What’s Best Equip. for Car Carrying Motorized Bike?

GoldenMotor.com
Let’s say you are biking out somewhere, and then you & your bike will get a ride in a car. By “bike”, I mean a gas non-fold-up bike that may need to be kept vertical (or maybe something can be done to allow non-vertical transport). You don’t know in advance what kind of car is going to carry you and your bike, and you can’t advance prepare the car. What kind of rack or equipment, that can you carry with you on your bike, would facilitate the car carrying the bike?
Some ideas
 

Easy Rider

Santa Cruz Scooter Works
Jan 15, 2008
2,145
7
38
Nor*Cal
I use a folding rack for the back of my Escape or mini van. I've driven hundreds of miles to the races and back. However I use a couple of tie downs strapped from the roof rack to help secure the bike and I never travel with gas in my tank.
My bike weighs around 70lbs.
 

scotto-

Custom 4-Stroke Bike Builder
Jun 3, 2010
6,505
24
38
Ridin' inSane Diego, CA.
Nothing I can think of really outside of a couple of tie-downs or bungee cords.

Just flag down a van or pick-up truck when in this situation.....your tie-downs would come in handy then.
 

PAracer

New Member
Sep 14, 2012
284
0
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Steelton, PA
Drain the gas tank. Drain the carb. Plug the carb vents and fuel hose.
Remove wheels. Pray that it will fit in the back seat. Plan ahead and pack the required tools.
 

scotto-

Custom 4-Stroke Bike Builder
Jun 3, 2010
6,505
24
38
Ridin' inSane Diego, CA.
Why mess with a car.....call for an air-lift from a local heliport, that'll keep your bike up-right and you'll get to your destination much quicker.
 

Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
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LOL @ some of the suggestions, laff


I have one like this that I have had for a few years. I paid $5 for it at a church yard sale. http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Deluxe-...=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1349129838&sr=1-1

The swing arm allows it to go on a regular car trunk or on a hatchback/near vertical. I have used mine on a few different kinds of cars and works well on all. Did a 1,700 mile trip with a china girl build and a bunch of short runs with HF 79cc builds. 70 to a little over 100 lbs.

Would be sure to check it's max weight!
 

Ludwig II

Well-Known Member
Jul 17, 2012
5,071
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UK
Wait by the side of the road for a truck going your way. At the last minute, pull out in front of the truck. Knock on the driver's window when you have reached your destination.
 

MEASURE TWICE

Well-Known Member
Jul 13, 2010
2,741
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CA
Hey duck tape is Red Green show! Probably has already done but also used bailing wire.

Seriously though there is a post where a cargo carrier bumper hitch that if you have a hitch that can hold the weight you can do like that. A slight bit of lengthening or getting wheels to be entrapped so it stay in place also with straps works. I'll try to find that post or someone knows of.

MT
 

CTripps

Active Member
Aug 22, 2011
1,310
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38
Vancouver, B.C.
I have an old strap-to-the-trunk style rack I need to replace the straps on... they're all old and fraying out. The couple of time's I've gotten a ride I've flagged down a pick-up truck and ridden in the back with it to keep it upright. Once I got it most of the way home on the carrier on the front of the bus.

I've looked at a number of hitch-racks (even though I don't have a hitch on the car - yet), and the biggest problem I've seen so far is the max. weight they can carry. Most are limited to around 130 lbs. I haven't had a chance to weigh Harley59's ride but it's probably over 60 lbs., and my beast weighs in at 84 lbs according to the shipping scale at work.
 

spiderskzes

Member
Oct 10, 2012
45
0
6
san diego
LOL @ some of the suggestions, laff


I have one like this that I have had for a few years. I paid $5 for it at a church yard sale. http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Deluxe-...=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1349129838&sr=1-1

The swing arm allows it to go on a regular car trunk or on a hatchback/near vertical. I have used mine on a few different kinds of cars and works well on all. Did a 1,700 mile trip with a china girl build and a bunch of short runs with HF 79cc builds. 70 to a little over 100 lbs.

Would be sure to check it's max weight!
Youve had no issues with this Dan? like bars bending,bike hopping up and down while driving, or trunk door bending? I have an integra and can fit my 4 stroke in there barely with the front wheel off and handle bars out the window so i was looking for an easier way to travel
 

Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
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Nope Spider, no issues. I do tie the front wheel to the frame so it doesn't flail and some extra strapping to hold the bike against the bumper. But works fine.

But would be real careful to check the max load. All my 4 strokes are around 100 lbs.

My better half is in the veterinary field. So I weigh my bikes on their dog scales.

No kidding, I really did drive from Hartford, CT. to Delaware with a china girl/point beach on one I paid $5 for. LOL, was terrified the whole way down but worked. Trip back was way calmer.
 

spiderskzes

Member
Oct 10, 2012
45
0
6
san diego
Nope Spider, no issues. I do tie the front wheel to the frame so it doesn't flail and some extra strapping to hold the bike against the bumper. But works fine.

But would be real careful to check the max load. All my 4 strokes are around 100 lbs.

My better half is in the veterinary field. So I weigh my bikes on their dog scales.

No kidding, I really did drive from Hartford, CT. to Delaware with a china girl/point beach on one I paid $5 for. LOL, was terrified the whole way down but worked. Trip back was way calmer.
Haha right on yeah i would be heartbroken if i saw my bike tumbling behind me on the freeway. i didnt relize the 4 stokers weigh so much
 

Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
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Moosylvania
Spider, right after I posted that, I realized I had never weighed my HF builds. So must be more then 100 LBS. for them.

Wonder if you/we could get em weighed at a UPS store. Just ask for an estimate to ship. I shipped that same point beach with a Honda GX 50 and it was 98 lbs if I remember correctly.