How to Transport a Motorcycle by Car
If you want to transport a motorcycle by car, you will have to get a trailer--there is no other way. If you had a pickup truck, it might be possible to load the bike into the bed. With a car there is a lot of additional work involved. You do not need a bike-specific trailer, however. A normal flatbed trailer will work just as well. You will also need to decide on tie-down straps or alternate options in order to secure your bike on the trailer so that it is safe for hauling.
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Things You'll Need
- Car with trailer hitch/trailer bracket
- Tow ball
- Motorcycle
- Trailer
- Tie-down straps
- Wheel chocks
Instructions
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Choose your equipment carefully. Tie-down straps for motorcycles come in many strengths, prices, and sizes. Different combinations may work better for different styles of bike. If you have a track bike that you are going to beat up anyway and do not care about aesthetics, you may be less concerned about padding than someone with a chrome-plated cruiser. As of February 2010, a company from Australia has developed a bike trailering device called Tyre Down, which is currently the only device of its kind. It latches securely onto the wheels of the bike and then lashes to your trailer, ensuring that the bike goes nowhere. It also does not require compression of your suspension, so you do not have to worry about accidentally overcompressing it and blowing your fork seals.
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Attach the trailer to your car using the trailer hitch. You can use a motorcycle trailer or a standard flatbed. Just make sure that your car is rated to tow the combined weight of the trailer and bike together.
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Load the bike onto the trailer. Make sure to distribute its weight evenly as you secure it using the tie-down method of your choosing. It is impossible to avoid the bumps and jostles of road surfaces when using a trailer. You want to make sure that your bike does not fall over or fly off the trailer while you are towing it. You also want to make sure that you do not compress the suspension too much, or you may damage your bike. Use the wheel chocks to help keep the wheels from moving around.
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Choose a route to your destination that is as smooth as possible. If you are unfamiliar with the terrain, simply do the best you can to avoid going over large potholes or excessively bumpy areas while you are towing a trailer. Even though you will have securely fastened your bike to the trailer, there is no reason to take chances.
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References
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