Guzzi V7 in a pickup

[Testarossa]

Problem with the sidestand is that it's rigid -- if overloaded it will bend or snap. Unlike the suspension, which still has internal bumpers when snugged down full stroke.

I long ago gave up trying to get bikes into pickup trucks. I can load and unload a receiver-mounted rack by myself in a pinch and with my 100-lb wife pushing it's really really easy.

This is what I bought for the van: http://www.discountramps.com/hitch-mounted-steel-motorcycle-carrier/p/MCC-600/

[Green1]

Two ramps work better,one for you one for the bike,i usually load mine alone,bike in 1st gear and walk up my own ramp beside it,princess auto has a cheep knock off of the baxley chalk.

[Guzzistajohn]

Loaded lots of bikes for years w/o a wheel doo dad, always side stand up, center stand? Hell no. Just 4 tiedowns. Never had a problem. Don't guess a wheel thingy would hurt<shrug>

[pehayes]

I have the cheepo Harbor Freight over-center wheel chock.  I mounted that to a set of boards that fit snugly between the wheel wells and the front wall of the bed of the pickup.  The device just drops in and out easily and the chock is a big help in stabilizing the tie down process.  Nothing permanent involved.






Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[LowRyter]

Like Patrick sez.  Still only $39.  I have two of them in toy hauler. 

http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-chock-69026.html

[chuck peterson]

Kickstand goes down...

every time i try that someone yells at me...THEY say, (not me I haven't seen it happen) kickstand breaks on the frame mounting point and or it punchs a hole in the floor and then falls over

[Scud]

another  :1: for using a chock.  My LeMans did 1,000 miles in my truck bed like this:



I use a free-standing wheel-chock that holds the bike up by itself (same one I use it in the garage). I secure it in the front of the bed with carabiners and turnbuckles (so the front cannot go side-to-side). As for straps, I use two at the rear to prevent side-to-side movement.  Then for added security, I run a strap from the rear of the bike to a hook in the front of the bed (not visible in this picture) - just to be sure it can't shift backwards.

As for loading, I do it by myself with the skinny, folding dirt-bike ramp. But I cheat. I look for an incline, ideally one where I can drop the rear wheels in a gutter as in this photo. When I load it in my sloped driveway, the ramp's incline is very slight. Strap the ramp to the truck - especially when unloading.

[Kev m]

Short bed and tailgate down, no problem.  Chock up front, and 4 tiedown straps - 2 up front, and 2 toward the rear.  For extra security, put it in gear and run another strap across the rear tire left/right.  That's how I do it every time.  Bike is slightly to the right in the bed leaving room for my folded ramp, also secured from sliding off with a strap.  Piece of cake, especially with a small bike.

Why in gear? If there's any play at all the would repeatedly allow things to bang with every acceleration or braking force no?

[Cam3512]

Why in gear? If there's any play at all the would repeatedly allow things to bang with every acceleration or braking force no?

Overkill I know.  Makes ME feel warm and fuzzy.  I rarely truck my bikes.

[Kev m]

  I rarely truck my bikes.

That's probably a good thing as I kinda wonder if you might be doing damage to the driveline.

[Perazzimx14]

Why in gear? If there's any play at all the would repeatedly allow things to bang with every acceleration or braking force no?

If your not using a wheel chock and there's enough play in the straps to allow the bike to move back and forth (even a slight amount) the only thing its going to bang into is the bed and side rail of the truck when it falls over.

Cam3512 is using a wheel chock and 5 straps (3 of which are overkill IMO) I can't imagine anything is moving back and forth.

[Kev m]

If your not using a wheel chock and there's enough play in the straps to allow the bike to move back and forth (even a slight amount) the only thing its going to bang into is the bed and side rail of the truck when it falls over.

Cam3512 is using a wheel chock and 5 straps (3 of which are overkill IMO) I can't imagine anything is moving back and forth.

Perhaps, but seems like an unnecessary risk. Maybe I'm just being overly cautious.

[atavar]

I have never had any problem with two straps and the front shocks compressed 25-50% and no wheel chock. Of course the wheel chock would prevent the tyre from rubbing a clean spot on the front wall of the truck bed. 

[Perazzimx14]

I have never had any problem with two straps and the front shocks compressed 25-50% and no wheel chock. Of course the wheel chock would prevent the tyre from rubbing a clean spot on the front wall of the truck bed.

The wheel chock also keeps the wheel from turning. If for some reason you can't tie to the handlebars, forks or triples and tie only to the frame the front wheel can turn and down goes the bike.

[jas67]

Depending on the height of your tailgate, 6 feet is a pretty short ramp.  My F350's tail gate is 34" off the ground.    A 6 foot ram would be a 50% grade, steeper if it has a breakover curve at the top (which would DEFINITELY be needed with a ramp that short).


I have this:
http://www.discountramps.com/black-widow-motorcycle-ramp/p/BW-40-AMR/

Three piece set of folding rams, 9' long, and 40" wide, assembled.     It has a curve for the break over at the top to avoid bottoming, and is plenty wide for both feet to be down to slowly walk the bike down the ramp (while seated on it) using the clutch as a brake (engine off, of course), as the front brake will just slide the wheel, since much of the weight will be on the back wheel when descending the ramp backwards.

Loading, you can ride up, nailing the brake before hitting the back of the cab, or, if you have good clutch control, and don't mind abusing your clutch, paddle walk up the ramp sliding the clutch.

$349 -- worth every penny.   If you scrimp and get a narrow 6 foot ramp, you will regret it.

[darkstar1269]

Just picked this up two weeks ago, no chock, two ties downs. Drove from San Diego to Phoenix no problem. Have made similar trips with other bikes the same way. The chock is not a bad idea, but I have found it to not be necessary. This F150 wasn't mine and only had the 5.5' bed as well

l.

[Kev m]

Just picked this up two weeks ago, no chock, two ties downs. Drove from San Diego to Phoenix no problem. Have made similar trips with other bikes the same way. The chock is not a bad idea, but I have found it to not be necessary. This F150 wasn't mine and only had the 5.5' bed as well

l.

WOW, you might have dodged a bullet, were both those straps on the front?

Depending on the front suspension (and the amount the truck itself bounces) I've seen bikes tied down with just 2 straps loosen, cock sideways (when the rear moves) and go down in the trailer or truck.

[atavar]

WOW, you might have dodged a bullet, were both those straps on the front?

Depending on the front suspension (and the amount the truck itself bounces) I've seen bikes tied down with just 2 straps loosen, cock sideways (when the rear moves) and go down in the trailer or truck.

With just two straps in the front I have hit a horrid RR track and walked the rear wheel all the way over to the side of the bed and the front was fine and the bike stayed up.  So log as the suspension is tensioned enough so the two straps don't loosen and the tyre is tight against the bed wall all will be well. 

[Cam3512]

Who wants to half-ass it and even have to worry about that!   What, to save a few bucks on a chock and a couple more straps? 

When I was loading my V7 Special into my pickup truck the day I bought it, the dealer told me how another customer recently LOST his Ducati OUT of the back of a truck due to improper, half-assed tie downs and no chock.  When I say "LOST", I mean it flew right out of the truck bed onto the highway.

[Kev m]

With just two straps in the front I have hit a horrid RR track and walked the rear wheel all the way over to the side of the bed and the front was fine and the bike stayed up.  So log as the suspension is tensioned enough so the two straps don't loosen and the tyre is tight against the bed wall all will be well.

You can have all the positive outcomes in the world, but it only takes one negative to change an opinion.

Like I said, I've seen it happen to people before. One example, two friends (professional truckers used to checking loads) got to their destination with an enclosed trailer and found one bike on top of the other and realized that's how it happened. Might have something to do with the suspension on the trailer vs. most trucks, but still if the rear can move, the bike can come down.

Like Cam says, why risk it?

[Tom]

'97 Daytona RS and '97 1100 Sporti on the wayfrom Torrance/Signal Hill to San Diego to be shipped out to Hilo, Hawaii.  No chocks.  Strapped down.  4 straps each always.  Short bed, extend cab truck.  Ramp to load at Ed Milich's house and Mark's MG Classics to loading dock at Pasha's warehouse.

[atavar]

You can have all the positive outcomes in the world, but it only takes one negative to change an opinion.

Like I said, I've seen it happen to people before. One example, two friends (professional truckers used to checking loads) got to their destination with an enclosed trailer and found one bike on top of the other and realized that's how it happened. Might have something to do with the suspension on the trailer vs. most trucks, but still if the rear can move, the bike can come down.

Like Cam says, why risk it?

I'll stick with what I said.  Regardless of what the back wheel does if the front wheel is secured properly with two straps and the suspension is properly tensioned the bike is going to stay upright.  If the wheel turned either the straps were not installed properly or the suspension was not compressed sufficiently or the tire was not braced to a forward wall. 
OK, I'm done.

[Kev m]

I'll stick with what I said.  Regardless of what the back wheel does if the front wheel is secured properly with two straps and the suspension is properly tensioned the bike is going to stay upright.  If the wheel turned either the straps were not installed properly or the suspension was not compressed sufficiently or the tire was not braced to a forward wall. 
OK, I'm done.

At what point is the suspension compressed so far it threatens fork seals?

[atavar]

At what point is the suspension compressed so far it threatens fork seals?

Isn't that rather how quickly is the suspension compressed?  If your forks cannot handle full compression without damage then you need to either get new forks or have someone ride ahead of you looking for potholes.

[Kev m]

Isn't that rather how quickly is the suspension compressed?  If your forks cannot handle full compression without damage then you need to either get new forks or have someone ride ahead of you looking for potholes.

Or is it an issue of taking a harder hit (momentum/mass of truck moving upward) when the forks where already mostly compressed? I suspect the forces might be greater than a single pothole while riding and braking. And potentially could happen repeatedly over a given stretch of road.

[atavar]

Or is it an issue of taking a harder hit (momentum/mass of truck moving upward) when the forks where already mostly compressed? I suspect the forces might be greater than a single pothole while riding and braking. And potentially could happen repeatedly over a given stretch of road.

With the suspension of the truck any shock or energy is going to be slower than for instance if you hit a pothole or climb a curb on your bike.
The fork seals are under no more stress at full compression than they are at rest. All they do is seal dust out and oil in.  They don't seal any pressure. 

[Kev m]

With the suspension of the truck any shock or energy is going to be slower than for instance if you hit a pothole or climb a curb on your bike.
The fork seals are under no more stress at full compression than they are at rest. All they do is seal dust out and oil in.  They don't seal any pressure. 

So it's coincidence when I've seen fork seals fail immediately after trailering? (Honestly asking).  You're claiming the whole don't fully compress the suspension when trailering is myth?

[Cam3512]

I'd say the OP got enough advice, good and bad, to make an educated decision about buying a chock.

His decision.

[jas67]

Who wants to half-ass it and even have to worry about that!   What, to save a few bucks on a chock and a couple more straps? 

 :1:

You can have all the positive outcomes in the world, but it only takes one negative to change an opinion.

.....

Like Cam says, why risk it?

THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[ken farr]

Just my 2 cents, don't cheap out on the ramp.  Check the rating on the HF unit and you may find that the bike and a person will overload the unit.

I bought 2 ramps from Cycle Gear ( yeah still made in China, I know ), on sale, the wide one and a narrow one,  I walk up the narrow one next to the bike.

I also have a friend standing by, if nothing else just moral support.

kjf