What's the easiest way to get my 475 pound motorcycle into and out of the bed of my Tacoma? It's a Suzuki DL650. I need to be able to both load it and unload it by myself. Is it possible? I'm not worried about tying it down, just loading and unloading it.
Ramps seem kind of steep. Is there some sort of super secret technique?
Find an elevated area and back your truck up to it. My apt's parking lot backs up to an elevation so I just back the truck up and drive my quad or CRF right into the bed. Otherwise I use the ramps which are steep but you'll throttle and brake control real quick. With the CRF it's helpful to have another person to help balance if your pushing it up the ramps.
I picked up a set of ramps from Sam's Club. They have them here for $60! The next cheapest set I've seen is over $100. Find an area where there is a dip so the angle isn't too steep and you can be stabilized walking up one while you drive the bike up the other. I load/unload my Interceptor quite easily.
use the bikes motor to power the bike up the ramp and into the bed as you walk next to it. you will need a sturdy something to use as a step so you can step into the bed as the bike goes into the bed. make sure the step is positioned about 6" from the end of the open tailgate on the left side of hte ramp. Your bike is taller so you will need to get on the step sooner to allow your arms to reach the controls as the bike starts up the ramp.
dont try to do it to slowly, but rather get the bike moving at a steady pace and keep that momentum as the bike goes up the ramp and into the bed.
I've never done it by myself, but even with two people, back the bike into the bad. That way you're riding it out instead of backing it down. Comming out of the bed backwards is no fun. Hope it helps. GOOD LUCK.
It's actually pretty easy by yourself, I do this all the time with my race bike. If you have a decent ramp that's not too steep, get a foot stool on the left side of the ramp right at the edge of the bed. Stand on the left side of the bike and put it in first and walk it up letting the gear drive it up..you'll have to slip the clutch so it doesn't stall but still drives...step up with the stool and keep going...if you dont feel like you can make it just let the clutch out and itll stall and first gear will keep it form coming back down. It's not hard just take your time. Do the same to get it back down.
I've never done it by myself, but even with two people, back the bike into the bad. That way you're riding it out instead of backing it down. Comming out of the bed backwards is no fun. Hope it helps. GOOD LUCK.
You've never loaded a bike on anything before. Using the bike's power it's easy to get it up a ramp and then tie it down in the bed from the handlebars. It' is a piece of cake to back it out and down the ramp using the front brake. I do it all the time with dirt and street bikes. Backing it into the truck is a major pain in the ass to load, unload and tie down. I want to see you riding a bike down a ramp out of a pickup.
Backing up to a slope to reduce the angle of the ramp works very well. Setting an ice chest next to the ramp for a step helps a lot too.
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Did you have the TSB tailgate mod done to your tailgate? If not, you may damage it.
+1 to what most has said. (Don't ride it, use the bikes motor to help out, get a trailer)
P.S. someone mentioned not to use the sliding hooks at teh top of teh bed to tie down. use teh hooks on the florr of the bed.
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yeah any bike over say an 85cc mx bike or a pit bike you risk breaking the railing tie downs as well as warping your tailgate during the load, I've seen some guys on here mount bed hooks to the front bed mounts as well, search and you should find some examples...
as far as getting the bike up the ramp, motor power and two ramps is what I would do, personally I use the Ready Ramp and a skinny regular ramp beside it, the Ready Ramp becomes a bed extender once your bike is loaded....it's a very cool ramp, you then have more room for your gear and that extra ramp or foot stool that you will need for unloading the bike...
Lots of great replies, thanks. It looks like getting the bike in should go pretty smoothly, but what about getting it out. Tall center of gravity, 475 pounds, no way to use the engine to help... Remember, I'm trying to do this solo.
I could get a trailer, but I want to park the truck and ride for a few days at a time. Parking could be an issue.
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