Can anyone advise a way to get a motorbike moved from the midlands to northern peak district.

I've not paid for it yet so would need said courier to show up when I'm there and take it away there and then.
Am i asking too much here?

I could try renting a van but am not sure how to tie a bigish bike down in a van.

any clever ideas?

Is it a runner?

Train down there and ride it back could be the least painful way. Also if you're buying from trade they can usually arrange delivery?

Ratchet straps x 4 to secure it in a van. Two on the bars and tighten tight to compress the forks then two on the back. You will be amazed at how secure this will be. Do not use the stand.

yep its a runner but not really very near to a train station.

I guess a train / cab would be the same price as a van

http://www.wemovebikesandquads.co.uk

A friend set this company up, he sold it about a month ago!

But yeah, what ray said. Can fit a bike in a trannie easily enough.

Aye back of a van. Wedge the front wheel against something and tie the front brake on. A strap from each end of the bars to the floor (as Ray says pull the bike down against the suspension not the stand). If there's no tie points on the floor attach the straps to the bottom of the seats. If you're still worried then do the same at the rear with 2 more straps ... I never used to bother, the front ones will hold it very securely on their own.

What have you bought?

I used this lot recently http://www.motorcycledeliveryuk.co.uk/contact - turned up within half an hour of when they said they would and everything was strapped and wrapped - we were first one on his run that day (so likely easier to predict timings) but a good service. Saved me a long drive.

Thanks all. Back of a van it is.

Van is booked. I'll pick up a few ratchet straps this week.

Anybody got experience of getting it into the van?
i expect I could get the seller to assist.

Getting out might be a solo job. Perhaps a neighbor?

Tips greatfully accepted to avoid dropping the thing

I assume you'll need to borrow a ramp from somewhere?

Aye. I have a long scaffolding board. Its pretty old though....

I had a look at buying one but its too pricey.

Just wondered if anyone had come up with a more economic option.

Don't know if they are long enough, but you could always 'borrow' one of those yellow manhole covers the gas board use whilst carrying out repairs?

FLV wrote: Anybody got experience of getting it into the van?
i expect I could get the seller to assist.

Getting out might be a solo job. Perhaps a neighbor?

Yep. With a ramp and two of you, if one takes the bars and the other pushes from behind whilst also "stabilising" it, you should be alright, if it starts going wrong, let it roll back down the ramp.

If you're competent, and the back of the van ain't too high, you should be able to get it out yourself, but 2 people doesn't go a miss.

FLV wrote:Aye. I have a long scaffolding board. Its pretty old though....
.

I've recently been doing some calcs checking scaffolding, a standard board can take a max bending moment of 0.48kNm (so depending on what your bike is, you can soon work out if it's capable or not ).

too complicated for me

FLV wrote:too complicated for me

Yeah, far simpler for you to do a FE model

What does your bike weigh? A point load of 1.25kN (approx 125kg) acting in the centre of of a 2.5m span gives a bending moment of 0.78kNm. Dunno what the FoS on scaffold boards is, but if it's 1.5 (standard for variable loads according to Eurocode...and you're dealing with scaffolders here ), you could be er cutting it fine

(my gut feeling is it'll be alright though )

you really are worse than me....

Thanks for the tips guys. I ended up with the old fashoined way. A lift off a mate and a ride home.

Here it is. Needs the odd bit of tlc here and there.

future classic dont you know...

Future classic? Current imho.

Lovely, babo designed blade, yeah future classic Good old fashioned carbs, I'm from the generation that just knows EFI...