it, this one person slowed down halfway up the ramp and just fell off the ramp and the bike just missed him...pretty funny since the person didnt get hurt but the bike broke a bunch of things....

super954

· #15 · Feb 21, 2005

Ya the extra couple of clicks tryin to get so so tite .. Just dont try to do it yourself , it all could go wrong . You need someone up on the bike TRUST ME i learned the hard way . :sob: Bike ends up in a heap if you get it wrong .

chev

· #16 · Feb 21, 2005

twisty said:
Race slicks in the rain, up a ramp. Never listen to a women when it comes to motorcycles.

I heard of a friend doing something along these lines once before a trip down south or something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have to say it was a bad day.

cerveja

· #17 · Feb 22, 2005

...and after all that fine advice I only have this to add. If you think it will take 30 minutes to load each bike. Better budget an hour. If you think it will take 15 minutes to load the bike. Better budget two hours. Adn the more bikes your cramming on the trailer, you better keep adding on the minutes. If you're cramming three bikes onto a three bike trailer your better leave lots of time to get creative with the spacing and strapping.

jeeps84

· #18 · Feb 22, 2005

I can load the bike and all my gear in about 15 minutes!
When it comes time for a track day, my track buddy has an enclosed trailer and swings by the house to pick me and the bike up. I always have everything ready the night before or earlier that day depending on when we leave.
All I have is a open 5X12 trailer with 2 Pit Bull wheel chocks. I can move one to the center for one bike or both on the out side for two bikes. I also have mounting points in the bed of my truck to place the chock there if needed.

I also use Canyon Dancer soft straps with ratchet type straps the one on the rear for safety.

bulldog

· #19 · Feb 22, 2005

i just hauled mine 3 hours or so and all i did was strap two pull tie down things i use for my dirt bike

did a lot of testing before we took off and was comfortable with the sterdiness and dident have to much trouble on the way home except for one pot hole that made the tire turn and the bike lean a lil but nothing major at all

Gas Man

Discussion Starter · #20 · Feb 22, 2005

cerveja said:
...and after all that fine advice I only have this to add. If you think it will take 30 minutes to load each bike. Better budget an hour. If you think it will take 15 minutes to load the bike. Better budget two hours. Adn the more bikes your cramming on the trailer, you better keep adding on the minutes. If you're cramming three bikes onto a three bike trailer your better leave lots of time to get creative with the spacing and strapping.

That sounds like advise coming from expierence!

But, in a truck...I can have any bike strapped down in minutes...I'm talkin less than 5!

On a trailer....maybe a bit more, due to the confines that some trailers have and other trailers have LOTS & LOTS MORE!!

Too funny DYNO!!! :lol: :dupe:

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