Get the bike in first gear – you’re going to use the clutch to control the bike on the way down.Line the bike up totally in line with the ramp.Check the bike is free to move – no disc locks, ratchet straps or anything else that might stop it freewheeling.Make sure you have at least five metres of clear space behind the van. Secure the ramp, make sure it’s centred in the van and dead straight.The straighter the bike and ramp the easier it will be.Ĭut corners here and you’ll have a bit of a wrestle on your hands if it doesn’t go smoothly. The most important thing is to position the bike in the van as close to the centre of the van as possible to allow you clear room to get out. It doesn’t matter if you bounce into the van’s bulkhead – far better that then to roll back out of the van.Įasy with two of you but slightly harder when solo. Once you’re in, let the clutch out or use the front brake.I’ve only ever seen bikes get dropped when the person at the front backs out halfway up the ramp but the rear helper is there to minimise the risk here.The first person should focus on hitting the ramp dead square with the front wheel, the rest of the bike will follow. Once you get going, commit to pushing the bike in.The lead pusher is guiding it in with the confidence that the pusher at the rear is there to support when they make the transition into the van.One at the front pushing and guiding, the other holding the tailpiece and ideally the second person will be positioned on the other side of the bike to the first. Walk the bike to the base of the ramp and gently roll the front wheel a few inches up the ramp.I always have the engine off and the bike in neutral but if you’re on your own and a first-timer, using the clutch as an emergency ‘let-off’ brake can be useful.Line the bike up well, dead straight, directly behind the ramp.Make sure the bike’s tyres are well inflated.You don’t need to tie the ramp down just make sure it is well seated. Make sure the van is empty with no hazards like straps or jerry cans laying around.Loading a motorcycle up a ramp, step-by-step: If you do lose your balance, just having them support the bike for half a second will allow you to regain your balance and get control of the bike. If you are on your own, don’t be afraid to ask a random member of the public to help you by supporting the rear. You’ll push the bike in, ideally in one smooth action and as the lead pusher transitioning into the van that’s when the person at the rear will hold the bike steady to allow that transition to happen. The person at the rear is there to push, hold and support. In pairs one of you with push and guide the bike from the front just as you would push it into your garage. Luckily, I didn’t drop it but boy was I close. Just my luck the issue was with a brand new Panigale and a very wet ramp. I’ve loaded tens of bikes into vans on my own over the years and only once had an issue. Ideally loading a motorcycle int a van is a two-person job but if you’re confident, you can do it on your own. You want to make sure they’re all the way in and not perched on the edge or it might slip when under load. If your ramp has rubber-coated ‘fingers’ on the end, these will grip onto the van. You can use straps or bungee cords to keep the ramp in place but it’s far better to just use common sense. It’s always a good idea to make sure the ramp is secure before loading or unloading your motorbike. Other ramps are full width, meaning you can confidently ride your bike into a van or walk up the ramp with it. Some ramps have raised edges to stop the front wheel dropping off, which is a nice to have, especially if you’re loading a bike on your own. We think the best ramps are the folding type – they’re more compact, taking up less space in the garage and easy to stick in the back of a van. Whether you’re carting a classic to the MOT station, picking up a new bike or going on a trackday, a good sturdy ramp is a far better, safer and less stressful way to get a motorbike into a van than using an old plank. You might not need a motorcycle ramp very often but when you do need one, they’re invaluable.
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