Transporting a motorbike: Instructions for transporting a motorbike correctly

Transporting the motorcycle correctly

There are many reasons why someone might want to transport a motorbike and cannot ride it themselves. The motorbike may be broken or in need of servicing, a new model may need to be collected from the motorbike dealer – or, most importantly, you may want to take your hobby vehicle with you on holiday. However, there are a few things to consider when transporting a motorbike. In our guide to proper motorcycle transport, we provide an overview of everything you need to consider to ensure that your motorcycle and other road users remain safe. There are various ways to transport a motorbike safely to your desired destination. The most common option is a motorbike transport trailer. Smaller trailers suitable for motorcycle transport are available for just a few hundred pounds. This purchase usually pays for itself after just a few trips, and often a motorcycle transport trailer is also available among friends. When transporting your motorcycle, you must adhere to a speed limit of 100 km/h on British motorways. Another option is rear carriers for cars or motorhomes. However, in this case, you are often very limited in terms of the size and weight of the motorcycle. If you still want to transport your bike and do without a motorcycle transport trailer, you will have to try to secure your motorcycle inside the vehicle. Large sprinters or delivery vans are suitable for this purpose. Important note: The handlebar set should not be used with aluminium handlebars and BMW models, as the lashing straps can damage them!

Instructions: Transporting and securing your motorbike correctly

To protect your motorbike from slipping or, in the worst case, falling over, there are a few things to keep in mind. It is very important to use the above-recommended aids correctly. You can find tension straps for securing your motorbike properly in our Car & Motorbike Security category.

1. Safely loading the motorcycle: Depending on the type of transport, this part is the most critical. The motorcycle must be pushed onto the loading area using a ramp or a sturdy board. When attempting this for the first time, it is advisable to have someone on hand to help secure the motorcycle and prevent it from falling over. Ramps with side walls are particularly recommended for this purpose. These ensure straighter guidance and reduce the risk of slipping.

2. Correctly attaching the lashing straps and tensioning straps for motorcycle transport: We have already listed a number of useful aids above. The motorcycle handlebar lashing strap is placed over the handles and then connected to the transporter or trailer with a suitable lashing strap on the left and right sides. Now lash both sides until the motorcycle's fork springs slightly. In addition to securing the handlebars, lashing straps are recommended at the rear. It is often advisable to attach these to the passenger footrests or a strut in the seat area. It is important to ensure that these are metal parts and not plastic or synthetic parts of the fairing. Otherwise, lashing can cause scuff marks and damage.