| Author | Message | ||
     Milleniumx1 |
Hey folks, I got a lot of good prep advice on this topic in the 1125 area ... Now it's time to put up or shut up. I'm looking to get my '09R into the back of my '01 Chevy Silverado (2WD, tailgate 32" off the ground). I've installed the wheel chock, and some extra tie-down locations. I have the Cycle Cynch and the nice tie-downs. I bought a name-brand foldable ramp (8'long <> 40" wide) and know to secure it to the truck. So I guess it's time! Lastly, I know to bring it back down in gear since that works better than the brakes. So for those of you that have done this alone, any last tips for someone not looking forward to doing it? I've considered walking it up (under power) versus riding it, but it's the coming back down part that really freaks me out. I'm not too proud to admit it. And it would be foolish to not ask advice of you all. THANKS!! Mike | ||
| Ratbuell |
Back up to a hill, or into a ditch (2WD, I'd find a hill - getting out of a ditch can be tough). Even a small hill (12") can make a big diff in breakover angle (difference between the flat bed and the slope of the ramp). 40" wide ramp you should be golden. If you want to waddle it up, that may help - straddle the bike, in gear, feet on the ground, and walk it up using the clutch and throttle. Keeps your weight off the bike so the suspension doesn't sag. Keep those right fingers on the front brake lever, though, for a quick grab. Clutch and/or cut throttle and shes gonna want to go back down the ramp NOW. Someday ask me about when I had to ride my Road King into the back of a (dock height) Ryder box truck, with no ramp. Me, a 12' long 2x12 plank, an 800lb bagger, and about six minutes of terror while I psyched myself up on the running bike staring at that gaping box truck and the tiny little plank. Think "tightrope act" and you're about where my mind was at the time. Since I did that...getting a Buell into our pickup is a non-issue  (Message edited by ratbuell on December 06, 2009) | ||
| Delta_one |
+1 on the hill I personally would walk it up, have it lean a bit to me as opposed to straight up and down for a bit of insurance. (unless your 40" ramp is not one that locks together to prevent lateral shift) I have seen ramps slide sideways and drop the bike from the highest point up because the ramp the owner was on slid sideways on the tailgate. but I have also seen the bike start to tip and the owner throw a leg out to catch himself but puts his foot past the ramp and go down that way too. (when riding the bike up) so no mater what way you go be aware and be careful. it sounds like you are nervous enough about it that you will take it easy. good luck! (Message edited by delta_one on December 06, 2009) | ||
| Sknight |
I've loaded a Hayabusa into the back of a 40" high Ram pickup alone many times. I fact the one time I had a problem was when I had help. Get another ramp, a 2X6 will do, the same length as your bike ramp. Secure it about a foot away from the bike ramp. Start the bike, get her warm, then walk beside the bike on the other ramp and let the engine pull the bike up the ramp. To unload set the ramps up the same way, turn the key on, make sure it's in first, pull the clutch and slowly walk the bike down the ramp as you walk down the other ramp. You can feather the front brake to control speed or let the clutch drag if the front tire doesn't stop it. If the rear tire goes one way or the other just thumb the starter, put it back in the bed and start over. It's far easier than you think. Just don't ride it in there, asking for disaster. | ||
| M2me |
It sounds like the ramp is wide enough so you can walk on it with the bike. If so, then loading/unloading is pretty easy by yourself. Unloading it is super easy. I have never heard of unloading it in gear. I have never done that before. As long as you've got clear space behind the truck just let gravity do the work and keep your hand on the front brake. It will roll right out. I'm lucky in that my driveway to the garage is sloped upward pretty good so the ramp is not very steep and I can load and unload by myself. I do it with the bike not running and in neutral. If the ramp is fairly steep then it's best not to load it by yourself. Have one person on the handlebars and another person pushing from the back. You should be able to unload it by yourself though. | ||
| Froggy |
Perhaps you could invest in a system like that? | ||
| Delta_one |
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| Milleniumx1 |
I'm already feeling a bit better about this ... Once it's not freezing temps outside, I might just give it a go. The ramp does lock together, so separation of middle / sides isn't an issue. That said, the bike goes up the middle, so it's not a large amount of walk space either side if I use only the ramp I bought. My driveway is flat, but my neighbor's has a nice slope that I might use until I'm more comfortable with the whole idea. Mike | ||
| Just_ziptab |
I used to ride up a ramp that was made out of two "T" fence posts welded together......and not even secured to the truck.Talk about "tightrope"! The key was to have enuf speed to coast up the ramp and not too much that I couldn't stop and hit the front of the bed. I hit the bed front once! I was too slow once and gave it some gas and slipped the ramp right off the bed and "crank cased" the tail gate. Buells came along and I still used the same ramp,even tho the rear tire was wider that the "U" of the ramp. This was done with engine off and somebody pushing(rolling) the rear tire. I simply have lost my bravery over the years to ride up unless it's a very wide ramp that I can put a foot down if needed.Drop in bed liners or a wet bed is very slippery and will do nothing for you if you need front brake when unloading. Now I use a 6' 2x8 and back up to a curb that gives quite a bit of less ramp angle. The biggest problem I have is stepping from the ground to the tail gate whilst balancing the bike at the same time. Beats the hell out of an old Omaha grain box end gate propped up on a tin bushel basket..going into a 1952 3/4 ton Ford on flat land. There was a jump between the ramp and the bed of about 6"...but dirt bikes were light. I crashed on that one once too when I spun the ramp off the basket....  | ||
| Delta_one |
here is a good example, note his foot stool by the truck he uses. | ||
| Blake |
Ride it up and also down, way easier in my experience than walking it either way Sounds like we have a similar ramp too. Being timid about loading is the worse thing you can do. Ride it up and in with certainty. I learned this from watching Brian Nallin once. Coming out/down, I do put the tranny in 1st gear so I can use the clutch as a brake if needed. I agree, unloading is much tougher than loading. | ||
| Fahren |
a 40" wide ramp is like a dream-superhighway compared to my 2x12 with traction strips stuck on. As in the solo video above, I use a milk crate as a mid-rise step. The only really good thing about the 2x12 is that I can slide it in right next to the left side of the bike, drop down the sidestand, and the bike is almost vertical, so it's easier to set my straps and also, once the bike is strapped, the sidestand and the side of the 2x12 alongside the tires act as more brace points to keep the bike stable back there. | ||
| Fung |
sounds like i have about the same set up. I just walk it up running in 1st gear, nice and easy. Unloading i walk it down in 1st gear, not running. Very easy. | ||
| Sparky |
If it's available park the truck with the back wheels in the gutter and the front wheels up on the crown of the street so that the ramp is in your driveway. That levels out the ramp and bed as much as possible. I've done this with my street bike on a dirt bike trailer and could always find a gutter or driveway, at least in the city. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
Maybe I didn't see it mentioned, but make sure the ramp is attatched to the truck. Otherwise the rear tire can push the ramp away from the truck... how come I only get to speak from experience from bad ones.. | ||
| Joebuell |
DEFINATELY make certain the ramp is attached to the truck. That is a hard fall if the ramp slips out. | ||
| Etennuly |
I load and unload my Uly sometimes four to six times a day, but I have an advantage. It is going into a moving truck, the shortest of which is 12 feet long, and the ramps are 12' to 14' but only 32" wide. For these I ride it in in first gear just above idle, turn the bike around and ride it back out. I do load in my pickup and on my trailers as needed. It is much better if you have the front of the truck pointed down hill(given any option). If you live near any warehouse type buildings where they might have a dock you could back up to it is a big help. Other than that try to find a spot that lessens the load angle and get the front pointed down hill. | ||
| U4euh |
If tis the first time doing it I would recommend riding it. Your ramp is wide enough to keep both feet planted. Pushing it up or throttling it up while being nervous could lend a hand in the bike going in the opposite direction of the side that your on, and that could be ugly. I agree with a lot of those on here, ride it up wit a lil bit of speed. It is easier to go in a straight line with a lil umph behind you, so have your line picked out, and do it. | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
Although I understand the risks (falling with the bike being the biggest one) associated with riding it up and down, that does appeal to me more than does walking beside it. Besides, if it falls I might just wish to be under it  Now if I can just complete the work on this busted main water pipe into my house, and it doesn't produce the freezing rain they are calling for, and my daughter gets over her cold so she can go back to school ... It's always something isn't it?! Mike | ||
| Slaughter |
DO NOT WALK... Run or JOG into the trailer (Baxley Sport Chock makes it TRIVIAL). You want the momentum of the bike to carry it up the ramp. Use the top of your tool box as a step if the ramp width doesn't work. MUCH easier than it looks. You cannot be timid about it. I use a narrow ramp because of all the other crap I carry all the time - takes up less room. Backing out is easy. I don't use step any longer and now that I'm used to doing it, I don't worry about dropping the rear end down into a low spot unless it's convenient (like the gutter in front of the driveway) (Message edited by slaughter on December 07, 2009) | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
I can see that timid won't work ... So once I get a chance to do this (freezing rain right now), I'll go for it. Go big or go home - Well, that's what I'll try to talk myself into that is Mike | ||
| Cowboy |
I will not put a $10000---#15000 bike in danger when a small low trailor can be had for $400 bucks | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
If it was local only, the trailer route would work. I'm looking to take the bike back to San Francisco from Missouri once (fingers crossed) I'm able to land a job out there again. Pulling a trailer is another skill I've never had the chance to learn, not to mention the white / blue 09R might just look pretty good in the back of my white Silverado. Maybe some blue pinstriping before the trip | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
Hey folks, the temps finally crawled above freezing today, so I went for it. I forced myself to ride it up and take it off about four times, at which point I realized the anxiety was worse than the reality. That said, all the tips and advice proved invaluable - Thanks again!  Mike (Message edited by milleniumx1 on December 11, 2009) | ||
| Delta_one |
 two thumbs way way up!! nice move on doing it over and over again too. now you know that you can do it and repeat it when necessary. | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
Delta, I thought so too. I wanted to do it enough times to become comfortable with it, but not so many I became too comfortable. The one time I accidentally stalled it was probably good "do not panic" practice. My neighbor's sloped driveway would have lowered the tailgate down to 22" from its level 32" sitting in my drive, but I opted to just do it in mine. My thinking was that if I can do it level, I can do it anywhere. Mike EDIT: Turns out the ramp is only 34" wide, not sure why I thought it was 40". But still way bigger than a 2 x 12!! (Message edited by milleniumx1 on December 14, 2009) |
