Carrying a medium sized bike

[dzzz]

Suggestions for hauling a 500lb wet motorcycle at a bed height of about 48 inches? The weight/height makes a simple ramp seem somewhat difficult, although I haven't tried it yet. I have the option of carrying it on the back, or in a compartment between camper and cab.
I might look for a lighter bike that works with a tall rider.

 

[Mickldo]

Normally I'd say just ride it up but in this case if you made the ramp wide enough so you could walk along side the bike while being very careful with the clutch.......

Depending on the location a simple swing away davit crane with a worm drive winch could be made to work.

How much room have you got spare? Where do you want it mounted? What have you got to lift off with the bike? What type of bike?

 

[Lynn]

Don't know if this helps, but I just ran across these pix this PM:

From this photo album:

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Album=CUHFPVWZ

 

[4x4 explorer]

For what it's worth, I chose to mount mine on back. I'd look for a little lighter bike. I'm riding a KTM 640 Adventure which is in the 350# range and is a good tall guy bike. Also, consider a hoist rather than a winch for safety if you decide to lift bike on to rack. I built extension into camper box for hoist as you can see in picture. I'm working on rack design right now, and it will fit into hitch receivers that I welded into camper support frame.

 

[dzzz]

Thanks for the responses.
The KTM looks good in profile. I've also ridden an on/off road Buell and it is a good fit, but the Harley V twin is uses is just not my idea something I want to start in a campground at 5am. How does the KTM sound?

I did find a 10' ramp that's wide enough to ride up and be able to put my feet down. But I need to figure out if I can do that and get it into a narrow spot - either on the back or between the camper and cab. At a 4/10 slope I could probably run a bike up a ramp if I had to.

I might need a hoist for tires too. The hoist part is easy, its the crane that becomes cumbersome. Thinking about it I should try to handle the bike and tires the same way, if possible.

I don't want to carry the bike on the front unless I have no other choice.

 

[dzzz]

The bike I can get at a good price is a Buell Uly. Good tall person bike. More engine than I need. Here's the new version:

http://www.buell.com/en_us/bikes/adventure/XB12X/

 

[Mickldo]

I take it you already know about the excellent motorbike sub forum here on expo and the adventure bike specific forum http://www.advrider.com/

There are heaps of great bikes out there and a lot of it comes down to personal preference but there is heap of good advice out there.

I am in the process of buying a Suzuki DR650 with all of the farkles.

Me test riding a mates DR650 at Easter.

 

[dustboy]

Be very careful loading up the ramp..My buddy was loading his relatively light DRZ 400 into the back of his lifted toyota, and the ramp slipped, bike came down on top of him. Not only did he miss our trip, he was hurting for several weeks.

 

[dzzz]

I take it you already know about the excellent motorbike sub forum here on expo and the adventure bike specific forum http://www.advrider.com/

Thanks. I was thinking of the forum here as only for tour bikes. But you're right, that group would know about putting bikes on lifted vehicles.

 

[dzzz]

Be very careful loading up the ramp..My buddy was loading his relatively light DRZ 400 into the back of his lifted toyota, and the ramp slipped, bike came down on top of him. Not only did he miss our trip, he was hurting for several weeks.

I had not even thought about mud or rain.
I was thinking that if I can't ride up a ramp, I have no business on a bike. But I had beautiful sunny days in my head

 

[Stan]

This is the bike rack i have had on my MAN lorry,its a standard taillift, its now removed as i am rebuilding the back. It works well as a motor bike carrier, verandah and work bench.
Simple, light and easy to come by.

Stan

 

[jesusgatos]

View attachment 29354

View attachment 29355

View attachment 29356This is the bike rack i have had on my MAN lorry,its a standard taillift, its now removed as i am rebuilding the back. It works well as a motor bike carrier, verandah and work bench.
Simple, light and easy to come by.

Stan

That looks like a great setup. I'm building an enclosed trailer to haul all of my dirt bikes, but I think I'm also going to add a liftgate setup like that so I can haul 1-2 bikes on the back of the truck. Not that I would normally carry them that way, but it would be nice to be able to haul a couple of bikes without having to take the trailer. Might end up making something to carry them up front instead though. Then I would be able to carry them with/without the trailer (if it was full of other stuff).

 

[4x4 explorer]

The KTM is not loud so it should not be offensive to neighbors in a campground. If you decide to carry bike between cab and camper you could do as I did. I'm carrying my spare on truck roof and needed an easy way to get it up/down. I fabricated a stack exhaust tube using 3/16" steel tubing that doubles as the platform for my hoist. I pop off the sleeve at the top and slide the hoist over the top to lift and lower/raise tire. You could use the same type of set up. If you are interested I could go into more detail.

 

[jesusgatos]

The KTM is not loud so it should not be offensive to neighbors in a campground. If you decide to carry bike between cab and camper you could do as I did. I'm carrying my spare on truck roof and needed an easy way to get it up/down. I fabricated a stack exhaust tube using 3/16" steel tubing that doubles as the platform for my hoist. I pop off the sleeve at the top and slide the hoist over the top to lift and lower/raise tire. You could use the same type of set up. If you are interested I could go into more detail.

I'd like to see that. Sounds cool.

 

[spencyg]

I was going to do a hydraulic lift system built into the rear bumper of Boomer, but after screwing myself up last year as a result of riding my KLR on dirt (and the subsequent surgery on my back that resulted from it), I've sold the bike and want nothing to do with dirt / adventure riding. Just too much weight too high up over questionable terrain. There are many people out there who pull it off successfully, but I'm no longer one of them. The thought of riding one up a ramp sounds like nothing but a bad idea to me...I'd strongly suggest reconsidering that one...

Ride safe folks...the difference between a good ride and months of recovery is 1 second and half a wisker...

Spence