One of the biggest obstacles of dirt bike riding is making sure you have a good way to haul your bike to your favorite riding locations. There are many ways to haul a motorcycle with a variety of different vehicles. I’m going to give you a few ideas, so that this minor obstacle wont stop you from ripping your favorite dirt bike riding spots.
How to Haul a Motorcycle with a Truck
Using a truck is certainly the easiest way to transport a bike. There are just a few things you’ll need to make sure you have in order to safely secure the motorcycle in the bed of a truck.
- A good quality set of tie downs
- At least 3 anchor points to tie the bike down (Ex. below left handle bar, below right handle bar, and rear wheel)
- A block of wood or “seal saver” to place in the front forks
- A loading ramp
- Something stable to step on climbing into the truck while pushing the bike
Prepare Tie Downs
You will want to begin by getting the handle bar tie downs prepared for you to secure the bike. I like to have the bottom hooks already secured to the truck, especially if I’m loading the bike by myself.
Place Loading Ramp and Step
Next you will want to lay out your loading ramp making sure it is stable and secured to the vehicle with a safety strap, to prevent the ramp from sliding out of place. Also place your step on the ground next to your loading ramp to allow you to step into the bed easier while pushing the bike up the ramp.
Push the Dirt Bike Up the Ramp
Once you have everything in place it’s time to push the bike up the ramp into the truck. Place the bike in neutral so that it will move freely and then square the bike up to the ramp leaving a little distance, so you can get a slight run at the ramp. It is ideal to have someone to spot the bike while you do this and be ready to help you push the bike up if needed. It usually works well to place the front tire in the corner of the truck bed so that it can’t turn either direction, or place a wheel chock in the center of the truck.
Secure Tie Downs
After you get the bike positioned correctly in the truck you will want to secure the tie downs to the left and right handle bar (I find that hooking near the bar clamps works well and prevents damaging your handle bar controls). At this point leave the straps just tight enough to keep the motorcycle from falling over
Use a Seal Saver or Block of Wood
Next you will want to grab your block of wood or “seal saver” to place in between the front wheel and the lower triple clamp (what the front fender is bolted to). This will allow you to firmly tie the front end down without damaging the suspension or seals. Once the block is in place firmly tighten the handle bar straps until the bike has very limited movement left and right. Be careful to not over tighten and pinch the front tire, sometimes it is smart to over inflate your tire slightly for transportation and then let some back out once you arrive to prevent a pinched tube.
Secure Rear Tire
Now that your bike is secured in place I like to place one more strap through the rear wheel to keep the back tire of the motorcycle from shifting left or right while going down the road.
The final touch will be to tie off the ends of your tie down straps at the base of the buckle to prevent the straps from ever loosening. This is a trick the old timers taught me, and it has certainly saved me more that once when old straps begin to slip. This is a crucial step that can prevent the bike from ever coming off while going down the road.
How to transport a Motorcycle with a SUV
Hauling a bike with an SUV is surprisingly easy if you have a hitch on your vehicle. This is my favorite way to haul a bike when I’m only hauling one. I use a bike carrier that inserts into the hitch and I almost forget its even there while driving. You’ll only need a few things to secure the bike to a carrier. The other option is to use a trailer which I cover later in this article (scroll down to see “How to Haul a Motorcycle with a Trailer”)
- Motorcycle hitch carrier
- Tie Downs
- Loading ramp (usually included with bike carrier purchase)
- I recommend a trailer hitch pin lock and cable if you will be leaving bike unattended to prevent theft
First you will need to place the bike carrier into the hitch of your vehicle and secure it in place with the pin (or lock pin for security)
Once the carrier is secured to the vehicle you will want to place the two handle bar straps in place and secure the lower hooks to the bike carrier anchor loops. I like to hang the inside strap on my rear wiper blade (SUV) so that I can reach it when holding the bike.
Next you will need to get the bike ramp securely placed against the carrier and on flat ground so that it can’t shift while pushing the bike up it.
Once everything is prepared grab your motorcycle, making sure it’s rolling freely in neutral, and square it up to the loading ramp leaving enough room to get a slight running start at it. It is a good idea to have some spot you and be ready to help push the motorcycle if needed. Once you push the motorcycle up the ramp you will want the front wheel to fall in place in the front wheel holder, but be careful not to go over the end of the ramp.
Now that the bike is on the ramp you will need to attach the two tie downs to the left and right side of the handle bar, being careful to not drop the motorcycle. I recommend attaching the inner strap first so that the motorcycle can’t fall towards you. Once both straps are attached firmly tighten the two straps until the bike has very limited movement. Usually bike carriers won’t compress the front suspension enough to utilize a “seal saver” or wood block in the front end, but if you can it is a good idea to insert one before snugging the straps down.
How to Haul a Motorcycle behind a RV
The best way to haul a motorcycle behind a RV, unless it’s a “toy hauler,” will be to use a hitch carrier off the back. If your RV does’t have a hitch consult an expert and see if one can be added safely.
Use a bike carrier that inserts into the hitch and you almost forget its even there while driving. You’ll only need a few things to secure the bike to a carrier. The other option is to use a trailer which I cover later in this article (scroll down to see “How to Haul a Motorcycle with a Trailer”). If you use a trailer behind an RV make sure you don’t exceed the maximum length for a vehicle on the roads, also keep in mind it will be hard to see while driving or backing in reverse. The following will be steps for using a bike hitch carrier.
- Motorcycle hitch carrier
- Tie Downs
- Loading ramp (usually included with bike carrier purchase)
- I recommend a trailer hitch pin lock and cable if you will be leaving bike unattended to prevent theft
First you will need to place the bike carrier into the hitch of your vehicle and secure it in place with the pin (or lock pin for security)
Once the carrier is secured to the vehicle you will want to place the two handle bar straps in place and secure the lower hooks to the bike carrier anchor loops. I like to hang the inside strap on my rear wiper blade so that I can reach it when holding the bike.
Next you will need to get the bike ramp securely placed against the carrier and on flat ground so that it can’t shift while pushing the bike up it.
Once everything is prepared grab your motorcycle, making sure it’s rolling freely in neutral, and square it up to the loading ramp leaving enough room to get a slight running start at it. It is a good idea to have some spot you and be ready to help push the motorcycle if needed. Once you push the motorcycle up the ramp you will want the front wheel to fall in place in the front wheel holder, but be careful not to go over the end of the ramp.
Now that the bike is on the ramp you will need to attach the two tie downs to the left and right side of the handle bar, being careful to not drop the motorcycle. I recommend attaching the inner strap first so that the motorcycle can’t fall towards you. Once both straps are attached firmly tighten the two straps until the bike has very limited movement. Usually bike carriers won’t compress the front suspension enough to utilize a “seal saver” or wood block in the front end, but if you can it is a good idea to insert one before snugging the straps down.
How to Haul a Dirt Bike with a Trailer
Hauling a motorcycle with a trailer is great, especially if you’re hauling multiple bikes. Trailers allow you haul any number of bikes being limited only by vehicle towing capacity and trailer size. You’ll need just a few things to start.
- A suitable trailer to haul the motorcycle with
- At least 3 anchor points for each motorcycle loaded
- 3 tie downs per motorcycle
- A wheel chock for each bike (unless the’re already built into the trailer)
- loading ramp (some trailers have them build in)
- I recommend using a lock for your trailer hitch and receiver for security and cable locks for each bike
You will want to begin by getting the handle bar tie downs prepared for you to secure the bike. I like to have the bottom hooks already secured to the trailer, especially if you’re loading the bike by yourself.
Next you will want to lay out your loading ramp making sure it is stable and secured to the trailer with a safety strap, to prevent the ramp from sliding out of place.
Once you have everything in place it’s time to push the bike up the ramp into the trailer into a wheel chock. Make sure the bike is shifted into neutral, so that it will move freely, and then square the bike up to the ramp leaving a little distance. Then get a slight run at the ramp, to push the bike up into the wheel chock, it is ideal to have someone to spot the bike and be ready to help you push the bike if needed.
After you get the bike positioned correctly in the trailer you will want to secure the tie downs to the left and right handle bar (I find that hooking near the bar clamps works well and prevents damaging your handle bar controls). At this point leave the straps just tight enough to keep the motorcycle from falling over
Next you will want to grab your block of wood or “seal saver” to place in between the front wheel and the lower triple clamp (where the front fender is bolted to). This will allow you to firmly tie the front end down without damaging the suspension or seals. Once the block is in place firmly tighten the handle bar straps until the bike has very limited movement left and right. Be careful to not over tighten and pinch the front tire, sometimes it is smart to over inflate your tire slightly for transportation and then let some back out once you arrive to prevent a pinched tube.
Now that your bike is secured in place I like to place one more strap through the rear wheel to keep the back of the motorcycle from shifting while going down the road.
The final touch will be to tie off the ends of your tie down straps at the base of the buckle to prevent the straps from ever loosening. This is a trick the old timers taught me, and it has certainly saved me more that once when old straps begin to slip. This is a crucial step that can prevent the bike from ever coming off while going down the road.