Does a motorcycle fit

I'm an MSF instructor and a track rider coach. Do yourself a favor, take a class, learn to ride and get a smaller displacement bike.

Or don't.

Just remember, you don't know what you don't know and when that liter bike does what you tell it to (whether you know you did it or not) the results can be catastrophic.

Take it from someone who has spent more time than most ever will over the 150mph mark on race bikes.

Or completely disregard it, I'm just some guy on a forum.

 

A 600cc Sportbike can easily cover the 1/4 mile in under 9 seconds...you just need to be above 40,000 feet when you push it out the back of the C5 transport.

 

some reinforce the tailgate

loads better with 2 person always

id get the CBR

 

This is my mini bike under a softtopper. The handle bars hit the top of the topper, a full sized bike would no way fit under even a fiberglass topper. Also this is a 6f bed.

 

agreed...............

they do have a strong top speed

 

there are rider skills

there are survival skills

that need time & experience to mature into a skilled rider........................not a killed rider

they can be learned on any type or sized bike with proper training

i dont believe i or advocate stair stepping thru several bikes

while i would NOT recommend a litre bike for a virgin

600s no better

 

They can. It just depends how much time you are willing to invest and how much damage you are willing to accept to the bike and your body while learning them. Put a new rider on a Harley ElectraGlide then have them do the U-Turn box and watch what happens. I would bet you they would learn a lot faster and be more successful on a 250cc bike.

 

I'm not going to tell you what you should or should not buy unsolicited, you're an adult. That said, when I had my Yamaha FZ09 it made two moves with me in the back of my tacoma and the rear tire rode on the tailgate, almost 1000 miles in total with no issues.

 

I'd suggest you spend more time riding whatever you buy instead of hauling it around in your truck.

 

Fitting a motorcycle into a bed was a big factor in choosing my first truck several years ago. It probably was the main reason why I got a truck.

The way I measured it, all of the trucks I was looking at more than ten years ago would've worked, Frontier, Ridgeline and Tacoma. All with five foot beds. There were posts where people fit their bike into a Honda Element too, so I test drove one.

Of course I ended up not getting another bike afterwards.

But the way I measured it, it should fit and know others who were able to transport their bikes in their five foot beds, with the tailgate down.

So I imagine it should work for a third gen bed too.

Some things are:
-if the current Tacoma's bed extender is the same as the second gen, I don't think it'd work with a motorcycle. Where it was at a fixed pivot point, so it's not something that you could attach after loading the bike. The second gen Frontier had a similar issue with it's tailgate extender. Where the only way to put it on was at a 90 degree vertical angle. So if it couldn't clear your load after loading it, you can't use it. I think Suzuki, which was a rebadged Nissan, offered a tailgate extender that worked with motorcycles, with different mounting points or something like that. I never really took a look at the third gen Tacoma's bed extender.

-in some ways I'm a big believer that it's more fun to drive slow things fast, then fast things slow. Although I will say when you hop straight from a larger displacement bike to a smaller displacement bike, you do notice the difference right away and makes it feel like a kid's toy. But there are a lot more smaller displacement options now for sports bikes then when I used to ride and they're really tempting. It's not one of them but if I ever get a bike in the near future, it'd probably be a SV650. I used to look down on it in my squid days but I kind of like it and appreciate it now for its simplicity and what it can do.

-as others said, I'd look into a trailer where it's lower to the ground and easier to load. The only potential issue for me is learning how to reverse with a trailer. Depending on how often you'd need it, you can just rent one for cheap. Like maybe $30/day in my area if even that.

-You could also try out a hitch carrier, which I think would work with sport bikes because they're lighter. But would look into it more to make sure that it'd work.

-some people debate about if the tailgate can handle the load. And some people use a piece of plywood on their truck bed or get actual motorcycle carriers or something like that to distribute the weight more evenly. It's been a while since I looked but I think they have things like that.

 

I had no issue hauling a bike for a buddy

 

Well said. I'm also an MSF instructor as well as a track rider & coach. It literally amazes me how many people think they'll "just learn on their own" or "I can handle it. I rode my buddy's bike a few times, I'll be fine." As you said, the consequences can be catastrophic. Some will heed the advice and take a course. Sadly, most don't. I guess they either think they know it all or that it's not "cool" to take a course to learn to ride. I offer advice, but I gave up on really pushing it. People will do what they want.

 

yeah i'd agree on getting a smaller cc bike for a "first bike". i miss my s1000rr but vegas is not the safest place to street ride (up 50% accidents & deaths this year). btw i started with a 1st gen sv650 and that thing rocked as a learner bike for the price. sold it for the same price and learned a LOT on that thing.

5nahalf - i'm jealous. my mini sumo's (klx110 & kx65) won't fit under my are mx camper. but they fit under a buddies 2nd gen w/the same style top (2nd gen window hinge is higher on the camper apparently)

 

Yes, a bike will fit in the back and be fine.

Getting a bike in the back is a pain in the ass regardless of what truck you have esp if you're doing it alone. Unless you're like 6'5 and strong and can easily walk them in. I am 5'8 and its not an easy task. I much prefer a little trailer, but space and money permits that for me so its easy.

Nobody should start on on a liter bike. It is way too much power. Shit even a 600 is very fast. However, a liter super bike is a lot different than lets say an 883 Harley or something. The power is totally different. If you're talking about superbikes etc which you are then no way, if its a Harley sure as they just aren't as much torque or power

 

Semi professional here- 8 years of motocross, 3 years riding and tracking street bikes. This man is speaking gospel.

 

As for riding skills development, I think the two MSF instructors above provide some sound advice.

Regarding your bike selection, I’d strongly recommend starting with what we used to call the “Universal Japanese Motorcycle” or UJM. Something with a fairly upright riding position and no fairings (because the plastic bits get expensive to replace when you drop the bike - and you probably will drop it at some point).

My first bike was an early ‘80’s Suzuki GS 650. I think I paid $600 for it and it served as a great learning platform. It was reliable as a hammer, easy to work on for basic maintenance, and wasn’t going to get me into too much trouble.

In today’s models, I’d be looking for a used CB500F or CB650R (if sticking with Honda). If you’d look to Suzuki, the SV650 would be a solid learning platform.

I’ve loaded my share of bikes into the back of pickups over the years. The important accessory to get are handlebar straps. They look like figure 8 nylon straps and they’ll provide the safest way to get a ratchet strap onto the bike. I think Canyon Dancer was the brand I last purchased.

FWIW, I always found unloading the bike to be way more challenging than loading it.

 

Same here. I usually try to just pass it along, but most people are set on whatever they want before they ask the question.

I've had PLENTY of people come take my class at the track assuming their shiny new liter bike will ride the track for them. No clue about body position, apexing, race line, entry speed, brake markers, etc.

I ran a particularly stubborn student through the paces during an open session. He had a nice Pani V4S. So I rode out with a borrowed R3. I left my SP with a buddy and told him to watch the hangar straight for a few laps. First lap, student got to the turn one brake markers first..then out of turn one, I passed him. On the hangar straight (leads to start/finish), out of turn fourteen, I was about 10 seconds ahead of him. End of lap two? I was behind him again..lol. Lapped in 2-1/2 laps.

 

You need to start off with this and it will fit in the bed of the truck.

 

I started on a 900 with a training course and a mentor. I respected it and the road. I still do. I have stuck with 900 through out and feel it fits like a glove compared to any other. I have never tested their top end despite my willingness to push many limits in life.

 

So bad news, OP.
The gixxer won't fit, and the forum wants you on a Rebel.

Now you stay out of trouble on that thing!