Loading a bike in a pick-up

[Manik]

How easy is it to secure a bike in a pick up truck without a stand?

I'm looking to pick up a bike in maine, 5 hours from me and will be renting a truck to do so.

I have no experience with this and expect the dealership will help me load it.
Do I need a stand? should the stand be bolted?

[csmutty]

Nope it's easy. Pull the bike in straight and use tie downs that are wrapped around the bottom triple clamp so as to not damage the plastics. Or you can put the tie down around the clip on if there is room and it won't hit the plastics. Get them snug, but don't overtighten the tie downs after the bike is secure. If you do, you run the risk of damaging the fork seals. If you wish you can also run two tie downs to the passenger peg mounts to secure it on the rear as well. Again, don't crank them down too tight.

[SVenpointsixtwo]

You don't need a stand. Just put the side stand down and use ratchet straps around the steering head and subframe/footpeg brackets to compress the suspension against the side stand so it doesn't bounce around too much.

...at least, that's what I've done and I've never had an issue; I'm sure there are folks with a lot more experience and insight that will chime in!

[Dip Dungles]

Also depending on how long your ramps are you may need to park the truck behind a decline in the drive way. Reason for this is if you have 6 foot ramps the height can be kind of scary to load. If you park after the decline your bed will be much closer to the ground. But if yo have nice long ramps then you are golden.

[Manik]

Thanks guys. Huge help. I have a place to offload it at home, and will use the dealers ramps when I'm picking it up.

[gadget]

just get a couple of guys to lift it.....sorry, couldn't resist

[JettaJayGLS]

If you're purchasing a bike from the dealer, they will for sure help you load it into the truck...

[jwm2k3]

Hey, Im in Danvers next town over. You can use my ramps...and I can help you unload it too. I worked at a bike shop for yeqrs and have loaded and unloaded hundreds of bikes. Let me know.

[Stoneman]

Don't use a stand NOR the side stand! I know it sounds sketchy, but living so close to Bike Week activities I can't tell you how many times I've stopped to help knuckleheads pulled over whose bikes had fallen over BECAUSE they used side stand even though they used tie-downs. Just get the thing as squared up verticle as you can and use 2 ratcheting straps up front, two in the rear and you're good. I'd be willing to wager that the stealership will help you do it properly...

[Manik]

Don't use a stand NOR the side stand! I know it sounds sketchy, but living so close to Bike Week activities I can't tell you how many times I've stopped to help knuckleheads pulled over whose bikes had fallen over BECAUSE they used side stand even though they used tie-downs. Just get the thing as squared up verticle as you can and use 2 ratcheting straps up front, two in the rear and you're good. I'd be willing to wager that the stealership will help you do it properly...

Thanks! Will do.

[Manik]

Hey, Im in Danvers next town over. You can use my ramps...and I can help you unload it too. I worked at a bike shop for yeqrs and have loaded and unloaded hundreds of bikes. Let me know.

This would be a great help. Thanks! I'm hoping to pick it up on saturday, at the very least ill radio your knowledge.

[jasnmar]

Lotsa good advice here. On the tightening of straps be careful. Christian mentioned this, but it is worth repeating. You want the suspension partially, not fully compressed. Give it room to bounce with bumps without bottoming out, but put enough pressure so that the wheels aren't "bouncing around".

Get it as straight up and down as possible.

Plan a stop 10-20 minutes after leaving. Just check the straps, make sure things aren't moving around. After that you should be pretty much good to go.

Congrats on the new bike.

[RandyO]

yer compressing springs, not oil

as you compress springs, oil moves from one side of the valves to the other just like sitting on it and riding or adjusting preload, seals are no more likley to blow than when you ride it

the only problem with compressing too much is weak tie downs or weak tie down points

[Manik]

Thanks guys. Will do. Appreciate all the help!

[nhbubba]

When I sold my last the buyer and 2 friends wheeled it up into the bed of a fullsize 4x4 pickup. I was shocked how easily it went in with extra hands.

Compress the forks enough so it doesn't bounce around, but do not bottom the forks out, as that will ruin the seals, as indicated.
Do not use the hooks on the tie downs, but rather pass the loops through the eye of the hook. This way the ends wont' come off as easy.

I tie off to the grips on my non-sport bike (which has bars, not clipons). Some say that's instant death by fire, but I've lived so far.

This guy has it down:


Nice VFR too...

[csmutty]

yer compressing springs, not oil

as you compress springs, oil moves from one side of the valves to the other just like sitting on it and riding or adjusting preload, seals are no more likley to blow than when you ride it

the only problem with compressing too much is weak tie downs or weak tie down points

So there is no compression of the air gap and no extra pressure when compressed? You sure?

[RandyO]

So there is no compression of the air gap and no extra pressure when compressed? You sure?

no more than when yer riding it, and your also not hitting abrupt potholes

as I said, the biggest danger of compressing too much is breaking straps or pulling tie down hooks out of the truck bed

I always recommend sitting on bike, snug straps, get off bike

[csmutty]

no more than when yer riding it, and your also not hitting abrupt potholes

as I said, the biggest danger of compressing too much is breaking straps or pulling tie down hooks out of the truck bed

I always recommend sitting on bike, snug straps, get off bike

Explain the fork fluid all over the back of my truck last time I tied it down back there?

[gadget]

Explain the fork fluid all over the back of my truck last time I tied it down back there?

maybe you drive so badly that you scared it into pissing itself... (just kidding.... )

[breakdirt916]

Nice VFR too...

mother f'r!!!

I've tried this many times....the moment it gets up the ramp one of 3 things have happened to me:
1.) the bike gets too much gas and shoots into the front of the bed, and crashes sideways
2.) the bike gets too much gas (or clutch popped), ramp shot out from underneath me, and crashed off the end of the bed
3.) the bike doesn't get enough momentum, stops halfway, and falls off the side and crashes

I found the best way is - bike off, have one (or two people) behind the truck push, and one person on the front steering it in.

I'm almost tempted to ride it up though...wide center ramp (tied down to the tailgate), and paddle walking it with two more ramps on the side seems most natural to me

[ɹǝʍoןandɹǝʍoן]

hey I was just wondering OP how did your first bike get totaled? my friend dropped his off the ride up to the bed of a truck! and it was pretty hurt...

[RandyO]

Explain the fork fluid all over the back of my truck last time I tied it down back there?

you had leaky seals to begin with

[csmutty]

you had leaky seals to begin with

This guy is good.

[nhbubba]

mother f'r!!!

Note the strap holding the ramp in place. That keeps the ramp from moving on you, which is part of the battle.

Me, I'm such a klutz I'd trip over myself and do a face plant into the tailgate.

It helps that doode must be 7'8" or something. Stepping up into the bed of a 4WD Tundra like that.

[breakdirt916]

exactly! m-f'r!!!

dirt bikes on the other hand, I'll do day and night...and ride out the truck without a ramp...and drop on purpose and just laugh when all I need is a clutch lever