Transporting a bike in a van

[Tim in Belgium]

Sorry, I know this has been covered before, but van is too short to search for.

So I'm going to be transporting a tidy K6 GSXR750 in a hire van next weekend, any tips on how to secure it, I don't want to scratch it or have it fall over. What should I attach straps to? The pillion pegs have been removed which is a little annoying for transporting it.

Any tips for getting it in to the back of the van?

[hovis]

put it on the stand, leave it in gear, i would try to ram the front wheel into the corner of the van, then ratchet it down,

1 on each side of the bars
1 over the seat shoud do

use a towel to cover the seat,

[the_lone_wolf]

put it on the stand, leave it in gear than ratchet it down,

1 on each side of the bars
1 over the seat shoud do

use a towel to cover the seat,

+1

also, make sure it can't move forward, otherwise if you brake heavily it'll push forward and roll off the sidestand

[dizzyblonde]

wrap it up in a nice cuddly duvet!

or if your really paranoid, sit on it in the van yourself. Matt did when when we first transported Suzy to my house. He said it was a very interesting blind ride. But thats only if you've nothing to tie it down with.

[Tim in Belgium]

Cheers for the tips, what's the best way to get it in the back, I presume a scaffold board or similar? Although I don't have one and not sure what the hire company will be able to provide.

[hovis]

scaffold board is i bit narrow, for my liking

[dizzyblonde]

Do you know any one that may have a bike ramp?

[the_lone_wolf]

Cheers for the tips, what's the best way to get it in the back...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1C8CdWrkIQ

[Tim in Belgium]

Holland's too flat for the take off.

[Tim in Belgium]

Do you know any one that may have a bike ramp?

I don't know anyone over here with a bike, let alone a ramp!

[dizzyblonde]

ahhh, well thats no good is it :-(

[the_lone_wolf]

Holland's too flat for the take off.

:smt044

[Sean_C]

Scaffold board be alright, walk alongside the bike and drive it up the ramp.

[flymo]

I've transported my bike hundreds of times in my van, I wouldnt recommend that you use the stand.

I always have the bike as far forward in the back of the van as possible, in the right hand side (I have a side loading door on the left). It has the front wheel turned to the left and it rests against its right hand bar end, slightly leaning to the right hand side. As if its leaning up against a wall.

Its important to place a flat board of wood or carpet between the bar and the van side if the van isnt lined or you'll end up with a big dent in the side of the van.

Its then chocked with a block of wood behind the rear wheel, and two strops. One strop runs from the top side of the van (where the roof joins the side there is usually a lip) around the bike and to a strop point on the floor.

The second strop goes from the top side of the van around the furthest handlebar and back.

Solid as a rock.

A proper bike ramp or a scaffold board is fine to load them up. The longer the better or you'll find the bike is pretty heavy to push up it and also will bottom out on the fairing as it enters the van.

[missyburd]

Scaffold board be alright, walk alongside the bike and drive it up the ramp.

Last time I went with YC to deliver a bike a board was used. Makes it a little tricky to reverse the bike out of the van (it was quite high up off the ground), having more than one person to help might be a good idea! A chair was put in the back and strapped to the bike, then the bike was nicely wedged and with a few ratchet straps at the bars and tailend, perfectly secure. They've transported a few like that now (am sure he'll be along to give a more accurate description though :-D)

[Red Herring]

I also always put it into the front right corner of the van (Is the van you are hiring right or left hand drive, if left then because of the side stand it's still better to put the bike on the right hand side of the van and not use the side door, unless you want to reverse it into the van.) but I then turn the bars to the right so that the wheel is wedged right into the corner. If you then put the bike on the side stand it brings the bar away from the van side and allows you to lift the back of the bike towards the side of the van, although sometimes the rear wheel arch on the van can get in the way, and then stick a block of wood behind the rear wheel. I then stick an old cushion between the bike and the van side (usually about right peg area, remembering to fold the peg up first) so that the bike ends up wedged at the front, back, and against the van side to the right. All you need to do then is strap it to stop it going up and over the side stand to the left. Most vans have something to tie to in each corner. The front right strap goes to the top right fork area (around the yoke or similar and remember to put the strap in place before you push the bike into the corner!) and the other either to the exhaust hanger or over the top of the bike and down to the left peg area. Just now and then depending on the bike you need to loosen the front brake master cylinder and rotate it on the bars to avoid it hitting the side of the van.

As for loading it up a scaffold board is fine but be careful if you are using the engine to power it up. You wouldn't be the first to get the front into the van and then the rear tyre shoots the board off the back of the van dropping the bike onto it's bellypan! Either wedge the bottom of the board or get someone to help you. And if it's a full length scaffold board you will probably need to support it with something in the middle. Only problem with full length boards is you can't take them in the van with you for unloading the other end..... Good luck....going anywhere nice?

[Tim in Belgium]

Just collecting my new bike, only 70 kms down the road, but I don't want to tax and insure it immediately as I've a few things planned over the next month so no riding time for a while. Also who knows what the weather's going to be like, I'm a weekend warrior after all :D

[hovis]

pfffffffft

i would just risk it

[Tim in Belgium]

I've also got to pick up the standard screen, pillion pegs, pillion seat, and tail shovel.

[missyburd]

I've also got to pick up the standard screen, pillion pegs, pillion seat, and tail shovel.
bubble wrap and blankets are your friends :)

[Tim in Belgium]

Or a van ;)

[Tim in Belgium]

The van's booked, cash is on its way across the North Sea, all is looking sorted.

[Skip]

Looking forward to the pics of your new steed Tim - good luck with the strapping in the van thing - not something I like doing!

[timwilky]

When I have put a bike in a van, I use my front wheel grab to keep it upright and ratchet tie bike.

However as for getting in/out.

Firstly make sure you don't foul the fairing lower when front wheel in van and back on plank, ie get a long enough plank, Secondly fasten plank to the van. I have seen plank drop off whilst trying to get the bike out and for them to also shoot forward whilst trying to get a bike in. so tip if possible park the van so the foot of the plank is against the edge of kerb and cannot push out of the van. also when putting the bike in. pushing it off the kerb onto the plank means the wheel starts off on the plank and not trying to get over the bottom edge and pushing the plank into the van.

If you can get two planks, fasten them alongside each other with a couple of battens underneath. It is frightening just jown narrow a plank can get

[Tim in Belgium]

Van has been picked up, there's a lack of tie down points inside as it has all been boarded up, but I reckon I'll come up with something.

They supplied a nice folding loading ramp with a channel for the tyre to go up which is pretty good.