How to Secure a Motorcycle for Transport

Securing your motorcycle for transport should take about 15 minutes.

If you're going on vacation and you'd like to ride your motorcycle, you may wish to transport it to your destination. You might also need to transport your motorcycle if you're taking it to a mechanic or moving. Once you learn how to do this, it should take you about 15 minutes to secure your motorcycle upright in a pickup truck's empty bed.

Things You'll Need

• Pickup truck
• Cables
• Two or three people
• Ramp

Instructions

1. Set up a ramp that leads from the ground to the bed of the pickup truck. Be sure the ramp is steady and can support the weight of the motorcycle and people.

2. Load your motorcycle into the bed of the pickup truck. With one person on each side of the motorcycle and, if possible, a third at the motorcycle's rear, guide the motorcycle up the ramp and into the bed of the pickup truck until the motorcycle's front tire is touching the front of the bed.

3. Connect cables from each handlebar to tie-downs on opposite sides of the truck's bed. One or two people should hold the motorcycle steady while you do this. Attach two cables to the motorcycle's rear and fasten them to tie-downs on opposite sides of the bed. The cables should be taut with no slack, allowing the motorcycle to remain upright on its own.

Tips & Warnings

• If the motorcycle doesn't fit in the truck's bed, secure it diagonally or leave the tailgate down.

References

• WhyBike: "How to Trailer or Truck Your Motorcycle"