How can I get my 450 into my truck bed?

[Steve]

Unless you are bow-legged enough to put your feet under the bike, that ramp is not wide enough.

At the very least, get two more 2x4 boards that are the same length, and place them away from the ramp enough that your feet can follow them up into the truck.

When my wife's 850 lost its ignitor in Colorado a few years ago, I used a 2x10 for the bike and two 2x4s for my feet to get into the back of a U-Haul van. Later, when the driveshaft on my Kaw broke, I had to take her bike out, re-engineer the hold-down system, then put both bikes into the back of the 10-foot van. Cozy, but it worked.

.

[jmanz6]

I remember driving my dirtbike up my ramp into my buddy's S-10 once and I nearly jumped the cab of the truck! I misjudged how much speed I needed to carry me up the ramp. It was a bit scary! We packed 2 dirtbikes in the back of his truck, man was that cozy! Had just enough room for a 5 gallon gas can and two duffle bags.

That ramp is exactly what I was talking about. That should work fine. When riding it up there be ready to grab the front brake in a hurry. You might also want to put a cinder block about half way up under the boards. 2x4's are very sturdy but they are also very cheaply made with substandard wood. I would hate to see your bike fall because there was a big knot in a couple of those boards making them weak.

[seuadr]

As far as the weight... Close to 400 pounds dry... -Matt

holy crap, really? that's only 100 pounds lighter than my 1100! put that thing on a diet!

[matt_gs450]

I tested the ramp out last night. It worked like a charm and I was able to get the bike up it myself. I parked at the bottom of my driveway to level out the ramp but I think I could get the bike up the ramp without doing that.

I also strapped the bike down and took it for a spin to make sure it would be OK back there. It was. The one thing I didn't anticipate was that the kickstand took the paint off my truck bed (duh!).

I think I may wrap the foot of the kickstand in duct tape before I make the delivery...

[jmanz6]

It's a good idea to put a strap across the rear tire as well. I know when I brought my GS home it bounced a little and made the front tire lean over a bit. I had the forks cranked down pretty tight too. The front didn't move at all ust the rear. When I took it to the shop I put a strap across the rear tire to hole it down and had no problems with it bouncing at all. I used to do it with my dirtbike too but that was more to help keep the gas jug and duffle bag in the back of the truck with the tailgate down.

[Harry P.]

some u-hauls have actual motorcycle trailers...mine gets $15.00 a day for the rental...maybe a local bike shop will have one you can use/rent

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Another suggestion for the future would be to get a kit for a 2x8 plank.



Click the picture to go to J.C. Whitney's product.

You can see Ian's ramp beside my 850 in the back of his pickup. Two people are pretty much required though.




Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[matt_gs450]

Thanks BassCliff. That is a neat product. I wish I could have found it before I built my ramp. But now I have one and it works well. Time to find another old beater to bring home!

[GSexpress]

Thanks BassCliff. That is a neat product. I wish I could have found it before I built my ramp. But now I have one and it works well. Time to find another old beater to bring home!

How about something REAL challenging? An 75 RE5! or maybe a 71 T250 Hustler. I'll make ya a deal.

[Baatfam]

...maybe a 71 T250 Hustler. I'll make ya a deal.

I'd love to have a 250 Hustler....my Dad had one when I was a kid....

[GSexpress]

I'd love to have a 250 Hustler....my Dad had one when I was a kid....

It's a project bike butt It's low miles, 6K I think, and it's pretty complete but not fully assembled. I have the heads and cylenders in a box with new pistons and rings. It's the rare scrambler version but I only have a set of standard pipes for it not the upswept pipes that made the scrambler different. I also have a near new set of gadges and turn signals. The original seat is still in good untorn or cracked condition and the tank is undamaged but re-painted metalic gray over the original puke green. The bottom end and tranny are still in the bike. the crankcase has been filled with oil to preserve the seals and bearings but, it's been that way for about 10 years so no guarentees. I have about $1000.00 in it but I'll let it go for $500.00 for someone who will "git'er done" and care for it.

If you want to talk turkey, PM me.

[matt_gs450]

I already bought another 450, with the help of the ramp (all hail the ramp). It's in barely-rolling shape, but it's got some good parts on it that I need.

[snark]

Better fix for securing the ramp without risking damage to your tailgate is to put eyehooks on either side of the ramp and then secure to hooks inside the truck bed. I made a ramp just like yours a few years ago and that trick has worked perfectly for me.

[boba]

bike in truck bed

I put a 79 850 in my nissan truck alot, it has had a lot of mile riding back there. anyway i used 2- 2x8 and put them side by side in the center of tail gate pushed bike up and in (better with someone up inside to hold the brake when it gets to the top) then i rolled it front tire into a corner and the back wheel sat just inside gate, but could not close.. tied bike down and tied 2x8's against the bike wheels whit bunji cords and it did just fine drove it around like that for about a month. just check the straps and such to make sure they dont come loose

[Shaughn]

Thanks BassCliff. That is a neat product. I wish I could have found it before I built my ramp. But now I have one and it works well. Time to find another old beater to bring home!

Hey Matt, love the homebrew ramp, good work! I've got the same ramp kit as BassCliff shows in the photo (Ian's, I guess) that I picked up from Lowe's for 15$. Doesn't have the traction strip(top angles only), but you don't need it. I used two 2x12s and they work great. The real benefit of the kit is that it comes with pins that you use and put through your bed to stop them from sliding off if you're riding up and accidentally goose the throttle. I know you said your bed was too small not to leave the tailgate off, but I wouldn't advise loading on it often- it's not made to carry much weight and will break off.

Oh, and **** heads as they all might be,and I know exactly what you mean, but the Uhaul ramp trailer is cheap, rugged, and perfect for this job.