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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2018 12:02:52 GMT -7
Was going to wait to move to the TX Hill Country to buy the MT-10, but it'll take a lot longer than anticipated to sell my house. Not winning the battle with cancer, want to start riding NOW. He he. Thinking of selling my 2018 Audi S6 to fund both an F-150 and the MT-10, and do what is really my passion: riding a naked bike in nice twisty roads. I could take my bike wherever I go. But have some questions:
1. Bike officially measures 6.875', so my question is if I opt for the Ford 'bed extender' (that swings back over the tailgate), is the 5.5' bed enough to fit the bike, or it has to be the 6.5' bed? I want the shortest possible. And yes, at least on the 5.5', I'd have to put a 'sprayed-on' liner since bike would barely fit (if at all). If the 6.5' is the better choice, would you go for the sprayed-on or drop-in liner?
2. Ford also offers 'adjustable ramps' that stow on the side of the bed, but no picture deployed. Do you guys know if it's wide enough for loading motorcycles without risk of tipping over? By that I mean being able to put both feet on the damn thing if needed. If not, which aftermarket ramps do you suggest?
3. What wheel chock (brand and model, please) do you have to secure the front wheel, and how did you secure it to the truck? If drilled, is it in place all the time, or is there a bracket or something that allows the chock to be removed for other cargo? Just curious.
4. How and where do you secure the bike? Please be specific on what kind of straps, where you put them on the bike (front and back), and where you attach them to the truck (top or bottom hooks), for best safety. Have never towed a bike on a truck, so rather ask. Finally, hope with a chock there's no need to compress the front suspension too much, since that can damage it, for what I've read.
5. I want to cover the bike when traveling, for both protecting the bike from the elements and people not seeing what it is. Is it suitable, without risk of damaging the paint? If yes, please speficy which cover I'd need.
6. Since I'd leave bike on the truck some nights, need to secure it as best as possible. I'd obviously only park it in the safest places with the bike on top (covered), but would like to know how to secure the tailgate if possible, and the bike to the chock (bicycle lock on front wheel and chock). And yes, now I realize chock would have to be permanently attached to the truck, and with special hardware, or just welding the nuts shut or something. Hope to have some input on that.
If I missed something, please elaborate all you want on both truck options and extra things you do when transporting your bike. I hope to be able to buy a Platinum with the 3.5 Ecotec (5L V8 standard), for better resale and fuel economy, but depends how much I can get out of my car. Paid close to 80 grand for it recently, but will get creamed for sure. Thanks a million for your help folks.
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Post by RedAndBlack on May 29, 2018 12:52:35 GMT -7
I don't have a truck, I tow with my car, but with my constant back and forth to the track, I can answer the other stuff.
2. A lot of guys just use two thin, foldable ramps. One to push the bike up, one to walk the bike up. Once you get the technique down, its easy. On the higher end, some of my friends have thick ramps that remain attached to the bed or the tailgate and simply unfold. Obviously more expensive.
3. I use a Baxley Chock. They are expensive but I was able to get a great deal for a used one. A lot of the chocks have issues with the front wheel getting stuck in them or even being unsecure. They Baxley Chock has been great. Durable, high quality, and my wheel never gets stuck in the chock.
4. Get "Canyon Dancers" to help secure the bars. The Canyon dancers also help keep the straps off the bike fairings. I use one strap on each side of the canyon dancer, then usually a single strap wrapped around the wheel or double straps attached to the passenger pegs to secure. Straps, just get good quality ratchet straps. Do not get thin harbor freight straps with the simple clamps. It absolutely blows my mind that people refuse to pay an extra $10 or $15 bucks to secure a bike worth thousands of dollars. Brand doesn't really matter. They should be thick enough and secure enough that you can say, if my truck got hit with the bike in the back, would the bike stay secure.
5. I don't cover my bike when traveling so no input on that, sorry.
6. We have a tremendous amount of bikes that get stolen from trailers and in the back of pickups out here where I live. Even tied down, that is not considered secure storage out here under any circumstance. I mean you know your community better than I do, but I wouldn't recommend it. I always unload my bike when getting back from the track and on the rare time that I left early in the morning to go to the track, I would load my bike when I wake up (loading at 3 AM sucks) rather than leave it in the trailer all night. That's how bad of an idea it is by me to leave a bike out in a trailer unsecure.
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mtneer
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Post by mtneer on May 29, 2018 18:41:48 GMT -7
I have hauled bikes in a pickup bed, both 6' and 5' Toyota Tacoma beds, my method is to use a 4"x4" block of wood where the front tire rests on the front of the bed, soft ties either around the top or bottom triple tree and Ancra tie downs, use quality tie downs, and two more toward the rear of the bike, with a 6' bed, you get the tail gate up to within about 5" inches from closing, I take two carbaliner and latch them in the tailgate and heavy duty zip ties(1/2" in width) and run them thru the carbaliner and latch ring to secure the tailgate. When I had a 5' bed the bike would rest on the edge of tailgate closest to bed, same method of tying it down but nothing but the bike in the bed. I usually travel back and forth to the track the same day, i load the night before and live in a fairly safe neighborhood, but I still back it up against the garage door. The ramp I have is arched and steel usually tie it down at the front of the bed and tie my cooler down on top of it(passenger side) I'll put some bag chairs and a gas can and stand on the driver side, all secured with tie downs or roc straps. Once at the track I use the cooler for a step to walk the bike out, and get help loading it at the end of the day. At home loading, I back my truck in the ditch and can push the bike in fairly easily, I have hauled bikes like this for years and never had a problem, never did cover them but if you are in a high crime area, covering and locking with a good lock to the bed might be advisable.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2018 20:56:04 GMT -7
Thanks for the extra tips. Could you please elaborate on the '4x4 block of wood' subject? Do you drill 2 pieces to the bed vertically where the front tire touches, to prevent it from turning? Or 2 long pieces horizontally that also prevent bike from sliding, but do you also drill them down, or what? Can't visualize what you meant. Also can't visualize the 'carbaliner' and securing of the tail. And while on that subject, what's preferrable: bike straight with the cage outside the bed, or bike sideways with gate closed? And yes, I'll probably get the 6.5" bed, but need to look at the trucks tomorrow. The 5.5' bed is too short for bikes, no? I know you did it, but I definitely don't think it's a good idea to have the bike that far back, no? Thx.
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jroc
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Post by jroc on May 30, 2018 7:14:58 GMT -7
I have a 2013 F-150 Crew Cab with a 5.5' bed. I have hauled several bikes in the back over the years without a problem including R1, GSX-R1000, and a FZ1 with full touring setup. I also have an American Roll Cover by Truck Covers USA, which means I can't put the front wheel all the way forward (bed cover has a box that sits at the front - I lose about 10" from the 5.5' bed length). The rear wheel rests on the tailgate. I've gone from Austin to San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston like this without issues. I always use a wheel chock, canyon dancer, and one ratchet strap on each passenger peg. I've considered installing tailgate support bars when hauling, but not sure it's needed. My true concern is getting the bike in and out of the truck bed without incident. Even with a good ramp, it's still pretty high. It would be much easier with a trailer. Here's a pic of my friend helping me load my FZ1 after I picked up a screw in the rear tire.  |
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mtneer
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Post by mtneer on May 30, 2018 8:06:39 GMT -7
Thanks for the extra tips. Could you please elaborate on the '4x4 block of wood' subject? Do you drill 2 pieces to the bed vertically where the front tire touches, to prevent it from turning? Or 2 long pieces horizontally that also prevent bike from sliding, but do you also drill them down, or what? Can't visualize what you meant. Also can't visualize the 'carbaliner' and securing of the tail. And while on that subject, what's preferrable: bike straight with the cage outside the bed, or bike sideways with gate closed? And yes, I'll probably get the 6.5" bed, but need to look at the trucks tomorrow. The 5.5' bed is too short for bikes, no? I know you did it, but I definitely don't think it's a good idea to have the bike that far back, no? Thx.   |
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mtneer
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Post by mtneer on May 30, 2018 8:33:56 GMT -7
In the photo of the bike tied down the wood block is in front of the tire, the weight of the bike holds it in place, the tailgate pic, the carbaliner is latched into the tailgate, when you release the latch the carbaliner and zip tie stay attached through the bar on the truck, to remove the whole thing, just unclip the carbaliner, take a small flat blade screw driver and push the zip tie down and you can use the zip tie again, the ties I use came from when I worked in the underground mining industry, we used them to tie large hydraulic hose up that weighed hundreds of pound be on a longwall mining face, similar to what law enforcement uses to handcuff people. The photo of the bike is when I hauled it home from the shop, brand new, there are soft ties wrapped around the top triple tree. Load the bike, center of the bed, let it rest on sidestand, put the tie downs where you want them, let the stand side ones be snugged up loosely, go around to the throttle side and pull the other tie down tight, the bike will be tight, put some tie down on the rear, I use soft ties through either the rear subframe or passenger pegs snug them up and close the tailgate up on the rear wheel, this method has worked for me since I started using it in 1996 when I owned my first Tacoma, if a Ford tail gate latches similarly, you can use that method also, maybe a 6.5' bed is long enough to close the tailgate. Also, a good wheel chock and catycornering the bike and then tying it down might work. I have a bed mat, it is somewhat tacky in nature and keeps stuff from sliding around in the polymer bed of the new Tacoma.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2018 21:07:42 GMT -7
Thank you very much to both of you for your help. Just thought of something. The 6.5' bed is not enough to close completely with the bike straight, since the MT-10 measures 6' 10.5". But on a 6.5' bed, the rear tire would be pretty much between the gate and bed, so lid wouldn't go up at all, but wouldn't be supported down by the weight of the bike either. The worst possible scenario, no? So I'd probably have to incline the bike to be able to close it. Or install a chock a little behind the front of the bed. If I get a 5.5", the rear of the tire would be holding the lid down, like on the photo above. So the 5.5 might be the more desirable one, right? Will just have to check measurements of the FZ-1 vs MT-10, but should be similar IMO. Just have to find proper ramps, because I also don't want any chance of dropping the bike from that high. Rolling bike down very slowly while mounted on it should be no issue if you can put both feet on the ramps. Riding it up is probably more dangerous, as you need a bit of speed to avoid burning the clutch. My main concern is that the ramps are secured to the truck, and don't know if (and how) is possible. Thank you again for your help. Now have a much better idea what I need to do. Thanks again.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2018 22:04:03 GMT -7
I'd have to be able to do it alone. How about like this?
If I girl can do it, so can we, right? Ha ha. And I'd use a Baxter chock, so no need to even deploy the sidestand. And that bike seems as heavy as an MT-10. However, I'd use these ramps, which are sturdier, and can be secured to the sides of the bed:
Thoughts guys?
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wonger
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Post by wonger on May 31, 2018 6:56:37 GMT -7
Thank you very much to both of you for your help. Just thought of something. The 6.5' bed is not enough to close completely with the bike straight, since the MT-10 measures 6' 10.5". But on a 6.5' bed, the rear tire would be pretty much between the gate and bed, so lid wouldn't go up at all, but wouldn't be supported down by the weight of the bike either. The worst possible scenario, no? So I'd probably have to incline the bike to be able to close it. Or install a chock a little behind the front of the bed. If I get a 5.5", the rear of the tire would be holding the lid down, like on the photo above. So the 5.5 might be the more desirable one, right? Will just have to check measurements of the FZ-1 vs MT-10, but should be similar IMO. Just have to find proper ramps, because I also don't want any chance of dropping the bike from that high. Rolling bike down very slowly while mounted on it should be no issue if you can put both feet on the ramps. Riding it up is probably more dangerous, as you need a bit of speed to avoid burning the clutch. My main concern is that the ramps are secured to the truck, and don't know if (and how) is possible. Thank you again for your help. Now have a much better idea what I need to do. Thanks again. Don't worry about the clutch doing this. It is more than capable of handling this without getting damaged at all. |
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madmagpul
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Post by madmagpul on May 31, 2018 9:34:24 GMT -7
I'd have to be able to do it alone. How about like this? If I girl can do it, so can we, right? Ha ha. And I'd use a Baxter chock, so no need to even deploy the sidestand. And that bike seems as heavy as an MT-10. However, I'd use these ramps, which are sturdier, and can be secured to the sides of the bed: Thoughts guys? Id be worried about the front tire losing traction as it is a pretty heavy bike and is not worth having it lose traction on these pesky ramps and end up totaling a $14,000 bike. Personally, I'd recommend looking into a small motorcycle trailer or something along those lines if your constantly going to be loading and unloading by yourself. Every time I load mine into my truck I like to have about three people to help and make sure everything goes smoothly. I'm pretty sure some companies also make carriers that attach to the trailer hitch and can load a single bike. (FZ10 may be too large though) Just my two cents though. Good luck! Mad |
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2018 11:32:03 GMT -7
Well, those are great points. But with a trailer, I wouldn't necessarily need a big truck.. but don't think I want the hassle of a trailer, and where to put it. And the small portable ones are crap. Hmmm. Another thing I didn't think of is possible tailgate damage due to the weight of the bike. Or if the supports break. Seems like this would be the only option left: loadall.com/What do you guys think? |
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mtneer
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Post by mtneer on May 31, 2018 13:02:53 GMT -7
For the price of that system, you could purchase a single rail stand up Kendon motorcycle trailer, if you can tow with your current vehicle, that is another option to consider, they pull easy and although pricey they are considered the industry standard when it comes to open motorcycle trailers. If you look around, you might find someone selling one, they are easy to sell if you decide you don't need it, The Harbor Freight folding trailer can be made to work as well, but it will require some work to make it reliable and road worthy, but lots of folks make them work just fine. Either trailer can be stored upright fairly easily.
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Post by evitzee on May 31, 2018 13:07:53 GMT -7
Loading and unloading a bike from a pickup bed has to be done properly. A lot of YouTube videos about loading fails, especially with trying to ride the bike up the ramp. Better to have a couple of extra helpers to get it up and down the ramps.
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Post by Cruizin on May 31, 2018 17:53:16 GMT -7
I load my dirtbike in and out of my truck on a weekly basis. Have good straps. I use these heavy duty straps by pro taper www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/pro-taper-tie-down-straps Use those Pro taper straps on the handlebars. Then run another cheap strap thru the back wheel as tight as possible. As far a loading goes, just do what the chick does in the video. I dont use two ramps, too expensive. I just bring a folding chair and step up while pushing the bike up the ramp. I dont use throttle, I just push it like a man in neutral with a hand over the front brake if needed. Its easy, I do this every week. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2018 20:02:13 GMT -7
I think I found the perfect ramps for this task (the Ford ones are too short and narrow). They're pretty wide, sturdy, and grippy. The super wide center one is usable by anybody able to ride a bike, period. But I think I'd use the 2-ramp method myself. Check it out: Loading ANY bike with those ramps should be absolutely bullet proof, especially the center one, no? And they're cheaper, and even more secure (wider) than the 'loadall' IMO. Am I right?  And no, don't have a tow vehicle, or wouldn't even have started this thread. Ha ha. I didn't want the complication of a trailer, even if relatively compact, but if the deal with an F-150 Platinum doesn't materialize, I could look for a smaller SUV and such trailer, and start all over. We'll see. Thanks for the recommendation of the Kendon. Prefer to buy something already worth buying, than messing with it. He he. |
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fitzdrew516
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Post by fitzdrew516 on Jun 1, 2018 5:46:13 GMT -7
Get a small, fold-able motorcycle trailer. I picked up my FZ10 300 miles away with one of them. My Dad let me borrow his, it's called a "Stinger". He uses it a few times a year to go about 800 miles round trip. From what it sounds like to me, it's going to be your safest, and cheapest option and it seemed well built to me. The thing is designed to be loaded with one person, it has running boards and everything so you just slowly ride the bike right onto the trailer. Then when you're not using it you just fold it up.
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