Moving and securing the GS in a 12' truck

[nightrider]

I'm moving 1000 miles away. My only real worry is loading, securing, and unloading my trusty GS in the 12' moving truck, most likely by myself (because I think I can.)

Any tips on getting it in and out, and securing it? i.e. placement, strap placement, etc.

I'll have a ramp available for getting it in, but was thinking of making a cheapo one anyway so I wouldn't have to unload at a bike shop somewhere in LA.

Thanks

[scottpA_GS]

You can also back it up to a hill and push her out.

As far as securing it... buy some soft ties for the bars.. We sell em for like $8 they wrap arround the bars so the tie down hooks dont scratch it up  then its as easy as putting one tie down on each side and pull them down equally tight but dont over tighten and compress your forks too much 

[trumpetguy]

Or get a friend to drive the truck and you ride the GS!

[coll0412]

use a canyon dancer if its a faired bike, super easy to use and work awesome. DO a google search, or ask your local shops if they stock them.

P.S. Google them to find out what they look like

[scottpA_GS]

I assume that you will have other items in there w/ the gs? If so, i think that they are a bigger concern than the GS. You want to make sure that nothing is going to fall on the bike. I would secure the bike first and pack around it. keeping in mind all the things that could fall on it or push into it and cause the bike to go off center and fall.

If you are going uHaul or similar they often rent trailers VERY cheap. I would use one to ensure that the GS is safe from falling objects

I am sure someone here has moved w/ the GS. I hope that they have some ideas for ya 

[Mk1inCali]

I had mine moved across country.  Made the mistake of putting it on the centerstand, and having it lever itself over and consequently had the lever of another bike (dirtbike) rub through the tank bra and down to the metal on the tank.  Strap it down with the wheels on the ground, use a "Canyon Dancer" and you'll be fine.  Put another tie-down through the rear wheel, or use the passenger footpeg bracket as another anchoring point for the rear of the bike to prevent any rolling, tie off your ends so they aren't flapping around (even if it is inside the truck away from wind), and you'll be fine.

[The Antibody]

Don't forget to secure the front wheel. There are metal bolt-down units called wheel chocks that you roll the bikes front wheel into so it can't slide back and fourth. I strongly recommend them. They are pretty much a necessity really. you can also use two small boards if you want to go that route. If you want extra stability, use tie downs on the rear as well like they are saying. I wrap the rear ones on the grab bar.

  -Anti 

[The Antibody]

This is the type that I have

http://www.pingelonline.com/wheel_chock_removable.htm

There are all sorts though, including home made if you wish. If your wheel shimmies left or right, the tiedowns are useless.

Here are a few types.

http://www.pingelonline.com/wheel_chocks.htm

  -Anti 

[nightrider]

I bought two ratchet straps with handlebar-size hooks today. $24 Im assuming they have plenty of tie points inside the moving truck. Thx for the advice, I will secure the rear wheel with rope as well.

Im leaving most of my furniture here, and definitely the GS goes in first and is top priority.

I was going to use the centerstand until I read that, MK1 thx.

I found a graduated asphalt ramp today 1 block from the truck rental place. It's a loading dock ramp for forklifts. I figure from the side of the asphalt to the truck bed should be no more than 2.5 feet, and am considering buying two 4' x 2' boards to make a double-thick bridge.  I keep thinking of that youtube vid where the guy drives up the ramp and the bike falls on him  have to think positive

[The Antibody]

driving your bike up into the trailor isn't as hard as you think. Just be smooth.

  -Anti 

[blue05twin]

Overkill?  Maybe but if your packing other stuff in that moving van and you don't want it to dent / scratch up your bike you can get a bike crate from one of your local dealers for free if you ask probally. 

[The Antibody]

Aren't those crates designed to fit bikes that are half dismantled? That WOULD be overkill. "Yeah, just uh... take yer wheels, and yer forks off and lay them underneath. Then, yer handlebars can be removed and fit in your swingarm. That should make yer move pretty simple."

I appologize now.

  -Anti 

[nightrider]

Well, the loading part went well. The guys at Penske in Portland helped me load it with a lift-gated truck backed end to end.

A 12' Penske truck only has tie points forward at 6' high or so, and wood rails on the side. I secured the bike with ratchet straps to the forward tie points (too high to be ideal) and placed a 2x12 piece of wood between the tire and the front wall. The bumpier the roads got the more loud knocking and banging noises I heard, at 700 miles in or so I checked the bike and the rear wheel had skewed back and forth, causing paint to be rubbed off the upper fairings by the straps. Not a big deal but not ideal.

Last night having been in LA 24 hours I got impatient and decided to unload the bike myself. I drove around in the rental dropoff area looking for a 3' high shelf or change in level so I could roll it off without a ramp. After a while I went back to the rental place, saw a bigger truck there with an extendable aluminum ramp attachment.

I decided to try and unload the bike from my truck onto the other truck's extended ramp. Then I figured I could pull out the ramp gradually until it reached the ground.

The bike is f%$king heavy. The ramp was flexing and bowing pretty hard once I got the bike on it, even only 6' extended. At this point it looks like a gangplank going straight out the back of truck #2. I supported the weight with straps from the ramp to the safety handles on the back of the truck.

At this point things were very awkward and dangerous but there was no going back as the bike had already settled below the level of my own truck. Additionally it was wedged between the trucks and not fully supported by the ramp. To allow it to settle fully I had to ease my truck forward to let the front tire slip off the back edge of the bed.

While doing so I heard some snapping, cracking, popping, and majorly heavy crashing sounds. I go back there and it's off to the right side, tangled in straps by the wheels.

F
U
C
K

Why was I so stupid.

It is now late at night and few ppl are around but I ask a couple older latino guys to help me. It takes them a long long time to decide but eventually one of them helps me drag it free of the straps and trucks and get it upright. Then he asks me for five dollars. I give it to him. Meanwhile the guys in the truck dropoff office are watching me (as he tells me on the phone today) but they're not supposed to "mingle with customers after hours". Lol. Today he was like "whoa shaZam! I saw you man".

All of the tail plastics came off, and the brakelight was bent downward slightly. The handlebar is a little off now. Alignment was a little off on the front forks. Took several dozen turnovers to start up. Small fluid puddles on the ground. Slightly different sound from the muffler. I tied the side tail plastics against the frame with some climbing rope.

Other than that it's good, as far as I can tell. I rode it to my new home and loosened up the front forks and retightened them. Might be taking off the handlebars at some point and bending them a tad. Not a good welcome to LA for the bike, but it's still a rockstar. Hope I dont have to replace it anytime soon.

[average]

I bought two ratchet straps with handlebar-size hooks today. $24 Im assuming they have plenty of tie points inside the moving truck. Thx for the advice, I will secure the rear wheel with rope as well.

Im leaving most of my furniture here, and definitely the GS goes in first and is top priority.

I was going to use the centerstand until I read that, MK1 thx.

I found a graduated asphalt ramp today 1 block from the truck rental place. It's a loading dock ramp for forklifts. I figure from the side of the asphalt to the truck bed should be no more than 2.5 feet, and am considering buying two 4' x 2' boards to make a double-thick bridge.  I keep thinking of that youtube vid where the guy drives up the ramp and the bike falls on him  have to think positive

Nope, only 2 to my knowledge; one in each corner of the front of the bed. And please, please don't try to secure the bike by using the furniture rails on the walls of the truck. Trust me; they will not hold.

[The Antibody]

Ouch... sorry to hear that. Thanks for the advice NOW average. haha. That sounds like it was an experience and a half. I knew your wheels were gonna jimmy around. Thats probably whay did your bike in.

  -Anti 

[average]

If you secure it properly with tie downs, you truly do not need a chuck. It does help but isnt really needed.

[The Antibody]

I have done it with an without a chuck. All I can say is that I will never do it without one again. It was scary. The bike didn't fall over or anything, but when I took a look to see how it was riding about 20 miles down the road, the front tire was about 6 inches over to the left. I fixed it and went the rest of the way with no problem. I just play it safe from then on.

  -Anti 

[Jay_wolf]

My stepdad Put my bike in a Landrover and it worked fine