Two Motorcycles in the Bed

I'm planning a track day with a buddy. And I am wanting to try to save some money on gas, so I want to load both of our bikes (2006 and 2007 GSXR 600's) in the bed of my 2012 double cab long bed. I have seen pictures of Tacomas with two street bikes in the bed. I am just curious if anyone can give me some insight on how they tied down both bikes without damaging fairings.

Currently when I haul my bike by itself, I use a Baxley Sport Chock and put a ratchet strap from each of the passenger pegs to the front tie down points in the bed. This obviosuly wont work with two bikes. So any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

Load one front end in and the other back end in. Should be fine, esp with a long bed.

 

I would be worried about air catching under the windscreen of the one facing backwards though.

 

This is what I got when I googled it. And this is more of what I would want as a set up to haul. It is obviously do able.

 

We do this all the time, but with dual sports. I have anchors in the front corners of the bed. I run tiedowns form the handlebars to each anchor. The strap that's going to the "farther away side" has to go through the spokes of the other bike. I usually put an extra tiedown on the back to snug down the rear suspension so it doesn't move around.

Only thing is that your plastics might touch the wheel wells. My shift pegs/rear brake/clutch cover sometimes hits the wheel well when I compress the rear suspension, but I don't really care because dirtbike.

Honestly I wouldn't transport a street bike in the bed of my truck at all, but that's because I'm very familiar with the "crunch" sound a bike makes when it falls on the ramp...

 

On an unrelated note, we had at one point 1 KLR250, 1 XT250, 1 XT225 an 1 XR650 in a single F350... So, anything is really possible if you are motivated

 

We just aren't looking to ride two hours to the track with all of our gear, clothes, and tools. Ride hard all weekend. And then have to make that drive back. And I dont think I could I haul all that on a sport bike.

I have loaded and unloaded my bike numerous times alone. That isn't the problem. It's just the strapping down part. But I will look into running the straps through the wheels. But on sport bikes, there aren't really any places to put the straps on the handle bars without using canyon dancers because they are clip ons instead of handle bars.

 

Look into a product called a bed buddy. It gives you more tie down options in the front and a place to hold the front tire.

 

Or this one, sold by a TWer.

 

CCRSport bed buddy works great for both dirt and street bikes

 

When I tie mine down (on a trailer) I go up inside the fairing in the front and wrap it around the triple tree (basically wrap it around where the shock passes through). You gotta crank it way down with this method though. Mine fell on the trailer when I hit a big enough bump to compress the shock enough to let the strap go slack and fall over. I have all kinds of spots to put straps on the front of my trailer though so not sure where you'd hook the inside strap, I guess just hope it'll clear going through the wheel of the other bike.

Here's a pic to hopefully clarify what I'm talking about on tying the front down

 

The two wheel chocks definitely help out in this picture! But I like the idea of running the straps up through the fairings.

And I really like the extra tie down spots on the bed buddy. But as a college student, I don't really have the extra change laying around to pay an extra $140 to buy one! I'm going to get my buddy to bring his bike over this weekend so that we can look at everything.

 

The chocks don't really do shit, I have to wedge that styrofoam in front of the 636 because it isn't wide enough for the rotors to fit into. They don't hold the bikes up at all either, just kinda a parking spot I guess.

 

I was wondering about the that. I love my Baxley sport chock. make loading the bike in the bed much easier. Just roll it up into the chock and hop off. Then I can fumble around with tie downs and loading gear and whatever else. I think I'm just going to pick up some four D-rings. Put three up front in the floor of the bed and one in the back in the middle.

I was also doing some reading about people putting the army surplus rings under the existing bed rails. Has anyone tried this?

 

I think two sport bikes would be doable, but imagine a lot of cuss words in the process. I've done two dual sport bikes using only the stock bed rail loop things. I know people say those are weak, but I use a fork support, (could also use a piece of wood) and put it between the fender and tire so there is only about an inch of compression. Then it only takes about four cranks on the rachet straps. Instead of having to rachet the suspension down all the way.

If this is something you plan on doing a lot, I'd look into a bike trailer. Can usually find them pretty cheap, and it's much easier to do with the lower suspension bikes.

 

With my 2004 tacoma I put my bike in the bed, couldn't imagine putting 2 in there.

 

I just know that it can be done. And I don't have room to keep a trailer anywhere where I live. Also I don't really see the need to haul more than one bike in the bed that often. That might change depending on how this track day goes. So I don't want to break the bank on this first time doing it.

I had borrowed a trailer the only other time I needed to move more than one bike. But the guy I borrowed it from sold it.

 

Thought about getting this for either my truck bed or a trailer. Seems really easy to get in and out. I would probably add two straps to the handle bars for extra security. But otherwise it seems sturdy and stable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwaEABfg2rA

Pics with it installed on a Taco:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/60016-hauling-motorcycles.html#post1103848

 

I have one on my trailer, its awesome. Expensive to start out but worth it.

 

Even though they are clip-ons you can still use them to tie the bike down. Don't need the canyon dancers. Although they're nice to have.

Move your side bed rail attachments to the front of the bed. Hook one tie down to the lower hook and the other to the bed rail. Space the rail attachments far enough as to not let the tie down rub on the fairing. If not possible, throw a towel or shirt under the tie down so it doesn't rub off the paint.

What track? Make sure you stay hydrated! Not sure how many track days you've done but if you have any questions feel free to PM me. I've raced and forgot how many track days I've done.