Transporting Bike 300 miles.. need some help...

[GaTo]

What's going on guys i'm purchasing a bike tomorrow from Tampa, Florida (300 miles away from me) and i rented a pick up truck to haul it down on. On problem is i have no idea how i'm going to get the Shadow Ace off the ground and onto the back of the flat bed...

Any suggestions? Also what else should i get to protect it during the ride back home? This is my first bike so i don't want to ride it home just yet...

Thanks in advance

[T_Sebastian]

this is how I transported mine when I had a flat once.

Back the pickup down into a very shallow ditch with the tailgate down, I even took the tailgate cables off to allow it to drop a couple more inches. By doing this you can get the tailgate pretty close to the ground. When I did it, I wanted it as close as possible so I let all the air out of the rear tires on the truck. After all this I was about 6 inches off the ground with the tailgate. Then I just took a 2/12" board and rode the bike up into the bed, threw a 5 dollar tarp over it from wal-mart and strapped it down. One strap between the risers over the top tree, and the other over the seat with about 5 towels between the seat and the strap.

[cowboy]

Use ratching tiedowns they hold better and dont come loose.If you use a ramp to load it make sure it is strong enough.You might see if there is a bike shop by where you are getting it and see if they have a loading ramp you can use to load it at there shop.If you can tow a trailer you might be better off with a small uhall trailer they are low to the ground.

[AirportFF]

300 miles......ride it home :happy:

[fegs]

300 miles......ride it home :happy:

Heck yeah, from Tampa to Miami is not a bad ride.

[Rhino]

Where in Tampa are you getting it from? Maybe I can be of some help. I have a homemade ramp that I use. My driveway is at enough of a slope that I am only about 3 inches from the ground and the tailgate. If you need some help, or get lost, let me know I live in Tampa.

[FFsLady]

I had my bike shipped from Texas. Had it shipped to a local dealer. I called the dealer to see what shipping company they used.

[AirportFF]

Well, Gato how'd you make out???

[RustyJake]

It's probably too late, but I think his best option for this would have been to fly one of us down there to drive it for him.

[GaTo]

lol.. just been reading some of your posts just an update for you guys... i'm am the proud owner of a 2002 Honda Shadow (3000 miles) unfortunately though the bike is stuck about 100miles away from me (in west palm beach)... I can't ride it (no tag) and the flat bed i rented was too freaking short to carry it home... So i'm either going to call Uhaul and rent a truck or a trailer... I might just make a paper tag (fake) and ride that puppy home...

[AirportFF]

lol.. just been reading some of your posts just an update for you guys... i'm am the proud owner of a 2002 Honda Shadow (3000 miles) unfortunately though the bike is stuck about 100miles away from me (in west palm beach)... I can't ride it (no tag) and the flat bed i rented was too freaking short to carry it home... So i'm either going to call Uhaul and rent a truck or a trailer... I might just make a paper tag (fake) and ride that puppy home...

As long as you have insurance on it, a bill of sale or title, and a motorcycle license. Make a temp tag for it and ride it home. If you get pulled over show the cop the bill of sale and tell him you are transporting it home from where you purchased it.

[T_Sebastian]

it doesnt have any plates on it? Here in TX the plates stay on a bike when you sell it, you just transfer the title......
hell yeah, 100 miles is nothing, just ride it home. I dont think Id fake a tag though, that might get you in more trouble than if you had no tag at all.

[GaTo]

It had a plate on it but the guy kept it.. i was reading up on it and i believe that plates cannot be transfered from one owner to another unless they are family.

[GaTo]

Also an update for you guys.. my bike is down here in miami... my cousin secretly drove up north with his truck and brought it down to his house... i'm going to try to bring it home to my house because his neighborhood isn't that great lol...

[M@Man]

Congratulations! :luxhello: :luxhello:
Now enjoy, and ride safe.

M@

[HSGear]

Put the title docs in your inside jacket pocket and ride it. If the cop pulls you over, just show him the title and tell him you're on the way to the DMV to title it. I know I wouldn't ticket someone over that, and I can't imagine most street soldiers would.

Mike