Guest Post: Expert Advice on How to Safely Transport Your Motorcycle

Thank you to guest blogger Chris White with UShip, the expert couriers and removal company in the UK. Chris writes on a variety of motorcycle-related topics for Uship, from the latest MotoGP news to testing the latest helmets. In this post, Chris offers his expert advice on how to safely transport your motorcycle. Thanks Chris!

Whether you’ve spent thousands of pounds on a new bike or thousands of hours on a restoration,  the last thing you want is to hear is your motorcycle crashing over in the back of a rickety old trailer. Taking the necessary precautions to ensure your bike is secure while in transit is essential in prolonging the life of your bike. Here's how to do it safely.

Trailering? Hmmm. Consider a Van, Instead

While trailerig your bike is a perfectly good method in theory, it can prove to be particularly problematic with older trailers. Those that don’t react well to bumpy surfaces or that have older sides can cause the straps to come loose, or even off, leaving your bike perilously positioned and on the verge of a hefty repair bill. For this very reason, using a van is by far the best method of transporting your beloved bike, (other than riding it of course!)

Lifting it In: A Ramp is Ideal

Getting the bike into the van is the first contentious issue, but this can be resolved using a good quality, sturdy ramp or if it’s a small bike a builder’s scaffold board will be just as effective. When lifting the bike into the van, do not hold the brake discs or the chain, instead hold onto the handle bars or forks.

No Tipping, Please

Whichever side of the van you position your bike on, turn the steering to the opposite side. This way you avoid the risk of all of the weight tipping to one side and your bike hitting the side of the van. By wedging the front wheel against something solid, you reduce the risk of it rocking around and shaking itself loose. If you can get them, use proper bike straps as opposed to bits of rope.

Hooks on the Floor

With hooks or eyes omn either end and a hook mounted in the floor of the van you can securely fasten the bike in position. It’s always best to use more than one strap covering a number of parts of the bike to make sure everything that can be made secure has been. Fastening the front brake in the ‘on’ position will also be a big help as it will prevent the wheel from moving.

Getting it Back Out

When it comes to taking the bike out of the van, make sure you have someone to help you. With one person on each side, ease the bike down the ramp with one hand on the brake to prevent it from rolling down out of control. A third person would be extremely helpful to help guide you down the ramp and to push against it should it begin to fall off the ramp.

Excellent! Riding away now can be fun, instead of waah… more money, more repairs! Thanks again to Chris White of UShip expert couriers in the for this useful tutorial. Hey, and I've always loved your logo. Fun!