Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

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dern
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by dern »

Yes, the ply is hiding most of the tie down points.


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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by mangocrazy »

weeksy wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:39 pm I never ever put in gear. Many do though. But I'm so much a no on that
Can I ask why not? I wouldn't have the strength to push something like the VFR or the Falco up a ramp into the van unaided. By driving it up the ramp I don't need anyone else's help and can get the van loaded even if it's pointing uphill.
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by Yorick »

mangocrazy wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:13 pm
weeksy wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:39 pm I never ever put in gear. Many do though. But I'm so much a no on that
Can I ask why not? I wouldn't have the strength to push something like the VFR or the Falco up a ramp into the van unaided. By driving it up the ramp I don't need anyone else's help and can get the van loaded even if it's pointing uphill.
I did that for 7 years into my camper.
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by cheb »

mangocrazy wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:13 pm
weeksy wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:39 pm I never ever put in gear. Many do though. But I'm so much a no on that
Can I ask why not? I wouldn't have the strength to push something like the VFR or the Falco up a ramp into the van unaided. By driving it up the ramp I don't need anyone else's help and can get the van loaded even if it's pointing uphill.

You run the risk of the wheel spitting the ramp backwards when the bike is part way in if the ramp isn't very well wedged.

FWIW I always move bikes in and out by hand, no power and no help from others wanted nor needed. Others may do it differently.
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by weeksy »

Dodgy knees wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:44 pm That's what Weeksy needs, sorted. 👍
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by Yorick »

cheb wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:18 pm
mangocrazy wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:13 pm
weeksy wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:39 pm I never ever put in gear. Many do though. But I'm so much a no on that
Can I ask why not? I wouldn't have the strength to push something like the VFR or the Falco up a ramp into the van unaided. By driving it up the ramp I don't need anyone else's help and can get the van loaded even if it's pointing uphill.

You run the risk of the wheel spitting the ramp backwards when the bike is part way in if the ramp isn't very well wedged.

FWIW I always move bikes in and out by hand, no power and no help from others wanted nor needed. Others may do it differently.
I drilled a hole in the top end of ramp and a hole on back of van. Tied a tent peg to top of ramp and just slotted it down through the 2 holes.
100% safe
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by mangocrazy »

cheb wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:18 pm You run the risk of the wheel spitting the ramp backwards when the bike is part way in if the ramp isn't very well wedged.

FWIW I always move bikes in and out by hand, no power and no help from others wanted nor needed. Others may do it differently.
If the ramp isn't properly secured you run the risk of that happening even if you're just using muscle power. I made sure when buying my ramp that it locates securely and won't go missing halfway through loading. It's basic due diligence when specifying a ramp. Getting the bike out of the van is done by hand anyway with engine off.
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by dern »

I don’t bother doing any of those things but I will next time.

Due diligence isn’t my strong point.
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by Yorick »

Yorick wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:21 pm
cheb wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:18 pm
mangocrazy wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:13 pm

Can I ask why not? I wouldn't have the strength to push something like the VFR or the Falco up a ramp into the van unaided. By driving it up the ramp I don't need anyone else's help and can get the van loaded even if it's pointing uphill.

You run the risk of the wheel spitting the ramp backwards when the bike is part way in if the ramp isn't very well wedged.

FWIW I always move bikes in and out by hand, no power and no help from others wanted nor needed. Others may do it differently.
I drilled a hole in the top end of ramp and a hole on back of van. Tied a tent peg to top of ramp and just slotted it down through the 2 holes.
100% safe
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by mangocrazy »

Here's my solution to stopping the ramp moving backwards - invert the tow bar... :D

DSCF3188.JPG
DSCF3188.JPG (204.03 KiB) Viewed 717 times

And use a seriously chunky ramp with a seriously chunky lip/tongue...

DSCF3196.JPG
DSCF3196.JPG (292.72 KiB) Viewed 717 times

Here's the cross bar that i strap the front wheel to:

DSCF3193.JPG
DSCF3193.JPG (269.77 KiB) Viewed 717 times

And here is one of the tie down points using a seat belt anchorage point (mirror image fitting on LH side of van):
Last edited by mangocrazy on Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by mangocrazy »

DSCF3191.JPG
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

I used to use the bikes engine to get it up one ramp while walking up another ramp, solves the whole arms in the air balancing the bike problem.
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by mangocrazy »

A small stool with its height midway between the floor and the van deck makes life much easier. But having two ramps is the gold standard...
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by Yorick »

mangocrazy wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:45 pm A small stool with its height midway between the floor and the van deck makes life much easier. But having two ramps is the gold standard...
I used a milk crate. Then the engine pulled me up :)
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

mangocrazy wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:45 pm A small stool with its height midway between the floor and the van deck makes life much easier. But having two ramps is the gold standard...
They were actually scaffold planks
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by Tricky »

dern wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:44 pm I don’t bother doing any of those things but I will next time.

Due diligence isn’t my strong point.
TBH I don't either, have been loading bikes in my vans for at least a couple of decades now on the same single ramp without securing it in any way or any assistance (other than the bike's engines) and never dropped one or had the ramp slide out , although I've probably jinked myself now :D

I'm guessing that my current van (2021 Renault Trafic) will be same dimensions as yours, I put two bikes in all the time, and have had 3 in it too ( a blade, 765 ST and RC390)- that was a bit of a squash but they go, and went and came back all the way from Cadwell with no mishaps or damage
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by weeksy »

Tricky wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 9:19 pm
dern wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:44 pm I don’t bother doing any of those things but I will next time.

Due diligence isn’t my strong point.
TBH I don't either, have been loading bikes in my vans for at least a couple of decades now on the same single ramp without securing it in any way or any assistance (other than the bike's engines) and never dropped one or had the ramp slide out , although I've probably jinked myself now :D

I'm guessing that my current van (2021 Renault Trafic) will be same dimensions as yours, I put two bikes in all the time, and have had 3 in it too ( a blade, 765 ST and RC390)- that was a bit of a squash but they go, and went and came back all the way from Cadwell with no mishaps or damage
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by mangocrazy »

Tricky wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 9:19 pm
dern wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:44 pm I don’t bother doing any of those things but I will next time.

Due diligence isn’t my strong point.
TBH I don't either, have been loading bikes in my vans for at least a couple of decades now on the same single ramp without securing it in any way or any assistance (other than the bike's engines) and never dropped one or had the ramp slide out , although I've probably jinked myself now :D

I'm guessing that my current van (2021 Renault Trafic) will be same dimensions as yours, I put two bikes in all the time, and have had 3 in it too ( a blade, 765 ST and RC390)- that was a bit of a squash but they go, and went and came back all the way from Cadwell with no mishaps or damage
Yes, that fits with my experience. I've had 3 bikes in a Transit sized van; a Ducati 888, a TL1000S and my Hejira 350 2T. It was very tight, but nothing got damaged and nobody died. I've been doing essentially the same routine for not far off 30 years with no loading mishaps. I do rather like the Big Cheese's scaffold plank walky uppy idea though, especially as I get older. I did use scaffold planks for loading the bike initially, but scared myself and got a proper ramp.
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by dern »

Yorick wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:47 pm
mangocrazy wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:45 pm A small stool with its height midway between the floor and the van deck makes life much easier. But having two ramps is the gold standard...
I used a milk crate. Then the engine pulled me up :)
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Re: Van or MPV to carry two track bikes

Post by weeksy »

mangocrazy wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 9:34 pm
Tricky wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 9:19 pm
dern wrote: Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:44 pm I don’t bother doing any of those things but I will next time.

Due diligence isn’t my strong point.
TBH I don't either, have been loading bikes in my vans for at least a couple of decades now on the same single ramp without securing it in any way or any assistance (other than the bike's engines) and never dropped one or had the ramp slide out , although I've probably jinked myself now :D

I'm guessing that my current van (2021 Renault Trafic) will be same dimensions as yours, I put two bikes in all the time, and have had 3 in it too ( a blade, 765 ST and RC390)- that was a bit of a squash but they go, and went and came back all the way from Cadwell with no mishaps or damage
Yes, that fits with my experience. I've had 3 bikes in a Transit sized van; a Ducati 888, a TL1000S and my Hejira 350 2T. It was very tight, but nothing got damaged and nobody died. I've been doing essentially the same routine for not far off 30 years with no loading mishaps. I do rather like the Big Cheese's scaffold plank walky uppy idea though, especially as I get older. I did use scaffold planks for loading the bike initially, but scared myself and got a proper ramp.
A guy at Silverstone on Tuesday was using a spindly plank to unload his Busa. I cringed. But it went ok.