DIY motorbike pick-up
Discussion
When I say DIY, I mean me renting a van and picking up a motorbike 3 1/2 hours away with no idea of how to secure it!
I need to go this Sunday. The train is a no good as the earliest I can get there is 4.00pm and the way the weather is I don't fancy riding a new to me bike in the dark and freezing cold for 4 hours. I could get a courier but I'd like to see it 1st just in case, as by the time the bike arrives to me it will be too late as I'm buying private, so a van it is.
I can hire a Vauxhall Vivaro midi van for 35quid which I presume I should be able to fit the bike in but I will check. Then I'm thinking that a loose bike in the back of a van is not a great idea for obvious reasons, so how do I secure it?
My thoughts so far are big duvets to lie the bike down on then secure it the best I can and that's about it....
Any ideas? or should I think of something else completely?
I need to go this Sunday. The train is a no good as the earliest I can get there is 4.00pm and the way the weather is I don't fancy riding a new to me bike in the dark and freezing cold for 4 hours. I could get a courier but I'd like to see it 1st just in case, as by the time the bike arrives to me it will be too late as I'm buying private, so a van it is.
I can hire a Vauxhall Vivaro midi van for 35quid which I presume I should be able to fit the bike in but I will check. Then I'm thinking that a loose bike in the back of a van is not a great idea for obvious reasons, so how do I secure it?
My thoughts so far are big duvets to lie the bike down on then secure it the best I can and that's about it....
Any ideas? or should I think of something else completely?
I'm sure people that do regular trackdays will have better ideas about this, but I would ratchet strap it upright to the side of the van with some padding to protect it. Jam the brakes on using bungees and chock the wheels, ideally use a stand to keep it secure.
Or you could put it diagonally to make sure the front wheel is jammed into a corner, then use the ratchets to keep it upright and tight. You don't want a 200kg bike to move is you need to brake suddenly
Use a few straps on each side and stop after the first few miles to make sure nothing has loosened off. Also don't forget a ramp of some sort.
Also don't underestimate how high a bike actually is, high top vans are better.
Or you could put it diagonally to make sure the front wheel is jammed into a corner, then use the ratchets to keep it upright and tight. You don't want a 200kg bike to move is you need to brake suddenly
Use a few straps on each side and stop after the first few miles to make sure nothing has loosened off. Also don't forget a ramp of some sort.
Also don't underestimate how high a bike actually is, high top vans are better.
Edited by Speed addicted on Monday 26th February 20:53
Depends on the bike, but i'd not lie it down!!
How about getting one of them front wheel chocks (50 quid off ebay) that you can use as a stand then in the garage etc, then just two straps from each bar to the d rings in the load space. Straps are pretty cheap off ebay and useful or you may be able to borrow some.
If you fit the wheel chock up against the seats, then pull from the handlebars forward to the seat frames or front d rings, it wont go nowhere. Chock the sidestand and pull it down onto that too, by compressing the forks.
How about getting one of them front wheel chocks (50 quid off ebay) that you can use as a stand then in the garage etc, then just two straps from each bar to the d rings in the load space. Straps are pretty cheap off ebay and useful or you may be able to borrow some.
If you fit the wheel chock up against the seats, then pull from the handlebars forward to the seat frames or front d rings, it wont go nowhere. Chock the sidestand and pull it down onto that too, by compressing the forks.
Four straps, either the ratchet type or even good thule straps will do, assuming it's not a Goldwing. You can either strap it down on the side stand or upright. Either way put the front wheel up against the cabin bulkhead and bungee the front brake on..
Also a plank of wood as a ramp and a bungee for the front brake. Most vans are ply lined. Check that the tie down points are still usable.
Also a plank of wood as a ramp and a bungee for the front brake. Most vans are ply lined. Check that the tie down points are still usable.
Yellow bike on the left had the front wheel pushed against the seat (or bulkhead) side stand down, piece of ply on the handlebar end and a strap from the floor hook over the seat attached to the footpeg hanger.
Bike in first gear, cable tie on the front brake.
2 minutes to load like that.
Biker's Nemesis said:
Yellow bike on the left had the front wheel pushed against the seat (or bulkhead) side stand down, piece of ply on the handlebar end and a strap from the floor hook over the seat attached to the footpeg hanger.
Bike in first gear, cable tie on the front brake.
2 minutes to load like that.
!Use a ramp or scaffold plank to push bike up into the van. Get a help with this if it's your first time so you don't drop it. In a panel van, push it up to the front behind the drivers seat, put steering full lock to the left so the bike tilts against the right hand side ply lining and bump the wheel against the bulkhead. Put it in gear. Use 1 strap from the centre tie down point, and loop it through the right hand side footpeg area, then ratchet it into the side of the van. Put something tonspread the load of the handlebar against the ply to stop it puncturing.
Wheelie it on the approach to the van, judge the front wheel height so that the front wheel just kisses the van floor, the second you feel contact a grab of front brake to rolling stoppie the bike inside. Careful of getting the rear too high and clipping the van door frame but other than that your grandma could do it.
Is it a nice, valuable bike your picking up?
When i got my LC home a few years ago, my friend took it home and loaded it all up, unfortunately it went over in the van , the battery acid leaked and damaged the engine casings, the tank was dented, sidepanels/mudguard suffered damage along with grips, levers etc.
A professional courier would have got it home for £100, undamaged and fully insured if the worse would happen.
In your case, you have the cost of van hire, fuel, straps a ramp etc....possibly, for the sake of saving literally a few quid, on a valuable bike id view it, put a deposit on it and then arrange collection with a professional courier.
When i got my LC home a few years ago, my friend took it home and loaded it all up, unfortunately it went over in the van , the battery acid leaked and damaged the engine casings, the tank was dented, sidepanels/mudguard suffered damage along with grips, levers etc.
A professional courier would have got it home for £100, undamaged and fully insured if the worse would happen.
In your case, you have the cost of van hire, fuel, straps a ramp etc....possibly, for the sake of saving literally a few quid, on a valuable bike id view it, put a deposit on it and then arrange collection with a professional courier.
Anybody would think this is a military operation!
Get a handlebar tie down strap - it’s essentially a short lifting strop with two loops that hook over the handlebars and some padding to protect the headstock. Then get a pack of ratchet straps.
Bike in the back of the van on the side stand, with front wheel against the bulkhead, ratchet strap on each side of the handlebar strap, and wind them down to compress the front forks. Pull down the rear of the bike with straps around the swinging arm (with padding) and it’ll be going nowhere.
Best to get some help pushing the bike into the van if you’ve not done it before, but everything else can easily be done alone.
Get a handlebar tie down strap - it’s essentially a short lifting strop with two loops that hook over the handlebars and some padding to protect the headstock. Then get a pack of ratchet straps.
Bike in the back of the van on the side stand, with front wheel against the bulkhead, ratchet strap on each side of the handlebar strap, and wind them down to compress the front forks. Pull down the rear of the bike with straps around the swinging arm (with padding) and it’ll be going nowhere.
Best to get some help pushing the bike into the van if you’ve not done it before, but everything else can easily be done alone.
Surely it depends on the bike?
Am I the only one expecting a photo from the op of the below...
1/ In the back of a LWB Sprinter
2/ Ratcheted to the side of the van like Spider Man has done it
3/ Festooned in the cushions from the sofa
4/ A full width of ramps in the background
5/ Half the local rugby team bunged £50 to help load it
If however it is that 48k RC30 then everyone's advice above...
Am I the only one expecting a photo from the op of the below...
1/ In the back of a LWB Sprinter
2/ Ratcheted to the side of the van like Spider Man has done it
3/ Festooned in the cushions from the sofa
4/ A full width of ramps in the background
5/ Half the local rugby team bunged £50 to help load it
If however it is that 48k RC30 then everyone's advice above...
It fell over...
You could smell the st coming from my arse just after as a massive bang came from the rear of the van.
I opened the van doors and there it was on its bloody side! I got so so lucky as the pillion grab handles just about wedged up against the side wheel arch saving the tank by a cm max ...
Brake lever cable tied, ratchet strap across rear frame and front frame compressing the front forks. Problem was that I connected the ratchet straps from one side of the van to the other instead of just one side.
What.a.tit
This comes after taking the bike for a quick run up the road and nearly losing the front wheel on a bit of ice. I hadn't even paid for it at that point!
Bikes only an early aprillia shiver 750 v twin. It's a big bike though and sounds bloody good compared to my 600 hornet. Just need to ride the bloody thing now when the weather picks up.
You could smell the s
t coming from my arse just after as a massive bang came from the rear of the van.I opened the van doors and there it was on its bloody side! I got so so lucky as the pillion grab handles just about wedged up against the side wheel arch saving the tank by a cm max ...
Brake lever cable tied, ratchet strap across rear frame and front frame compressing the front forks. Problem was that I connected the ratchet straps from one side of the van to the other instead of just one side.
What.a.tit
This comes after taking the bike for a quick run up the road and nearly losing the front wheel on a bit of ice. I hadn't even paid for it at that point!
Bikes only an early aprillia shiver 750 v twin. It's a big bike though and sounds bloody good compared to my 600 hornet. Just need to ride the bloody thing now when the weather picks up.
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