Would it be foolish...
 

...to think that when you move house (assuming you move a fair distance) you can lift a bike into the back of a luton van (or similar with tail lift) and tie it down, rather than ride it several hundred miles?

Would the safest thing to do be to put it in the van first with plenty of blankets, on an abba stand (so that it was facing 90degrees to the direction of travel) and then make sure theres plenty behind it to stop it from toppling into your dishwasher / mirrors (for example)?

Ideas / suggestions anyone? Surely this is not a new subject....

Ta. Just wondering.

Re: Would it be foolish...
 

When I've collected bikes they go in the back of the van on the sidestand then strap them down. Front wheel goes in the front-left corner so they're not going anywhere.

Re: Would it be foolish...
 

I've done it a couple of times, I've done it the same way as YC

Re: Would it be foolish...
 

Let me add two more points of consideration:

1) Need to make maximum use of space in said van, if the bike faces forwards I reckon I'd lose more space for bulkier items....? (I'm not sure I can prove this though, its just a hunch)

2) Would prefer the "bike-not-on-deck" approach when opening the back door, of course - after a series of roundabouts (although the roundabouts are not the problem, its the exiting them that gives the inertia to move off the sidestand, but I doubt(?) this is enough to topple the bike).

The only reason I ask is that its a long trip, and I really dont want to a) have to stop every 10 miles or b) drive like an OAP for a whole day (no disrepect intended to oldies)


Keep the ideas / experiences coming please.

Re: Would it be foolish...
 

Thanks :)

Re: Would it be foolish...
 

Bike's are much more resilient than you give them credit for!!!!!!!

See this:
http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/9127/smallka1.jpg
http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/9...52acbcb0f2.jpg

That's my bike about to embark on the 200km trip over corrugated, muddy & sandy track.

I think the only extra damage done to the bike from that trip was a scuff to the fairing.

The bike was on its side for over 24 hours & except for a litle petrol leakage there was no problem. I did leave the bike to settle for another 24 hours after the journey, mind...!

Re: Would it be foolish...
 

Yeah, but according to the OP's sig, he has a nice bike..............

Re: Would it be foolish...
 

No fighting!

I'm now in the process of working out how many Luton vans I need to fit my house into......if the bike goes into one of them. I think two.

Dammit not having a cat C license for a 7.5 tonne truck. Maybe worth it though :rolleyes:


PS - carrying the bike on it's side takes up more space, rather than less methinks ;)

Re: Would it be foolish...
 

Don't you know anybody with a cat C who could drive for you???
I drove a truck for a mate from Slough to Aberdeen and back the next day.
That way, you could ride the bike and end up just using one truck and reducing the risk of damage in transit.

Re: Would it be foolish...
 

Straps are going to be a million times better than an Abba stand then.