Hi All, Hoping to travel down from Nottingham next week to London to view and potentially purchase a DVT. As my girlfriend will be with me who doesn't like driving the van I'm thinking of bringing the 1200 back in my Trafic but thought it wise to see if it will fit first. I have the last of the old shape Trafic's (LWB crew) and can remove the middle seats to give full load space before travelling. Aside from removing the screen and mirrors from the bike will it go in? I'm also thinking that I'll need a heavy duty ramp as the 'net lists the DVT as being around 240kg in weight but this wont be too bad as I'll also need this to put the bike in the kitchen at night until my garage is built. Any experience of van-ing the big old bird most appreciated! Thanks, Ben
If it helps, in the DVT handbook the dimensions are listed as follows: Overall length = 2200 mm Overall width = 1000 mm Overall height = 1350 mm (including standard screen in lower position) The width across the mirrors is the same as the width across the handlebars/ handguards. If you remove the mirrors, note that the right side mirror stem has a left hand thread. Overall weight = 235 Kg (with fluids including 90% fuel); = 212 Kg (no fluids or battery) Rolling a DVT up a steep loading ramp is quite difficult. It's easier with three people.
I’ve had multis in normal sized (Transit and VW) vans with screen and mirrors removed , so should be fine if the dimensions above are checked I use one of these https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/311126741327. No issue with MTS or a Mates GSA ... I always walk them up under power , never had an issue
I also use a front wheel chock and some times a DP rear stand with 4 ratchet straps ... but have used just the straps successfully , with the front wheel right up to the bulkhead and the front brake tied off
Cheers guys! How much height do you all think is free'd up by removing the screen as I guess this is taller than the mirrors and therefore the most crucial bit to worry about?
Height without screen or mirrors would be approx 1250 mm, depending on the pre-load setting of the front forks (which is set manually).
A Multi will go in Traffic. My 1190 does and its taller than a Multi but I do have to remove screen and mirrors. Don't be tempted to leave the mirrors on if its tight getting it into the wheel chock. It may go in all right because you're pushing against the forks and compressing them but pulling it out again extends them and the mirrors can get jammed against the roof. A pig if you haven't brought a spanner with you..
Ebay...................... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-Fold...e-MX-Bike-Loading-Ramp/361688562348?hash=item
If you're going to walk it up the ramp under power, for heaven's sake make sure the ramp is properly secured to the van. I witnessed an 916 being walked up a ramp under power. As soon as the front wheel made it off the ramp and into the back of the van, the rear wheel spat the ramp out the back, dropping the belly-pan onto the back edge of the van. There was lots of plastic cracking noises :-(
I loaded a ZZR1100 onto a ramp many years ago and did a similar thing. A Kawasaki see-saw was very awkward when on your own!
You should have a extra man at each end of the journey to help you out just in case,that's how i work
Fortunately I was picking up a bike I'd bought from dealer so I used their spanners. Everyone should have a ramp and a wheel chock. Invaluable things. You're certain to use them again, especially with a Ducati...
my 1200 goes in my vivaro with a PP screen on. no need to remove mirrors, although they are close to the roof, so might depend if you have a thick headlining. I hold the front wheel in a bump wheel chock, and use a strap either side from the rear subframe by the footpeg hangers t othe two tie points just in front of the wheel arches. Works a treat.
