How to load your bike into a van

Simple tips will prevent damage when moving a motorcycle

1 Is the van suitable?

Make sure the van has tie-down points located at floor level. Ideally, they need to be situated at the front and in the middle on both sides of the vehicle. If you’re moving a single bike you can secure it in the middle, which will keep the bodywork away from the side. If you are hiring, have a word with the rental company about which of their vans is most suitable.

2 Use an appropriate ramp

You can buy dedicated ramps but if you need to improvise, a scaffold board is an old favourite. As a rule, the longer a ramp, the easier it will be to wheel the bike onboard. If you don’t have a proper loading ramp, don’t go for a piece of wood that is too short, as this will definitely give you problems. Make sure the ramp is strong enough to take the weight.

3 Check the clearance

It’s easier if you have someone to help you as you wheel the bike into the van. As you roll the bike in, make sure there is plenty of clearance between the bottom of the bike and the top of the ramp, particularly when the front wheel is in the van and the back wheel still on the ramp. Roadsters and sportsbikes are usually ok, but low-slung machines can snag.

4 In gear, brakes cable-tied on

Roll the bike up the ramp into the middle of the van and put it on its sidestand. Pull in the front brake lever with a cable tie and put the bike in first gear. Place a handlebar webbing strap across the bars and adjust the looped ends so that they protrude by the same amount on each side. Make sure the webbing doesn’t foul the ignition or switchgear.

5 Take up the slack

Attach ratchet straps to the two front tie-down points and then attach the hooks to the handlebar strap. Take up the slack and tighten evenly. The bike needs to be tightened up with a slight lean towards the sidestand. Get enough tension so that the forks compress by a third.

6 Add more ties

Find a point on the bike near or around the footrest hanger, such as an exposed frame. The strap needs to be pulling the bike down and forward into the van. Loop the strap through this point and back to the tie down point. Tighten the straps evenly to compress the rear suspension slightly.

7 Don’t overdo it

Both pairs of straps should be pulling the bike down and forward slightly so that it sits firmly into the bulkhead of the van. Finally, check the straps have the same tension at the front and adjust any slack out as necessary – be careful not to overtighten them, as ratchet straps are very powerful and capable of damaging your bike, the van or both.

8 Strap to one side for multiple bikes

You can also load a bike into a van and strap it to the side (handy if you have more than one bike to carry). Here, you need to be aware of the handlebars damaging the side of the van. This is a big issue if it’s a hire, as a handlebar can easily go through the thin plywood and dent the outer panel, and the rental company will sting you for the damage.

9 Cushion the blow

Load the bike and turn the steering away from the panel the machine is leaning against. Use a piece of foam or material between the handlebar and panel. We are using a piece of foam but something like an old cushion will be fine. The padding will also protect your bar end from losing paint as it rubs against the side of the vehicle.

10 Tighten the straps evenly

The bike needs to be virtually upright against the side of the van, but take care that the exhaust or swingarm isn’t going to get damaged. Fold the mirrors in or loosen them so they are out of the way. Loop a ratchet strap around a footrest hanger and another on the top yoke, taking care to avoid cables and brake lines, before tensioning both adequately.