Transporting a bike in transit van.

[SVFreak]

Forgive me if this is a daft question.
I may need to collect a bike a couple of hundred miles away from me.
I plan to hire a transit van which will obviously not be equipped specifically to carry a motorcycle i:e ramp, stands etc. Probably be ply lined also.
Anyone have experience of this ??
Any tips on where to fix and how to avoid damage ??
Any advice appreciated.

[ty_uk]

When collecting my bike over the same distance i hired a motorbike trailer which came with all the ratchet straps needed, hired it on friday for 1/2 day think it was something like £18:00 (Have collected 2 bikes this way).

Hope this helps: Ty H

[B1k3R]

Get an insured courier to do it. I got both my last 2 bikes from fleabay and never met the owners. if it goes over in the van it is not cheap economy as far as I am concerned. I got a wales to leicestershire for £100 on a sunday. I paid a little over the odds last time but an essex to leicestershire was quoted £138 lowest.

[SVFreak]

Hi, yes i had considered a trailer, however i would also have to hire a van as our current car isn't fitted with a towbar. Thats why i wondered wether i could get away with hiring a van only. Cheers.

[SVFreak]

Yes also looked at courier, however i would have to take my bike and then bring new bike back. Would cost to much.
Tips for securing into a van still needed. Cheers.

[B1k3R]

In that case wedge the front wheel with a wooden wedge. Leave the bike in gear on the side stand. use some thick rubber bands to pull the front brake lever so the brake is on. Thick towels over the seat and side panels and then ratchet strap over the towels to suitable fixings in the van. A decent board to push the bike on and off with a helper.

This is how I fix any bike on a car ferry and havent had one fall yet.

[ty_uk]

metal ramp,Ratchet straps,old sheets

[ty_uk]

http://www.sites4bikes.com/Transporting-motorbikes-in-a-van.htm

[2hys]

when i got my 125 i had to pick it up from telford i hired a vw transporter i put the bike onto its center stand (i dont know if this is a opiton for you, side stand should be ok) wraped a strap around the headstock and one through the rear wheel done the trick, and used a offcut of scaffold as a ramp.. HTH

[BBadger]

Plastic tie around the front break is a must have.

[punyXpress]

Have a look at Paul6's thread ?

[yorkie_chris]

Put the front wheel in the corner. Strap it down

[philbut]

Put the front wheel in the corner. Strap it down

+ if you can get a set of ratchet straps (£10 from Halfords) use the tie down points on the floor to compress the front suspension (with front brake held on too if ya like). This will mean the bike is preventing itself from falling either way. you want the straps roun d the bars or the yolk (depoends on bike how you do this). The point about wedging tyhe front wheel is important though - you don';t wanmt it rolling forward when you brake. Strap over the rear seat is alos a good idea but not essential.

[timwilky]

I have a front wheel grab, It is a fantastic thing for keeping the bike upright. When I use a van I bolt it to a piece of wood to extend the width and it has never tipped.

[toby_smith]

when i got my 125 i had to pick it up from telford i hired a vw transporter i put the bike onto its center stand (i dont know if this is a opiton for you, side stand should be ok) wraped a strap around the headstock and one through the rear wheel done the trick, and used a offcut of scaffold as a ramp.. HTH

Putting a bike on the centre stand ina van, even tied down, is a bad idea. It rocks forward and its off the stand (had this happen to me)

Ratchet strap over the seat forcing the bike down onto the side stand. A couple round the forks and grabrail and you'll be fine

[yorkie_chris]

It is REALLY hard to try and explain to people that bikes are more stable on the side stand than the centre stand

[toby_smith]

It is REALLY hard to try and explain to people that bikes are more stable on the side stand than the centre stand

Yup, centre stand the bike is upright, the 3 (or sometimes two if the back wheel is lifted) points of contact are in a straight line. It has to balance.

Side stand the 3 points of contact are in a triangle and therefore stable. I dont see why people don't get it.

If using a centre stand was the most stable method of securing a bike then why do people use tripods to support cameras, surveying equipment and the like instead of 3 legs in a straight line?......oh yeah......because it would fall over!

[dizzyblonde]

Like I said in PT6ths thread. Get someone to sit on bike in van......best blind riding rollercoaster ride ever!!:rolleyes:

[andrewsmith]

Yup, centre stand the bike is upright, the 3 (or sometimes two if the back wheel is lifted) points of contact are in a straight line. It has to balance.

Side stand the 3 points of contact are in a triangle and therefore stable. I dont see why people don't get it.

If using a centre stand was the most stable method of securing a bike then why do people use tripods to support cameras, surveying equipment and the like instead of 3 legs in a straight line?......oh yeah......because it would fall over!

Theres is the technical answer.
One other thing to note is if you use a flat bed transporter it is advisable to give the bike a 4th point of contact (per se) by putting a strap through the frame or over the seat.

Found this one out through bad luck and noticed it in time

[The Guru]

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww103/The_Guru/Project%2029/IMG00015-20100914-1509.jpg


2 scaffold boards as a ramp. Abba stand and 2 ratchet straps to hold it down. Rock solid all the way from Manchester to Scotland.

[2hys]

Putting a bike on the centre stand ina van, even tied down, is a bad idea. It rocks forward and its off the stand (had this happen to me)

Ratchet strap over the seat forcing the bike down onto the side stand. A couple round the forks and grabrail and you'll be fine

i take your point and agree with it.. having never transported a bike b4 i thought this was best, i stand corected... i had a strap pulling down on the head stock and one pulling down and back on the rear wheel the bike wernt going anywhere, this was my experince which the op asked for whether he uses it or not is up to him.....:rolleyes:

[yorkie_chris]

the bike wernt going anywhere,

That is the main criteria :)

If in doubt just use as many ratchet straps as you can find