How to you transport bikes?

Theres a possibility i may pick up an SV in the next couple of weeks and i will be picking up whatever bike i get in my dads transit van.
I have a wooden ramp that is about 5ft long and 13" wide that i may use for getting the bike into the van.

What is the best way of securing the bike in the back of the van?

Ratchet straps and an old matress if you've got one

Originally Posted by Kilted Ginger

Ratchet straps and an old matress if you've got one

+ 1, old cushion/pillows/quilts will do the job too. Strap the bike to one side of the van, with the previous in between the two, and place some cloth between the bike and the straps where they make contact.

[yorkie_chris]

Or put the front wheel in the corner, put it on the sidestand and strap it down there.

Yes, in gear, on stand, wheel tight against bulkhead or corner, straps from bars down to the loops on the transit either side and a couple at the back. Use a separate strap for each side, not one across the bike. Use proper ratchet straps not those crappy luggage straps where you just push the clasp to release. Also, unless you've got an incredibly long ramp, the fairing will ground out where it meets the van so the back will need a little lift to get it in usually.

You would be better of with a longer ramp as you will probably ground the bike due to the accuteness of the angle using such a short ramp.
We use a folding 10ft ramp to load into the race home and we have to be careful not to ground the bottom of the fairing.
Alternatively run the bike onto the short ramp and then lift the rearend up to reduce the angle.

[Balky001]

Have to agree with DT, the length of the board will make the angle steep and the bike heavy to push up, when the front wheel goes on the van you may get the bike stuck - unless you have a low loading high on the van.

Don't forget to strap the brake on. I ratchet the rear wheel to the rear eyes, the front wheel goes against the bulkhead and the strap across the seat/tank (protected with a quilted blanket) to the front eyes and possibly one strap across the bars.

Old chair or settee cushions are useful as you can strategically place them and strap down on them if required[Only say this as they don't take up as much room as a matress enabling you to move about inside the van when the bike is loaded]