Bike Transport

[Pauly]

I've had a look, but can't seem to find a thread along this line already - which I find strange.

Question is, what's the best way to transport a bike? Distances would be mainly local(ish) with the odd drive long distance in the UK.

As far as I can see there are three possibilities All three of these have good and bad points, my current thoughts are

1) Van
Pros:
Better security - bike out of sight
No reduced speed limit
Could carry more than one bike - share fuel costs with friend(s)

Cons:
Another vehicle on the drive - wife does not want a van permanently on the drive (this may be the killer argument against a van).
More VED.
More insurance.
Another MOT.
More servicing.

2) Trailer
Pro:
Would need to change my current car, but once done the VED/Insurance/MOT would be no different to now.
Could carry more than one bike - share fuel costs with friend(s)

Cons:
Security - would need to consider how to secure bike when away from vehicle.
Parking can be problematic, but not a big issue.
Reduced speed on motorways/national speed limit areas.

3) Bike Carrier on car
Pro:
Would need to change my current car, but once done the Insurance/MOT would be no different to now.
No reduced speed limit.
Could still use trailer if required.

Cons:
Security - would need to consider how to secure bike when away from vehicle.
Reduced speed on motorways/national speed limit areas.
Vehicle with large enough ball weight (fnarr fnarr) may have a much larger VED!


These are pretty much my thoughts for my personal circumstances. I'd like to understand what other options I could consider, or if I've missed any glaring faults in my logic for each one.

Cheers,
Pauly

[Stewie]

I've done all 3 and the Van always comes out best, you can transport the bikes to events or rides and once you get there pop the gazebo up, use fold down or camp beds, jobs a good'un free accommodation and your right by your bikes.
While I did have trailers, I've been followed more than once, just drive around around about twice you will soon find out who's following had someone try to cut the chains and straps, outside a Hospital in broad daylight and on camera.
I would never leave the bikes on a car carrier or trailer, not even a quick stop at services etc

[big yellow tractor]

A good compromise would be a box trailer.

Security wise, don't stick bike related decals all over it and get a wheel-clamp and a bloody strong lock or the fat-necked-pikey-vermin-scum will have it away in no time

[GDAS]

It's worth noting that vans are subject to reduced speed limits - 60 on dual carriageway and 50 on single carriageway - though, unlike cars with trailers, they can do 70 on the motorway.

I switched from trailer to van a few years ago and wouldn't go back, but it's an expensive luxury. If you were to buy a Transporter/Vito with quick release rear seats then that could potentially replace your car.

[Fleegle]

After years of having a van I've recently bought a Motolug trailer of ebay. The van was great but due to having no off road parking and living in an area with narrow streets, I had to park it a quarter of a mile a way. The constant having to check on it and rectify the vandalism was a pain in the ass. Unless its off road, you can't leave eff all in a van overnight. If it has no bike decals on the van, the scum think its a builders van and good for tools!!

The motolug cost me £550 and dismantles without tools and fits in the boot of the car. The tax and insurance for the van was £600 a year, add to that MoT and servicing and you are looking at a grand for a vehicle that did between 1K-2K miles a year

I'm sure there will be occasions that I will need to hire a van, probably for overnighters where security is an issue, but the small cost far outweighs having to worry about a 7metre van that I can't see out my window

[Pauly]

I can see all of the solutions have drawbacks and as with anything there are as many opinions as there are responders, don't get me wrong I value every response this was the reason for asking the question.

As my wife is refusing to have a van on the drive, that option is looking doubtful, the more I ask the more of an issue it's appearing. As she's normally quiet easy going the fact she's making a stand on "no van" means I'll not push it. Though I need to understand if the problem is another vehicle on the drive, or a van.

If I need to go down the route of trailer/carrier I was thinking of trying a carrier to begin with before going to the expense of a trailer. My current car can't have a tow bar fitted without serious changes to the body work and the ball weight would be low, my wife's car can but the ball weight would only be 75kg. As I was thinking of changing my car anyway any suggestions for a vehicle that could carry a 110kg bike and a bike carrier?

I quiet like the idea of a five year old Land Rover Disco, VED would be the tick end of £500 but fuel costs and insurance would be comparable to my current car. Any other vehicle ideas? I've become soft since moving south, I quiet like luxuries in my car and I've done the Land Rover Series III time, was fun, but not going back to arctic gear to drive a car in the winter.

[farmerdave]

It's worth noting that vans are subject to reduced speed limits - 60 on dual carriageway and 50 on single carriageway - though, unlike cars with trailers, they can do 70 on the motorway.

I switched from trailer to van a few years ago and wouldn't go back, but it's an expensive luxury. If you were to buy a Transporter/Vito with quick release rear seats then that could potentially replace your car.

Cars towing trailers ARE subject to different speed limits , 50 on a single carriage way, and 60 on both dual carriage ways and motorways.

[Corky78]

As my wife is refusing to have a van on the drive, that option is looking doubtful, the more I ask the more of an issue it's appearing. As she's normally quiet easy going the fact she's making a stand on "no van" means I'll not push it. Though I need to understand if the problem is another vehicle on the drive, or a van.

You could replace the wife - then get a van!!!!

Seriously though, I too don't have the room for a van, so it not an option, but even if I did have the room, costs would outweigh the practicaility.

I tried a carrier but my bike was way too heavy for it, and I didn't like the idea of my pride and joy hanging off the back of my car!

So, I fitted a aftermarket tow bar (£300), purchase a second hand trailor (£120) which I store in the garage and jobs a good-un. I have a car for a car (which I use most) and a facility to pull the bike when going afar (when I've sorted the brake bleeding issue.....didn't realise KTM calipers were so hard to do!!!! ) - just take a lock with you to lock the trailor to the car while you're gone.....and get to the car park first so you've plently of space to pull the trailor alongside to lock

Hope that helps

[Pauly]

You could replace the wife - then get a van!!!!

Nah, she bought me the bike in the first place, so she's in the good books and a "keeper" for now

[big yellow tractor]

If I need to go down the route of trailer/carrier I was thinking of trying a carrier to begin with before going to the expense of a trailer. My current car can't have a tow bar fitted without serious changes to the body work and the ball weight would be low, my wife's car can but the ball weight would only be 75kg. As I was thinking of changing my car anyway any suggestions for a vehicle that could carry a 110kg bike and a bike carrier?

I have a Dave Cooper rack for my trials bike and have receivers fitted to both my ickle jeep and my tranny (for when I can't be arsed to empty it to get a bike in)

Bike racks are great for trials bikes but there are some issues;

Even a little trials bike has a serious effect on a small car's handling when hanging a foot off the back.

I did pop my DRZ in the rack on the tranny just for a crack and it wasn't easy getting it in but doable. Getting it out after a couple of miles was tricky though, the weight (it is a drz remember) had squeezed the tyres down into the rack and the nobbles wouldn't allow it to come back out.

You have to rig up some extra strapping points (I bring some traps out through the tailgate then close it) to stop a bike lurching around and some padding; a big lump of foam to stop the bike donking the car.

Also, you can't get in the boot when the bike's on the back.

If you have the room for a trailer, I'd go that route. Most trailer can easily be adapted so they can be stored on their side or end.(unistrut is your friend) I have even seen little wheels added so a trailer can be stood on it's side and rolled down the alley at the side of a house and into a back garden.

A couple of my mates have the motolug folding trailers and are very happy to recommend them. (expensive though)

[Pete A]

I managed to pick up and almost new motolug off eBay for £300. It suits my situation of occasionally needing to transport the bike but with little space at home.

Great that it fits in the boot. If you drive to a meeting point you just unload the bike and pop the trailer into the car for security.

If I had the choice though it would be a van every time... but I don't unfortunately.

[Pauly]

Thank you all for the responses. The general consensus appears to be

1) Van - offers the best security and better speed/versatility.
2) Trailer - easy to use, but requires a little more planning especially if away for more than one day.
3) Carrier - Sounds good, but it's use with a heavy bike is problematic and requires a heavy vehicle.

Well the wife still refuses to allow a van on the drive, her objections seem to be around having another vehicle on the drive which would spend most of it's time there along with the additional costs for VED/Insurance/Service/MOT.

As I've already said my current car can't have a tow hook. So I'll look into getting one on the wife's car, or maybe change mine. Hmmmm new car shopping, a job I quiet like doing

Any suggestions for a towing vehicle, preferably 4x4, that's comfortable for long distances?