Are you guys loading sportbikes in your truck by yourself

Are you able to get your sportbikes loaded with just ramps and a decline? NOT dirtbikes, and without using a loading dock. I am considering eliminating my camper shell. I don’t like renting a uhaul trailer every time I want to move my bike

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKlVC-pfbC0

 

good vid but I’m interested to see how one loads a sportbike into the back of a pickup by themselves, not a trailer

 

It's a pain. I used a 10 foot ramp and then walked next to the bike on a ladder. Every time I loaded to go to the track, that was the most likely time I was going to damage the bike. One time the ladder kicked out and we all went down together upside down. They make wide ramps but it costs a fortune for one that is long enough to make it useful. Like the same price as a small trailer

 

I've got ~2.5" lift and getting my SV650 in the bed with tri-fold 72" harbor freight ramps by myself is sketchy AF.

Almost dropped it from tailgate height at the beach as it only takes a tiny sprinkling of sand (on the tire or the ramp) for it to slide right off. There weren't any convenient ditches or paved uneven areas to take advantage of.

If you're gonna do it then look for a ditch or uneven parking lot that'll bring the tailgate height down. It's very difficult to catch 400 lbs of falling bike.

 

I actually like the hitch carrier option because it means I won't have to remove my shell. I threw an aftermarket hitch on my Tacoma, but it's just held in by a few bolts into the frame. Bike is 450lbs

 

Two foldable ramps from CycleGear or wherever will do the trick. Clutch the bike up one ramp and walk up the other. I always added grip tape from HD or Lowe’s to the rungs on both ramps to make it easier when transporting my bikes.

 

Cool. Post pictures if you go for it. You might need ride-rite air-bags for the squat with 450lbs that far back.

 

Seriously considering using a hitch carrier so I don't have to eliminate my camper. Dad has a huge one I can use. Just thinking if it is completely safe with my aftermarket hitch. Hitch is held into frame by a few bolts, bike is 450lbs

 

BlackWidow has a hitch carrier that is rated for 600lbs. I’ve seen a few guys come with their bikes to the track on them without hesitation , but they weren’t 450lbs.

 

What brand of straps are you using? I like the non-ratchet straps with a loop so there is no metal on metal.

 

What make and model of bike are you looking to transport?? I used generic ratchet straps for years I purchased at HomeDepot ... hooked them onto canyon dancers for ease of transport with a wide variety of sport bikes.

 

BMW s1000r. It's not some POS dirtbike, it's a $20,000 racing machine with an engine big enough to power a sedan. Between trailering, truck bed, and hitch carrier, the carrier seems the jankiest. It's a convenient option because I don't have the space to store a trailer and I run a camper shell on my truck.

I will only use the carrier on the freeway when going back and forth between houses, and to the track

 

I had the BlackWidow carrier for my BMW GS (450ish lbs). It did work, but I was never comfortable with it. I used it twice and then sold it. I wouldn't be comfortable with a heavier bike, or use on bumpy roads.

 

Tough situation to be in for sure. I wouldn’t want a nice new BMW on a hitch mounted carrier myself so I understand.

Kendon has some sweet folding trailers that hold their value extremely well and take up minimal space when compacted... If you do have “some” space for storage.

Not sure if you are tracking that bike but I always shared trailers with some track friends and we would take turns hauling to the track and storing the trailer(s) at whomever’s house had the space.

Let’s see a pic of that bike btw ... BMW killed it with that bike.

 

Bike is absolutely insane... The cool thing about BMWs is the maintence is extremely cheap. Engine, trans, and primary oil use the same fluid and fill/drain out of the same plug. I think BMW makes the best bikes out. My next bike will be a Ducati Multistrada just to say I owned a Ducati. I want something that sits comfy, with a windshield and full bags w/o sacrificing streetbike performance.

 

Nice bike and a lot of coin.

I'd trailer it. If you can afford a $20k motorcycle and track days then I imagine you can easily swing a nice landscape trailer or motorcycle trailer.

 

If you do try out the hitch carrier then check the aftermarket hitch for it's rating/limit and make sure the bolts are hardened (if they came with the hitch then I imagine they are.)

 

Trailer it or you run a lot of risk. And get a Ducati too... my 996s isn’t as quick but has 1000x the personality.

 

I've loaded mine onto my 1st gen Prerunner and, even with my wife helping, the ramp ALWAYS wanted to slide when the bike was about halfway up. It was strapped, so I knew it wasn't going anywhere, but still highly unnerving. I don't even want to try with my "new" truck! I may sell the ramp I have now and build one that allows for much better incline angle...

The track I go to is only about 15 miles away, so for my most recent outing, I just semi-prepped the bike and rode it there while my wife drove the truck. It was nice to have the full bed to put everything in but the bike, and worked out well.