Transportation of a motorcycle is an important issue for bike owners when they urgently need to move their vehicle. The goals are different: buying or selling, repairing, long-distance travel. Rarely does a driver decide to purchase special delivery equipment. We have to look for options that will ensure the safety of the vehicle on the road. The solution is a logistics service for transporting a motorcycle by car. Advantages - there are special fastening systems, the property is insured. Depending on the distance of the destination, the masses of the bike choose different methods of transportation.
How to transport a motorcycle inside a vehicle
You can use different means for delivery:
- Minibus, van - cargo models are completely ready for travel, and passenger models can be easily transformed to deliver a bike by removing the seats. The low loading height allows you to easily roll up the product and safely transport it to any distance. Plus - the equipment is protected from theft, weather conditions, and accidental loss due to a fall.
- How to transport a motorcycle with a pickup truck - even with a short body, you can deliver equipment if you put the rear wheel on an open side, which has a large margin of safety. Rear-wheel drive pickups have a low loading height and are easy to roll up.
- Car - you can transport a motorcycle across Russia, if the model is roomy enough, it is possible to remove the rear seats or partially disassemble the bike.
When planning delivery, you need to equip the car with special fastenings to guarantee the vehicle’s immobility. These are straps for fixation and a trap for the front wheel.
Motorcycle tow truck/tow truck
In our world, almost all problems can be solved with money. If you get stuck along the way due to a breakdown or need to transport a bike but don’t have a workhorse, a motorcycle tow truck is always happy to see you. They can have any kind of transport, from a regular tow truck to an adapted van.
There’s nothing stopping you from calling even a regular tow truck. Not in every area you can find a free motorcycle tow truck, then why not turn to a simple one, the main thing is to warn that you want to transport a motorcycle. It will occupy a modest place on the tow truck and will need to be securely secured in a special way so that it does not tip over. In exceptional cases, it is possible to place the bike immediately behind the driver’s cabin and attach it in the wind.
How to transport a motorcycle to another city in a trailer
Option for delivery of several or one model. You can purchase a lightweight trailer that allows you to transport equipment up to 750 kg, permitted for category B. Modifications are convenient for loading and have a low frame. Feature - you will have to buy an additional awning to cover the bike from dirt, it is difficult to maneuver.
According to the rules for transporting motorcycles, it is permissible to deliver them in the side trailer of the bike; some install a special platform. The downside is the option for moving lightweight scooter models. Heavy equipment will cause improper distribution of weight, and there is a risk of overturning on the way.
Helpful Tips:
- If it is not possible to purchase a trailer for any reason (there is no way to store it, limited budget, etc.), it is worth considering the rental option. Rental companies with a good reputation maintain the trailers in excellent condition, as well as all the necessary documentation;
- When designating the dimensions of a trailer for one or a pair of motorcycles, open modifications of 1.5x1.8 m are recommended, which include a lowering rear ramp. Ideally, the trailer will be equipped with special latches on the floor in the front;
- When deciding to choose a trailer with small wheels, you should focus on the fact that they tend to bounce when traveling. In this regard, when planning to transport an expensive motorcycle model, you should give preference to more sustainable modifications.
GAZELLES can transport light and heavy motorcycles. For heavy modifications, vehicles equipped with motorcycle boots are best suited. Transportation of light models is possible on special ladders. During evacuations, equipped pickup trucks are used. Loading is carried out using ramps that act as a rear guardrail. Fixation to the body is done using stretch marks.
External platform
Mounting on a towbar is a method of transportation without using the trunk of a car. How much it costs to transport a motorcycle this way depends on the type of platform you purchase or make yourself. It can be large, accommodate several light bikes or one heavy one.
The platform is installed in place of the tow bar, which will allow you to transport an enduro bike, pit bike, or scooter directly behind the car.
The driver must guarantee:
- license plate visibility;
- good performance of lighting devices;
- reliable fastening of the platform.
The platform can also be installed in front of the car; this is a more complex option; not every driver can handle the controls.
How to transport a snowmobile with the help of a specialized company
This is perhaps the easiest way to transport one, two or more snowmobiles. You simply call a company that transports special equipment and coordinate all issues with the dispatcher. Starting from the dimensions of your device to discussing the route and the date and time suitable for transportation.
After you have agreed on everything, wait for the arrival of special transport and specialists at the appointed time. They will competently prepare, load and transport your winter vehicle to where you need it.
If you consider it necessary, an agreement will be concluded with you. This is usually done if there is a long move ahead - to another city or even country.
After completion of transportation, the owner of the special equipment usually checks whether it has become damaged during use. Most often this is a simple formality, but the rules should not be broken.
How do transport companies transport motorcycles?
The service is a solution to an issue without the need to organize a complex process. The logistician independently analyzes:
- Transport - car, railway transportation of a motorcycle. Distance, cost, and technical condition are taken into account.
- Reliable fixation system - special retaining traps, platforms, and belts are often combined.
- The choice of route is safe and short.
- Loading, unloading.
- Property insurance - the customer does not risk incurring losses, they will be compensated.
Bonus - the transport company immediately offers several profitable options; you can track the cargo en route.
Partial loading
The essence of the method is that the front wheel is securely fastened, and the rear wheel rotates, ensuring the movement of the motorcycle. For this delivery method, you need to purchase a special metal structure or make it yourself.
Flaws:
- It is not recommended to transport heavy models with a long wheelbase - during travel the bike is at an angle, liquids flow.
- Danger to transmission.
- Difficult to maneuver on uneven roads.
- There is a high risk of damaging the bike.
The technique is not recommended for long-distance travel.
Two-wheeler fastening
First of all, you need to provide for the presence of a towbar in your car. If you did not buy the car new and did not install the device for attaching the trailer yourself, then you need to make sure that the tow bar is not decorative. To transport a trailer and a motorcycle, you will need a reliable design and a powerful vehicle. If the total weight of the structure is more than 2 tons, then you will need a pickup truck or jeep. The mounting process itself is simple:
- First of all, you will need tension straps. Choosing them is very simple, you need to pay attention to the total weight of the motorcycle and divide it in half. Each belt should support half the weight of the motorcycle, but it is better to buy nylon models with a safety margin.
- Acquiring an emphasis. If you plan to drive and secure the motorcycle on a trailer yourself, then a stop is a must. The devices will simplify the work and avoid arbitrary movement of the motorcycle. The stop is usually made of metal or plastic and is installed under the front wheel.
- You need to tighten the belts crosswise, this will give the structure rigidity and reliability. You need to adjust the degree of tension yourself, it depends on its vertical alignment. You can use soft options as hinges that will not damage the elements of the motorcycle.
- If it seems to you that the work is completely finished and everything looks good, then you should first climb onto the trailer and jump on it. This will be an imitation of riding, you will be able to evaluate how much the iron horse bounces. If necessary, you need to make adjustments and increase the tension of the belts. Do not tighten the belts too much. Even soft rings can damage important parts of your motorcycle.
- At the final stage of fastening, do not forget to cover the expensive equipment with a tarpaulin. Even if you are sure of good, sunny weather, this will provide additional protection from dust, stone impacts and other factors.
Before you go on the road, double-check that the fastenings are secure. Check to see if the motorcycle is level and if all the belts are secure. If you are going on a train with a trailer for the first time, then it is better to practice driving around the city and on the highway with an empty trailer. You need to take turns very slowly, take into account the turning radius of the trailer, and adhere to the speed limit. If you are transporting a motorcycle, be sure to stop along the way and check the tension of the belts. A planned stop will not take more than 5 minutes, but it will protect the motorcycle from damage.
Securing the motorcycle during transport
If you decide to refuse the services of a logistician, you have a difficult task ahead - to create a fixation system that will ensure the bike does not move:
- Wheel trap - installed in the back of a pickup truck, van, minibus, trailer. The structure is screwed to the floor, a wheel is placed inside and fixed. You can purchase different modifications of traps. The simplest is a curved pipe that follows the shape of the wheel; there is a risk of bending the brake discs.
- Cables are a reliable fixation, without which it is difficult to ensure immobility.
- The straps are stretched so as to prevent the equipment from falling on its side.
- Side stands - the wheel rests against a corner of the body and is pulled to the stand by straps, preventing it from rolling away.
The fixation will be more reliable if you use different devices at the same time. For example, a trap and rope, a stand and straps. After a few kilometers of travel it is worth stopping to check the position of the equipment. If it moves, falls on its side, or rolls away, increase the tension of the belts.
Use Cases
A snowmobile is not only a convenient vehicle, but also a way to have fun while away your leisure time during the cold season.
Unfortunately, in city conditions it is quite problematic to afford such extreme walks, so snowmobiles are often used outside the city. In this regard, the problem of safe transportation of a snowmobile arises. Of course, today there are many professional services that specialize in transporting such equipment, but their services are not cheap, and from the point of view of convenience, this is not the best option.
The optimal solution in this case is a trailer for transporting a snowmobile, which will allow you to conveniently transport it using your car. Often, snowmobile owners use a regular car trailer to transport it. However, the problem is that such a platform is not designed for such loads. As a result, scratches and sometimes more serious damage appear on the equipment. Therefore, if you value your vehicle, it is worth purchasing a professional trailer for transporting a snowmobile.
When choosing a trailer, you must first consider the overall dimensions of the snowmobile. The vehicle must fit freely on the platform, and at the same time have a small margin, which is necessary for its reliable fixation and placement of additional equipment. The standard trailer dimensions are 150 cm wide and 350 cm long, but there are options for transporting several snowmobiles at the same time, and their width starts from 200 cm or more.
As mentioned earlier, the body for a snowmobile differs from a standard trailer, primarily the difference lies in the reinforced structure. In addition, on board such a special trailer there are fastening elements that guarantee the safety of this expensive equipment. Particularly noteworthy is the design of the rear part of the trailer, which can easily be transformed into a loading and unloading ramp. In model names designed to transport two or more snowmobiles, ramps play the function of a ladder.
