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Once spring rolls around, there's nothing more motivating than the thought of warm sunshine, hitting jumps and riding with friends. Of course, when you need to get your van ready for motocross season, you might find you need to make a few adjustments and additions. Here’s our guide on what you need to do to make your motorcycle comfortable.
It can sometimes be a little complicated to figure out how to transport a motorcycle. Despite motorcycles being one of the smaller vehicles, moving them around seems like a daunting task. One of your best options is to move your motorbike using your van. Compared with other vehicle types, such as trailers, vans offer better weather protection for your motorcycle. Additionally, vans are much easier to manoeuvre.
Of course, you can only transport your motorbike using your van if the former fits the latter. It would be best if you had the right-sized van and the right-sized motorbike.
Before placing the motorbike in the van, it is essential to check their sizes first and determine if there is adequate space at the back of the van to accommodate your bike. Vans come in a range of sizes, just as motorcycles do.
To be entirely sure that your bike can fit inside the van, you'll need a measuring tape to get their specific sizes. Don't forget to account for any accessories on the bike or inside your van to get more accurate measurements. There should also be enough space between the top of the motorcycle and the ceiling to prevent damage. Lastly, removable back seats are vital since they will help create more room for your bike.
A cargo van might be better due to its size, but a minivan could also be an option. To ensure your bike fits, you may need to adjust your bike’s handlebars or side-view mirrors before loading it.
Another essential consideration is the weight of what you're packing inside the van, particularly if you’re bringing along other items besides your motorbike. Note that each van has a maximum weight limit. The number of passengers is also something you need to take into account.
On average, a motorcycle weighs between 400 and 500 pounds. Larger bikes can weigh up to 900 pounds. Meanwhile, a smaller motorcycle weighs between 200 and 300 pounds on average.
You need to ensure that you have the right equipment for loading and securing your motorcycle in your van. Without the right equipment, you’ll likely harm yourself or damage your motorcycle during the loading and securing process.
The following items are recommended for ensuring that your bike is loaded and transported safely:
Motorbike ties: These will help secure your bike when it's in transit. Tie-down straps usually consist of durable webbing, tie-down hardware and a ratchet mechanism to tighten the strap.
Chocks: This is used during transportation or storage to hold the motorbike’s front tire stationary, preventing the bike from falling over.
Bar harness: This is where you can attach your motorbike ties, protecting your bike’s expensive paint and plastics.
Loading ramp: This will enable you to load and unload your bike safely. Avoid using planks as a motorcycle ramp for vans, as they may not be strong enough to support your vehicle while loading and unloading it correctly.
A lending hand
It’s best to get assistance from someone in loading, transporting and unloading your motorcycle. Your bike's safety is ensured this way, but more importantly, it prevents personal injury.
When it comes to loading the bike, it’s best to have at least two people doing the job. Make sure the loading ramp is properly secure beforehand. Then, you and another person should guide the bike as it heads up the loading ramp.
After putting the motorcycle inside, place it against one side of the van. Use the chocks to prevent the bike from moving around. Secure it tightly, and lay a sheet of cardboard or tarp underneath to catch any leaks. You can use a blanket as a protective cover to avoid scratches or damage to both the van and the bike.
Best practice dictates you should drain the bike of all fluid, rinse down the dirt and mud from the ride and cool down the engine before loading. But lets face it, is this practical and easy to follow?
Aside from determining the sizes of your van and motorbike and ensuring that you have the right equipment, you can also prepare your van for the motocross season by making modifications to it, not unlike a moto van or a motorcycle camper van. Here are some of the ways you can do this:
There are plenty of vans that you can use for transporting your motorbike. If you’ve yet to buy one, your most important consideration is the size of the cabin. It should be flexible enough to comfortably fit your motorcycles. Other factors to consider are the vehicle’s reliability, the height of its roof and your budget. Some of the best vans for motorcycles include the RAM ProMaster, Ford Transit, Nissan NV, Chevy Express and Volkswagen Transporter.
When it comes to modifying the interiors of your van, it all boils down to personal preferences. If you want to maximise the cargo space for carrying motorcycles, you can opt to strip out the rear as much as possible.
Insulation is crucial, particularly if you'll spend the majority of your time in the van. You can use various materials for insulating your walls and ceiling, such as fibreglass, sheep wool and foam boards.
This is all about incorporating the design you want for your van. You may opt to install LED lights, an entertainment system, a fridge, bedding and seating, a pantry and more.
With some basic modifications, you can make your van ready to haul your bike in time for motocross season. At Big Van World, we offer a wide range of vans that you can use for your specific needs. Browse our used van offerings now.