Although we’ve covered this topic in the past, we definitely feel that it’s one worth discussing again. We see more damage from customers transporting their bikes- to us, to Daytona Bike week, to their storage unit for the winter- than we do from wrecks. In nearly all of these cases the damage was completely preventable. Ouch.
If you’ve had this often-embarrassing-and-always-frustrating mistake occur during transport to our shop, please know that we aren’t singling you out. This is so common we even founded our company based on the need we saw in the motorcycle community (more on that here).
Some damage is caused by knowingly transporting the bike improperly due to not having the proper trailer/vehicle and just “making due” with what you do have access to, while others took care to use all of the right equipment but just didn’t know how to use said equipment properly.
Damage can range from very minor (a broken mirror) to significant (some have been consequentially “totaled” by their insurance companies). As we specialize in the vintage/antique market, even seemingly minor damages can prove difficult to rectify when considering parts availability on particularly old or rare machines. Another factor to consider is the intangible sentimental value loss if a machine has been passed down in the family, such as from father to son.
The damage doesn’t just occur during transport. We also commonly see costly mistakes occur while loading and unloading. A dent in the tank is often a pricey repair when considering most tanks will need the entire surface repainted if you want it done properly. We recall one particularly painful memory of a son who was bringing us his late father’s bike for a simple oil change. His father was the original owner and the bike had been kept in mint condition. The son dropped it while loading it into a truck, resulting in a large gash in the tank and a few other scuffs. Upon arrival, he was so upset that he changed the purpose of the appointment entirely and asked us to sell it instead, never wanting to look at it again.
Below, we’ll share four other real-life scenarios that we’ve encountered and some tips that we’ve learned over the years that will help the next time you transport your vehicle.
Enclosed Cab Winch Out
Brought to us like this from a loyal, longtime customer who knew better, we all had quite a good laugh when he popped open the tailgate and showed us what he and his son-in-law had done. This was a rare case where no real damage was done, but it required extensive effort for us to unload the motorcycle without causing damage. We had to use a winch attached to the ceiling of our shop to hoist it out while also physically tipping/guiding it out at the same time.
The Takeaway: Remove the cab enclosure. Motorcycles should only be transported in an upright position.
Rider Assist Transport
Rachel and Dain happened to spot this guy while they were running errands. While he managed to score an A+ for getting the upright position, we give him a big fat F for not properly tying down his bike. He chose instead to sit atop the motorcycle and attempted to hold it during transport. Why someone would go through the effort of loading it onto a trailer but not tie it down is beyond us. We hope this rider made it to his destination safely, and that he learned his lesson of the multiple reasons why this risky transport should not be repeated.
The Takeaway: Do not try to physically assist your motorcycle during transport. The risk of injury to both your motorcycle and yourself is too high.
U-Haul Side Stand
Years ago, a gentleman had rented a U-Haul truck to transport his motorcycle to our shop, which in and of itself isn’t a bad idea. He was bragging on how clean his new bike was, warning us that we needed to wash our hands before touching it so as not to get it dirty. Unfortunately, it turns out he’d spent more time polishing it then he had securing it. Instead of using any sort of tie-downs, he’d simply set it on its side-stand in the back of the U-Haul. By the time he’d arrived, the bike had fallen to its side and had been violently thrashing side to side in transport. Needless to say, the damage was extensive and the customer was in shock.
The Takeaway: Always, always, always tie-down your bike!
ATV Loading Mishaps
We’ve seen this happen numerous times and the story always starts the same: Guy gets on ATV, confidently tells us (against our advice) that he can load it on his own, and fires it up. Although the story starts the same, it ends in one of two ways: 1. He doesn’t strap his ramp to the truck, so when he tries to ride it up, the ramp kicks out underneath him. 2. He misjudges his speed and ends up putting his bumper through the truck’s back window. Either scenario can be dangerous, costly- and entirely avoided.
The Takeaway: The safest way is to ask a friend for assistance and push the ATV up the ramp rather than ride it. Additionally, strap the ramp to the truck and go SLOW!
Summary
| 1. | Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Two people loading is much easier and safer than one. |
| 2. | Always use the proper equipment to transport and secure your machine. Inadequate or improper equipment are among the top reasons we see unnecessary damage occur. |
| 3. | Take your time and plan ahead. We see customers rush home from work and hastily load their motorcycle to try to make it to our shop before close. We’re reasonable people. Call us if you’re pushing close to closing time- unless we have an event we have to attend after work, we’re almost always willing to hang around a few extra minutes. |
Other things you might not have thought about:
-Shut your fuel off prior to transporting to help prevent fuel from leaking into the engine.
-Remove your key out of the ignition prior to transporting to ensure your key is not blown off and therefore lost.
-Tie the end of your straps off so they don’t flap in the wind and beat against your motorcycle and consequentially mar the paint (this is especially important on long trips).
-Ratcheting tie-downs are less likely to come off or slip than pull tie-downs.
-On long trips, take time to check and ensure that everything is secure each time you stop for any reason.
-If you’re having to leave your machine in a truck overnight, make provisions to lock the vehicle to the truck to prevent theft.
-Unless you’re sure you have the skill level required to do so safely, do not try to use a rope in place of proper tie-downs.
