FYI I am not a motorcyclist, and do not know how to ride one.
I need to transport a motorcycle about 1500 miles in my pickup bed. It’s (I think) a Honda NC750 (?) weighing around 500 lbs. I will already have a large trailer behind the truck, so a motorcycle trailer is not an option. The truck is a 3/4 ton long bed, so there’s room for the bike to fit with the tailgate closed. I have a pair of heavy duty ramps (1000lbs capacity), and plenty of big tie down straps.
Any suggestions for getting this bike up in the bed? Even if I could ride one, I would be afraid of a disaster using ramps. Will a bike dealer load one for me? (I could rent a bike trailer and my wife and I could push it aboard – then drive to the dealer).
Any pitfalls I should watch out for when securing it? Should I fabricate something to ensure the wheels stay in place (side to side)? I’m unsure if the normal bounce of the ride and the bike suspension might cause the wheels to shift to right or left (and allow the bike to fall). Is it OK to tighten the tie down straps such that the bike’s suspension is compressed? This will be a 3 day trip.
Any and all suggestions appreciated – I’m outside my expertise here.