Carrying R1150R in a pickup

[duckdave]

OK, I know it's not cool to tote your m/c in the back of a pickup, but I have to replace my Suburban-tow-vehicle (used for towing my 31" airstream trailer) with a newer unit and I'm considering a pickup truck. Specifically, thinking about a GMC/Chev duramax 2500HD. And it brings about thoughts of being able to bring my m/c (R1150R) along on camping trips. But I don't know anything about putting a m/c in the back of a pickup. Never been there or done that. Gotta admit, it could be nice to have a m/c with me while camping---we camp at a lot of venues that would be perfect for some serious riding. Right now, it's impossible since Airstreams are not capable of being "toy haulers"; nor can they have a second trailer hitched to them; and the truck/trailer rig is too much for my wife to handle on her own (in her mind).

So, I'd be interested in hearing about others' experiences with transport of our favorite toys in the back of a pickup. Specifically, I have questions like:

What size pickup bed can be used? The Chevy/GMC standard box is almost 79 inches long; the "long bed" is almost 98" long. I roughly measured the length of my RR: about 87 inches, maybe a bit more. Can you tote an RR in a standard box (do you have to park it diagonally or does hanging off the tail gate work)??: or is a long box needed?

I've seen plenty of m/c in the back of a pickups, but I have no idea how people get them up there. What's needed? How many people do you need to help? Honestly, I can't visualize doing this. A quick search of youtube only revealed some spectacular disasters---at least on first glance.

I've seen CycleRob with an RR in the back of a smallish pickup, at least as I recall it was not a full size, could be wrong here. How does he do it?? Anyone with experience here?

I am aware of Gypsy's posts about using a trailer to tote several motorcycles. I have to go back and reread those posts. I seem to recall there were specific recomendations about "chocks" for the front wheel (don't know if that is the correct terminology). What about ramps? Seems like the 3/4 ton pickups beds are a lot "higher" up (seems much more scary thinking about it).

Inquiring minds want to know...

[combatcarry]

You would be just fine with a standard size bed and either a 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton pickup. I just measured the bed on my 1/2 ton extended cab GMC and its 77" long. I put the bike in diagonally and I still have room for a ramp beside the bike.

It is probably impossible to pull a trailer and keep the tailgate down. The tailgate will likely strike the crank on the trailer (at least it does in my case).

Hauling a R1100R is really quite easy. The bikes are light in weight and have a low center of gravity making them easier to load. All you have to do is get some foldable aluminum ramps (the longer the better, while making sure they still fit in your bed). Drive around until you find a low spot where you can put your rear wheels, like a driveway, curb edge etc. This makes the slope on the ramp much less, you can almost make the ramps flat if you find the right place. When you load the bike wedge the front wheel into the corner of the bed. Make sure and use plenty of tie downs so that the bike will not slide rearward. Also, don't get too carried away cinching down the front shock. I'm not sure how this affects a telelever front end, but with standard forks you can blow the seals. You only want to compress the front end enough to hold the bike securely, and no more.

If you are looking at a GMC I would suggest getting the Cargo Management System. It has moveable tie down locations that make it very easy to put your tie down straps in exactly the right location. The system looks like this:

I just happen to have a picture of my bike in the bed of my truck. Here it is:

[Colin]

Get a sturdy ramp and a friend who's familiar with handling motorcycles. You can load a bike on your own, but the chance of dropping it increases substantially. When you unload, it's often helpful to leave the bike in gear and use the clutch to allow it to roll. Kind of a failsafe in case you lose your grip momentarily. Also, be sure to take most of the slack out of the front suspension when you ratchet down your straps - you don't want to hit a big bump and suddenly find that the bike has bounced free of its tie-downs.


Normally, I don't endorse trailering bikes around (it's always more fun to ride,) but a couple friends found bikes they wanted to buy in southern California, so we loaded up my old crappy Ninja and took a trip out there for some riding in early March. I built this rack that slips into the receiver hitch on the truck so we could fit three motorcycles:


(Loading up for the trip home in the parking lot across from the Stratosphere in Vegas - notice the strap between the ramp and the truck. You don't want the ramp to start walking away in the middle of a load...)


(Roadside strap check after a little off-road excursion.)

Colin

[Boxer]

Dave,
You can carry a bike in just about any truck. Of course the longer the bed, the better it fits. Did you forget this setup I had for the first Ark. Bash?



Or maybe you weren't there yet...Can't remember. But I just leave my tailgate down 'cause I like to leave the bike straight in the bed so its easier to just roll it straight back down the ramp. I use two pressure treated 2x10 boards with the metal ramp ends attached with a hole drilled through them for a stabilizing pin down and through the tailgate metal. I use TWO boards because I roll the bike up and out by myself and I need the one on the left side of the bike for my foot. It's really very easy. I've hauled the R1150R and the little F650 that way. I expect I'll be hauling the F658 Twin the same way eventually.

[Ol' Jeffers]

Now I know you guys Stateside have much more experience with trucking bikes than most of the riders
in the UK. But do you have anything like this:

http://www.bikegrab.com/

It saves the fork seals and is useful in many ways in the workshop or garage.
Just a thought...(I had to have one sooner or later!)

[Colin]

It's an interesting product, but I wouldn't be totally comfortable without putting a strap or two over the top of the front wheel. A load isn't really secured properly unless you can invert the truck and trailer without it moving... not that you would, but it's a good scenario to imagine when tying down.

They make "fork savers" for dirt bikes, but they wouldn't work with an 1150R's front fender:

[Buckster]

I have seen that wheel chock before and it looks like very good quality. I bought a very cheap wheel chock at Harbour Fright for about $40.00. I plan to never use it! I have had a motorcycle strapped down with soft ties and ratchet straps and would have felt alot better if there was a wheel chock as well.

Colin,
I really like that idea of the fork savers! I'm sure something could be made to work for the R. I have seen pictures of guys that strapped their R down using the telelever arms instead of the handle bars.