Carrying a medium sized bike

[dzzz]

Suggestions for hauling a 500lb wet motorcycle at a bed height of about 48 inches? The weight/height makes a simple ramp seem somewhat difficult, although I haven't tried it yet. I have the option of carrying it on the back, or in a compartment between camper and cab.
I might look for a lighter bike that works with a tall rider.

[Mickldo]

Normally I'd say just ride it up but in this case if you made the ramp wide enough so you could walk along side the bike while being very careful with the clutch.......

Depending on the location a simple swing away davit crane with a worm drive winch could be made to work.

How much room have you got spare? Where do you want it mounted? What have you got to lift off with the bike? What type of bike?

[Lynn]

Don't know if this helps, but I just ran across these pix this PM:





From this photo album:

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Album=CUHFPVWZ

[4x4 explorer]

For what it's worth, I chose to mount mine on back. I'd look for a little lighter bike. I'm riding a KTM 640 Adventure which is in the 350# range and is a good tall guy bike. Also, consider a hoist rather than a winch for safety if you decide to lift bike on to rack. I built extension into camper box for hoist as you can see in picture. I'm working on rack design right now, and it will fit into hitch receivers that I welded into camper support frame.

[dzzz]

Thanks for the responses.
The KTM looks good in profile. I've also ridden an on/off road Buell and it is a good fit, but the Harley V twin is uses is just not my idea something I want to start in a campground at 5am. How does the KTM sound?

I did find a 10' ramp that's wide enough to ride up and be able to put my feet down. But I need to figure out if I can do that and get it into a narrow spot - either on the back or between the camper and cab. At a 4/10 slope I could probably run a bike up a ramp if I had to.

I might need a hoist for tires too. The hoist part is easy, its the crane that becomes cumbersome. Thinking about it I should try to handle the bike and tires the same way, if possible.

I don't want to carry the bike on the front unless I have no other choice.

[dzzz]

The bike I can get at a good price is a Buell Uly. Good tall person bike. More engine than I need. Here's the new version:

http://www.buell.com/en_us/bikes/adventure/XB12X/

[Mickldo]

I take it you already know about the excellent motorbike sub forum here on expo and the adventure bike specific forum http://www.advrider.com/

There are heaps of great bikes out there and a lot of it comes down to personal preference but there is heap of good advice out there.

I am in the process of buying a Suzuki DR650 with all of the farkles.

Me test riding a mates DR650 at Easter.

[dustboy]

Be very careful loading up the ramp..My buddy was loading his relatively light DRZ 400 into the back of his lifted toyota, and the ramp slipped, bike came down on top of him. Not only did he miss our trip, he was hurting for several weeks.

[dzzz]

I take it you already know about the excellent motorbike sub forum here on expo and the adventure bike specific forum http://www.advrider.com/

Thanks. I was thinking of the forum here as only for tour bikes. But you're right, that group would know about putting bikes on lifted vehicles.

[dzzz]

Be very careful loading up the ramp..My buddy was loading his relatively light DRZ 400 into the back of his lifted toyota, and the ramp slipped, bike came down on top of him. Not only did he miss our trip, he was hurting for several weeks.

I had not even thought about mud or rain.
I was thinking that if I can't ride up a ramp, I have no business on a bike. But I had beautiful sunny days in my head