How to Tie Down a Sportbike in a Pickup Truck Bed

Loading a sportbike and tying it down in a pickup truck can be a tricky procedure

Unfortunately, you cannot always ride your motorcycle to every location you need to go. Using a trailer or a pickup truck to move your bike is necessary in many situations. This can be a harrowing experience, however, if you do not have the proper materials, forethought and patience. Loading and tying down a sportbike is easier than a cruiser due to the lighter weight, but extra care is required to prevent damage to plastic body panels.

Things You'll Need

• Ratcheting tie-down straps
• Wheel chock
• Small square of plywood
• Ramp

Instructions

Ramp Setup

1. Obtain a ramp that will reach the tailgate of your pickup truck. There are commercially available ramps, but it is possible to construct your own. Some ramps are able to fold and are convenient to transport.

2. Check that your ramp is rated for the weight of your motorcycle. Aluminum ramps constructed for dirt bikes may not handle the weight of your specific motorcycle.

3. Park your truck on level ground without any incline or decline. Move any gravel away from the bottom of the ramp.

4. Position the ramp in the center of your tailgate.

Loading the Motorcycle

1. Slowly ride the motorcycle up the ramp. Only do so if you feel confident and comfortable with low-speed riding because losing your balance at this stage can be disastrous. If you are not comfortable or have a particularly steep ramp, have a friend steady the motorcycle on one side, and you on the other. Slowly walk the motorcycle up the ramp and onto the truck bed.

2. Stop the motorcycle slowly when you are fully in the pickup bed. Depending on the size of the bed, you may have to position the motorcycle straight on, or at a diagonal for short beds.

3. Place the front wheel in a chock (if you have one) and secure it. If you do not have a chock, you can use a piece of 4-by-4 block to rest between the tire and the front of the pickup bed. Before getting off the motorcycle, place the small square of plywood down on the bed to protect the bed from the weight of the kickstand.

Tying Down the Motorcycle

1. Attach the S-hooks of one end of each tie-down strap to a solid point on the motorcycle. The best locations are frame members and handlebars. Choose locations where the tie-down strap will not rub against or damage plastic body panels. Use two straps in the front and two straps in the back.

2. Attach the S-hooks of the other ends of the straps to solid tie-down points on your pickup bed. Slowly ratchet the straps so there is slight tension on all the straps. Incrementally increase the tension on all the straps equally until the motorcycle is straight up and down in the bed.

3. Increase the tension further so that the bike is pulled down toward the pickup bed. You will notice the suspension on your motorcycle is also being pulled downward. This is crucial so that the hooks will not come undone when driving over any bumps during transit. When the bike is tied down solidly, make sure that no loose ends of the straps will flap in the wind and scratch your motorcycle.

4. Securely strap your ramp down in the pickup bed so that it does not move around during transport. After reaching your destination, slowly loosen the tension and place the motorcycle on the kickstand while you work to remove the straps. Follow the reverse of the loading procedure for unloading.

Tips & Warnings

• Many commercial devices such as gravity ramps, handlebar tie-downs and wheel chocks may help you in this procedure.

• There is a chance of damage to your motorcycle if you lose balance or improperly load it. As well, you may be physically injured during this procedure if the motorcycle falls on you. Use extreme caution and obtain help from others to make the job easier.

References

• Motorcycle Cruiser: Securing your bike
• Calsci: How to tie down a motorcycle