Vans

If you're planning on much motorway traveling with it (as I'd expect traveling to trackdays) I'd suggest a low roof. The inconvenience of stooping slightly to load and strap down will soon be forgotten when you're filling up....

 

Don't try riding any bike into the back of a van even using a decent ramp if you have a stock roof height van. I was on my own once and decided to do it, I only got half up the ramp and fell off with the bike on top of me. The worst part was I speared my hand on a door pin quite badly. I just about managed to ride the following day. Use two people or clutch it in, I learnt my lesson!

If you have a high roof van it limits you getting into car parks etc and that can be difficult if there is no alternative. I went to a part of Bristol once and every car park had height restrictions that were so low that I eventually had to park outside the town and get a bus in.

 

The other half took the van (on previous page) into an underground car park and got it wedged in.

She thought it was ok to drive it in, as the height barrier didn't clonk the roof.

Thing was, someone had spun the pole on the chains over the cross-bar, thus making it higher.

 

I've got a SWB low roof Vito Sport. If I remove one of the rear seats I can get my bike in and all the kit, no problem. If I take out all rear seats I can get two 1098's in there with all kit. As Ian stated, get a proper foldy ramp thing.

 

A mate hired a standard vw transporter to pick up his ZXR a few years ago, and it was an easy fit. The van wasn't significantly bigger than a people carrier.

I remember performance bikes managed to get a ZZR1100 into a Renault espace many years ago........just.

 

I had a Toyota Townace people carrier once and I could just about get my 998 in there but only room for one bike. If it's a 7 seater in can bet quite hard unless you start removing a number of seats. I was lucky I had a bench middle seat and fold to the side rear seats.

 

I looked at getting a van, but insurance, tax, mot, servicing costs... In the end, I bought a big box trailer. No insurance, tax, mot, servicing costs... 6 foot head height, shelving, paddock stands are secured to the sides, not rolling around on the floor.

 

An excellent point.

Ps I remember the brother of a friend transporting a bike (CG125 if I remember) in a Mk3 Ford Escort RS1600. Good skills I thought...