hauling a bike

[howlinwolf]

I need to pick up a 74 yamaha 650. issue is, i have a flat bed and its high. anyone have any creative ideas?

[PromiseKeeper]

find a bank you can back up to and use a small ramp. Now, think through getting it off as well

[howlinwolf]

well, thats part of my problem too. i could find one to load, but i live in an "apartment" (more like a duplex where someone lives in the basements) and i have a carport. I dont have anything close i could use to unload it, and as of now its only running on one cylinder.

[bake74]

     How tall is your flat bed, would fashioning ramps be out of the question ?

[howlinwolf]

i measured it right now, but its parked on a weird angle so 3 feet isnt right. ill see tomorrow

[bake74]

     Well if it is not too high, we always use a ramp.  Getting on you will need help, getting it off, you just ride it down.

[farmerchris]

OK, creative idea,if you have a cherry picker or could borrow one,strap it to the headache rack,then when you get to the bike,wheel it to the back of the truck bed,strap around the bike and lift it upon the bed.then wheel it back to the front and strap it in place.reverse to unload at home.

[thirsty]

Couple of guys should be able to pick that bike up. Park the truck so the back is as low as you can get it and pick the front of the bike up onto the bed. Then do the same with the back. You don't have to pick the whole weight of the bike up at once.

[Blazin]

I'm with Thirsty. Two guys with stong backs, and week minds to help you.
One guy steady the back of the bike, and push while two pick up the front. Then one guy on the bed to steady the front, and pull, while two guys pick up the back, and push.

[howlinwolf]

that all sounds good guys! another idea for unloading when i get home, is park it near the angle in my drive, which puts it less than 3 feet, then deflate the tires!

[Tx_Phil]

Is it a street bike or dirt bike?

If its a dirt bike you should be looking in the 300-400 lb range. A street bike might be 150 or so lbs heaver. My 2000 Yamaha Roadstar 1600 weighs in at about 700lbs and I've ridden it up a 2x12 ramp into a pickup bed. It was right at 3' high. It was a little spooky but the hard part was stopping before hitting the cab!!

Ideally you would want a 2x12 for the ramp and 2 2x6s, one each side for your feet. I would suggest adding a cleat or some way to secure the 2x12 to the bed of the truck so it doesn't move on you.

[howlinwolf]

its a street bike but there are 2 major issues.
1. im not an experienced rider
2. it only runs on one cylinder, and im not up for trying to run it up.
Just lifting it on sounds best, im actually attempting to get my father in law to build his bike trailer he has been talking about

[frotosride]

I did this with my bike when I had an '04 ram. I used two latching straps on each side of the rear axle. It didn't take it to the ground but it was enough for me to pick it up bymyself and load it so I could ditch a hurricaine in pensacola and headed up tp memphis. Hardest part was the front turning as I loaded..Highly reccomend an extra pair of hands. Now I'm missing my bike...stupid kids not paying attention and not having insurance took her away from me as well as a year of walking. Oh well. Good luck and be safe out there.

[howlinwolf]

im going to be a new rider, ive done a little dirt bike riding, but this is my first bike, my dad has had it since i was younger, and he said he is never going to ride it again

[frotosride]

Gotcha, I started out riding dirt as well until my first cruiser '07 boulevard m50..now gone but also '07 r-1, '10 r-1. I miss riding more than I miss not being owned by the government. The 07' r-1 got put in a ditch in the midle of a corner @ 160+ took me a while to rebuild that one for my friend but stil runs like a champ. You got this one loaded up yet or are you stil searching for a good way?

As a dirt rider I would assume you know this but it never hurts to remind ourselves but when you do get it loaded make sure that you load the bikes suspension as tight as you can. this will help keep the bike stable while driving because as you hit bumps or just turning the suspension on the bike will load and unload and allow the straps to loosen and bike to fall.learned this the hard way many years ago and never forgot it!!