Best vehicle to cart a race bike

[Toast]

Hi all.

I'm just wondering what your views on the what is the best way to take a race bike around the place?

Also, what do you currently use? Advantages, disadvantages of that.

I'm looking for something to get about in. I was thinking van, 'cos I live in an apartment, and need somewhere to put all of the shit, but now I'm starting to lean towards trailer and store it at a 'Local Lockup' kinda place with the bike on it, 'cos my gf wants a car when she arrives in the country this month.

Vans seem fukn expensive too, while I'm at it...

[Kickaha]

Even though I use a ute I'd go for a van

1 you can lock it up with everything inside it

2 You're not stuck with the 90kmh limit for trailers

3 buy the right van and you can fit two bikes+ gear+ 4 people comfortably

[inlinefour]

I dont race because of being a shift worker and not being able to commit to the challenge time wise. However in time that may change. I reciently brought a new hiace van and have it set up for transporting bikes and keeping them secure. Bloody marvelous. Prior to that I was relying on hiring a trailer from the local BP and dragging it behind my old hilux surf with the bike on the back. Now that was a crap situation, the bike would get wet/marked/filthy and run the risk IMO of getting damaged as it was out in the open. However I have transported my current MX bike in the van several times now, convient, hassle free and I put a tarp down and it keeps everything pretty clean. At one stage I was blatting along a localish beach minding my own business and I guess one of "not in my back yard" brigade complained. After packing the bike back in the van and closing the doors I was asked if I'd seen a hoon blatting around on a bike. Its got tinted windows and I guess they did not see what was inside. I replied yea I saw it and asked what was wrong with it. They bleated about it, from a narcisistic point of view. I told them that its probably because of gumpy old farts like themselves that there is no where for young uns to ride their dirt bikes anymore locally. The conversation pretty much ended there. Also I can pump my double matteress up in the back and go camping. I honestly cannot see myself owning anything but a van in future as far as cages go. Provided that you can cope with the fact that it does not handle like a conventional cage, its all sweet. I have a ramp in the back, tarp layed down and tie downs allready. Should anyone need help in the naki, provided I'm not working, I'm happy to help a fellow biker...

[SwanTiger]

Van or an enclosed trailor, it's good to keep your shit covered / dry and secure when you're travelling.

[Motu]

I don't like utes - everything has to go in the tray,stop,and everything has to go into the cab.I really like the van,low and easy to load,everything in one place....you can get your gear on under the rear door in the rain,even work on your bike there.But on the trip home you have half the paddock and your smelly gear in with you to remind you of the fun day you had.Plus my van can get stuck pointing downhill on a dry day.

So now I'm back to a trailer and a 4x4,and think it's the best option.Speed limit is now 90kph,so it's ''almost'' safe to do 100kph.Still have the smell in the cab though.

[kickingzebra]

4x4 and ENCLOSED trailer....
I bought a standard trailer, but am about to put a lid on it, much nicer to be able to take the trailer off, and leave it somewhere, take the truck around and about, and forget about people stealing stuff off it. Van is too small for any more than 2 people, it is always me the wife and soon to be baby, so not enough space for tyres tools and people!!

[Kickaha]

Van is too small for any more than 2 people

I know of several people with LWB vans and they are quite capable of taking 4-5 people along with 2 bikes and their gear

[Motu]

Yeah,try a LWB Transit,the rear bench seat holds 4.

[James Deuce]

Sidecar.

Get you noticed.

[kickingzebra]

yeah, ok, but dollars then come to the party. LWB vans, like the mighty ford transits, cost arseloads! 4x4 cheap trailer cheap, mint.

[Kickaha]

yeah, ok, but dollars then come to the party. LWB vans, like the mighty ford transits, cost arseloads! 4x4 cheap trailer cheap, mint.

I'm talking Toyota, Diesel Pig's van cost him $1500 and fits all the above in

[Shaun]

yeah, ok, but dollars then come to the party. LWB vans, like the mighty ford transits, cost arseloads! 4x4 cheap trailer cheap, mint.

What about the thieving Scum

[vtec]

Well the guy I got my 600 off had just got hold of a rather long campervan bus style thingy, and that would be awesome. But our setup is pretty sweet, we used to load the van up with the bikes, but it takes ages to unload all dads tools and equipment, and it was totally gutless and really uncomfortable for long hauls, so dad and his mate built this awesome 3 bike trailer, and he went and bought a 4.2 litre turbo diesel Landcruiser VX, so the whole family can come along in style and comfort without holding up traffic.

But yeah, those Motogp setups would be awesome, but the closest average joe will come to it would be a rather large campervan or bus.

[inlinefour]

yeah, ok, but dollars then come to the party. LWB vans, like the mighty ford transits, cost arseloads! 4x4 cheap trailer cheap, mint.

I changed form a hilux surf to a hiace. The only reason that it cost more was because it was new. I wasted 11K on the surf, I imagine I could have had a reasonable van for that amout. But alas it all boils down to what you have to spend on it in the end and whats right at the time (I did not even have a bike back then )...

[FROSTY:Me]

apsolutely no hesitation--A van every time.
so many reasons.
a van gives you a dry place to get changed in the wet.
bike and gear are more secure.
safer re fall over/off whilst driving.
fuel economy is beetter than a car with trailer