Getting a new bike home from 250 miles away

[rasp77]

Will be collecting my 2003 R1150R on Monday in a Mercedes Vito Van - 4 hrs drive

After reading the previous post, options appear to be

1)Lash it to the side of the van and NOT using side/centre stand
2)Roll it on and lay it on its side with plenty of padding
3)As Towerworker nicely puts it - catch the train & ride back - its character building


Passed my UK test 1 month ago, its my first big bike and mainly very busy UK motorways. Forgive me if I prefer option 2


So gentlemen in your considered opinion, would laying the bike down for 4 hours cause any problems?

[macx]

Of course I'd drain the gas, that's obvious.

I don't know if there's anything to it, but have read a couple posts that suggest it's not good
to lay a final drive down flat with the oil in it as it (and I'm a little vague on this here) gets
oil trapped behind the seal which gets pushed out when ran again. So, might be good to
at least drain the FD well, warm if possible for a more complete drain.

Other than that, you might want to drain the engine so oil doesn't seep past the rings
on the down side cyl and get into the comb chamber and cause a hydraulic lock and damage
things when you try to start it. Don't know if it's likely enough oil would seep by to
do that or not. Or you could pull the plugs and roll it over with the starter to clear any
possible oil from the cylinder before you turn it over just to make sure if you'd rather
not drain the engine.

I'm sure there's a vent on the trans, somewhere on the top side of course, so you might
want to see if you can find the vent and make sure it stays on the upper / high side.

Make sure the battery is a gel type which it most likely is.

If there's nothing to fasten to to secure the bike upright, laying it down would probly
be your next best option, and I can't think of any problem if you address those issues
and pad it well, maybe turning the handle bars so there's not a lot of weight resting on
the downside one.

Just be sure to have some help getting it back upright!

That's all I can think of. Good luck! and enjoy your ride.

[towerworker]

I would not assume the battery is a gel or maintenance free battery. And certainly not if it's the original battery. My '03 laid on it's side for several hours (not really sure how long) a few years back (I think it was backed into in a parking lot) Battery leaked and ruined a touring shield.

There is some merit to oil in the final drive causing a slight problem. There is a small foam filter in the top vent on the FD. If oil soaks the filter you will need to remove the filter element (pull the black plastic cap and use tweezers to pull the element and then wash in a light solvent). If it gets oil soaked it may not allow heat related pressure to vent thereby causing oil to be forced out of the vent itself (after FD heats up from running). Not a serious issue but makes a heck of a mess.

If you can haul the bike upright and properly secured with straps then all these issues become non-issues. I would not haul on it's center stand. If it slips off the stand (which can easily happen) then it won't matter how many straps you have on the bike---it will go over.

Or you could take a plane, train or taxi and then ride it home! (much more fun) (think of it as a character building adventure!)

[Arbee]

Myself i definately would not deliver a bike in the horizontal position unless it was going to the tip.

Hire a trailer and transport it upright, not hard at all.

[Buckster]

+1.....I'm with Arbee. Get a friend to drive you there and drop you off...or something!

[boxermania]

If not ridden, definitely upright and strapped. Might consider a chock block with the straps to make it easier.

[frankc]

I don't know if you have this option available in England, but I recently purchased my R1150R from a member who lived in Houston, and I had to get it back home to Austin (about a 200 mile trip). I discovered that U-Haul rents a motorcycle trailer for only $20/day that was perfect for the job. All you need is a vehicle with a hitch and four straps to hold the bike down. It didn't budge the whole way back.

Frank

[sweatmark]

If the bike has to go in the van, then either tie it off on both sides while on centerstand (and tie stand in place to prevent collapse) or place bike on sidestand and support with deep cushion of moving blankets, and tie down in several positions. I had bike shipped cross country this way without damage.

[Rog(UK) - Yorkshire Dales]

Please don't lay the bike on its side whilst you trasnport it. The safest way by far is to strap it down WITHOUT centre or side-stand in the centre of the van. Locate the front wheel against the front bulkhead or something to stop it moving and use ratchet straps around either headstock or somewhere damage can't be done (and protect this by wrapping with cloth). Use the ratchet straps to compress the suspension just a little and it will be fine. Whenever I have moved a bike, it has been this way - I don't even strap the rear end. The part I don't like is actually getting the bike into the van..

Ride (and collect your bike!!) safely,

Rog

PS The same end result can be achieved by using rope instead of ratchet straps.

[riceburner]

Where is it, and when are you getting it?
250 miles sounds like a nice morning's ride, I could ride it back for you if you wanted? Does depend on when though, got a lot coming up this month.

I'd also never lay a bike down for transport, its easy enough to tie it into a van. If you need help with that I can show you how to do it sometime. one thing about hiring a van though is that you'll need a ramp.

[wncbmw]

Don't put it on its side! Lots of things can go wrong there. Upright with straps from the handlebars and frame at angles. I have never seen a bike put on centerstand or side stand for hauling. Seems all the bumps would be transmitted to places not accustomed to getting them.

Of course, the actual correct answer is get a ride there and ride it back. Heck, 250 miles is an easy ride for lunch!

[finsally]

I bought my R1150R 3 months ago from a guy in Alyesbury,I live in the north-east of England got my brother to drive me down,rode the bike back 270 miles no problems

Give it a go mate you will get to know the bike. and it solves all your problem of using a van at the same time,

Just take it steady you will be fine

Regards Bob

[Dr. Strangelove]

Don't lay her on her side. Ride her back.

If you are a new rider, take particularly safe roads

John

[colewj]

Ride it.
Use training wheels if necessary.(lol)

[Hawkman]

ride it... the faster you get used to riding in traffic the better.

If you have to use a van, buy ratcheted straps. Infinitely useful. I used a van when I bought mine (it was pouring rain) and the straps worked like a charm.

[Boxer]

Fly me over there and I'll ride it home for you.

[Motorcycle_Girl]

If you are not comfortable riding it I would rent a motorcycle trailer to transport it properly. I have used the UHAUL motorcycle trailer on several occasions to transport non-running bikes or when there is too much snow to safely ride...

Celeste

[motospyder]

Hi. I have been transporting bikes in the back of pickup trucks and the like for 30+ years. It is very easy to strap it upright, compressing the forks just a bit. Best if you strap it front and rear with the front wheel against a bulkhead. Do NOT put it on either stand. I have done this with an older BMW (R60/6) and it fell over after the first big bump. NOT a good idea. The compression in the forks will keep it upright and snug. Take care not to mar the hard bits on your bike with the straps. Use towels, old clothes, whatever, to protect your stuff. I recently transported a Suzuki SV1000 across the US in the back of a Toyota pickup. Strapped front and rear. Not a moment's problem despite the distance (nearly 3000 miles).

Good luck

[wncbmw]

motospyder mentioned something I neglected while transporting a bike strapped down. Stabilizing the front wheel! Got to keep it from moving side to side or the straps could loosen and the bike move! Good point.

[kantuckid]

Softstraps!!! Wrap a pair of them opposed around each wheel with the fronts pulling forward and the rears opposite. Experts suggest to not compress the suspension while towing a BMW.The slight amount mentioned above seems to cause no harm for me. I use a Chinese wheel thingy(on sale @ Harbor Freight in USA now for $27.99!!!) mounted to the wooden floor of my utility trailer. It allows one person loading as it holds the bike in place (if your trailer is properly positioned) while you secure the bike with straps. The soft straps are on ebay for a $1 a piece(they come on new bikes) and are worth getting. I would get my "first legs " in a parking lot or the like, not on an English road !