Mororcycle moving questions - need your thoughts!

[Triple S]

There are too many facts and questions in my head and I'm looking for a healthy debate. I need to be able to move my motorcycle around, to and fro the shop, as well as I need to get comfy moving it around as I'm in the market for a new to me ride and someday I'll have to go get it and bring it home. There are three ways I can move the bike, and I'll go into the facts and questions for each below. I'm hoping you guys, both the bikers out there and the towing people can shed some insight so I can finally figure out what to do; spring is coming, the time is now.

BASIC FACTS
• 2005 Nissan Titan SE, 4x4, KC, Big Tow; 9,400 lb towing capacity
• 1985 Honda Nighthawk 650; 437 lbs., the one I own
• 1999 Honda VFR800Fi; 525 lbs., the one I shop for
• 2006 BriMar 16' + 2' beaver tail, open deck steel trailer; I use now for the S2000
• I'm only a 160 lb. guy, I don't have a lot of muscle and mass to throw at a bike that gets too far off of balance.

THREE OPTIONS
The bed of the truck
• Could be the best way to move the bike.
• I hate trying to take the 85 lb. LaserLite tonneau cover on and off alone, I'm always afraid of scratching the crap out of the Titan, and it is really awkward and hard to handle.
• I have a lot of stress over getting the bike that high off the ground by myself and into the bed of the truck.
• I can build/buy a wide ramp to help get the bike into the bed and be able to have my feet planted as I slowly ride it up into the bed, and this might make it less stressful, plus I can drive the front of the Titan up onto ramps to lower the tailgate.
• I can buy a motorcycle wheel chock, secure it to 0.75" plywood and secure that to the bed by cleverly modifying a couple of the utility track clamps.

My existing trailer
• Totally solves the problem of removing the tonneau cover by myself
• Totally solves the issue of stressful loading and unloading so high off the ground
• Would require some drilling into the frame which I'm not thrilled about to secure 0.75" plywood deck and 4x4" supports in order to fill in the center gap but this would not be a problem for me or my skill sets and tools.
• Would make moving the bike another towing exercise which eliminates the simplicity of just having the bike in the bed.

Hitch based motorcycle carrier
• See pic at bottom to know what I'm specifically talking about
• Totally solves the problem of removing the tonneau cover by myself
• Partly solves the issue of stressful loading and unloading
• Carrier is rated at 600 lbs. max load capacity, and the VFR is going to be only 75 lbs. less than that max rating which does not thrill me, but maybe that's not a problem, don't know.
• My existing tongue weight with the trailer and car is in the 460 lb. to 598 lbs. range, and I'm not sure if one of these carriers and a bike is going to make the truck feel like crap while driving because I don't have the benefit of the trailer's tires to help offset all that weight on the very end of the truck.
• I'm also unclear how I would hold the bike stable and tie it down all at the same time, and I cannot take the risk of dropping it off the edge onto the ground or into the tailgate.

Specs of carrier
Single Motorcycle and Dirt Bike Carrier | Versahaul



So, what do you guys think I ought to do???

[Nismo4life]

The hitch based carriers are good, but they can get expensive. a buddy of mine has one he used to haul his aprilia until it almost fell off going down the interstate. you said you weigh about 160, and its hard for you to control the heavier bike, and rolling it into your truck bed takes alot of control to keep from dropping the bike, plus taking your bed cover off every time you an to haul your bike will get old. I would use the trailor you already have, you dont have to spend any money, make a ramp or take anything off your truck, just roll up on the trailer, strap it down and be on your way! Anyway, good luck with whichever you decide to go with and ride safe!

[Triple S]

Thanks for the reply.

So, another weird thought, and yes, you all can laugh at me. My brain never considered for a second I could use the trailer and be unsymmetrical...

If the trailer weighs 1,700 lbs. all by itself, is there any reason why I could not just load and transport the bike on one side? As the bike is less than 550 pounds id does not have to be in the dead center does it?

Here is my trailer, could I just load it on say the passenger's side platform?



I could easily attach a front wheel chock to that side of the deck to make things even better.

Thoughts?

[ten~39]

IMO your best option is a hitch carrier with a weight rating high enough to make you feel comfortable. There are a good number of guys with SUVs who use those things on various streetbike and dirtbike forums, and I've never heard of any issues. You just have to be careful to purchase one that is designed for dirtbikes AND streetbikes, as a lot of them are just designed for the weight of the former. A hitch carrier would allow for easier loading than the bed, wouldn't constitute the removal of the bed cover, and the loaded bike is still integral to the truck.

In the bed is the most ideal situation, as you can tie it down very firmly to the bed of the truck, the weight is centered over the rear axle, and you have a high level of safety and security when hauling, but like you said you have a fiberglass tonneau cover. I've had those on trucks in the past, and I really love the look, but the removal/replacement issue for bike hauling has worn out their appeal to me in a functional respect. R&R of one of those things on a full size 4WD truck, on a regular basis, would be a complete PITA. Also, on another note, these days there are many manufacturers who produce long, wide, and modular aluminum ramp systems that allow for one to push while walking along side, or ride the bike into your bed. They're not cheap though at roughly $500.

As far as the car trailer goes, it may be your easiest and most obvious option, but if it was me I'd look for a different solution. The thought of dragging around a long, heavy, wide car trailer just to move a bike seems tedious. If the concept doesn't bother you, then by all means that may be your best bet.

[SJYokel]

Why not consider purchasing a motorcycle trailer? New ones are under $750. You wouldn't have to modify your existing trailer, it's built with all the necessary tie-downs, and is pretty easy to handle by yourself.

[Pops]

Just some thoughts....

Are you really going to be hauling a street bike that often??? If it were a racer, I could see a dilemma but with it being just a rider, this sounds like it might be overthought.

I would think the only time you'll be hauling it is to bring it home and when it needs repair. If that's the case, I would just use the truck bed and not worry about putting the cover back on until after I know I'm done hauling it around. If not and if you'll be hauling it more often then I would just get a bike trailer. You could even get a double carrier trailer to haul 2-bikes at once.

I'd leave that hitch carrier idea to those of us who have SUV's if it were me, you got a pickup bed, nothing wrong with using it once in awhile. As for getting off balance when loading/unloading into the bed if the bike ramp isn't wide enough, you could also pickup some extra lumber 2x12's or 6x6's or something strong enough to lay ramp on both sides of your bike ramp for you to stand on and catch the bike if it teeters for some reason.

[Triple S]

ten~39,
Thanks, you are giving me a lot to think about.
And yes, I agree, putting the 500 lb bike on a trailer rated for 7,000 lbs seems like huge overkill, and is not only a lot more work, it's the whole lack of mobility thing.

[Triple S]

Originally Posted by SJYokel

Why not consider purchasing a motorcycle trailer? New ones are under $750. You wouldn't have to modify your existing trailer, it's built with all the necessary tie-downs, and is pretty easy to handle by yourself.

Too much money, trying to save for a new roof for the house
One more thing to pay $85 to register every year
Where to store it becomes an other issue

[thclimer]

I used to own a VFR750 (1994) and most recently a VFR800 (2001) which I sold about a year ago. They were both really fun to ride. Here is how I loaded my 2001 into my Titan, but then not everyone has a tractor to pick it up with (see attachment)

Have you ever thought of a hitch, which only holds the front tire (see attachment)

[Big-e]

You already have a very nice trailer that would work fine as is. Pull it up on one side & strap it down, no chock needed but, if you want one here's the one I have.
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
Again I love your trailer & it will do the job fine as is with 4 good straps. Always remember this when transporting a motorcycle.
NEVER attatch tie downs to the handle bars!
NEVER tie down a bike on the side or center stand!

[Triple S]

Pops,
Thanks to you too...
For good or bad it seems I keep coming back to storage in the bed has only one real negative, and that is taking off the tonneau cover.
I guess if I got my butt in gear and made the hoist I need in the garage for the S2000's hardtop, I could use the same thing to take the tonneau on and off with.

Less than $300

[vipzach]

I think you need to figure out how often you will be hauling the bike around.
If you will be doing it more than once a month, go with the hitch idea.
If only a couple times a year, I would get a wheel stop and just use your existing trailer. Way cheaper and still easy to load it.

[Triple S]

Originally Posted by Big-e

You already have a very nice trailer that would work fine as is. Pull it up on one side & strap it down, no chock needed but, if you want one here's the one I have.
Again I love your trailer & it will do the job fine as is with 4 good straps. Always remember this when transporting a motorcycle.
NEVER attatch tie downs to the handle bars!
NEVER tie down a bike on the side or center stand!

That is the exact wheel chock I have been looking at
I suspected it might be ok just loaded on one side, seeing as the trailer is so heavy.
The whole how to tie down the bike is another part of the learning curve, thanks...

[Triple S]

By the way, here it is...

24-years old!

[Triple S]

Originally Posted by thclimer

Here is how I loaded my 2001 into my Titan, but then not everyone has a tractor to pick it up with (see attachment)
Have you ever thought of a hitch, which only holds the front tire (see attachment)

Oh man, nice loading system....

I really don't like the idea of the front wheel carriers much.

I have wanted a Gen5 VFR for a very long time, I'll take a '99-'00 once I find a good clean one. It seems everybody who has had one, has loved them.