Transporting a ST by van

[IanInTheUsa]

A question for anyone who has transported their bike with a van... I'm picking up a new Super Tenere ES next week from the Pittsburgh area. I have the option of using a company Ford E350 van, the back doors open wide enough, I'm just not too sure if the opening is tall enough; approximately 48 inches.

It looks something like this:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tMPV5tgLkv4/maxresdefault.jpg

The dealer has told me that the bike is approximately 55 inches high with windshield and mirrors. Is there anyone here who can let me know if the bike will fit in one of these vans with the windshield and mirrors removed?

I have the option of renting a much taller van through Enterprise if needed, but would like to save on rental fees by using the company van.

 

[fraserdog]

I'm not sure if this will be any help but i'm in the U.K. and i picked up my S10 with the windshield and mirrors off in one of these vans http://www.anchorvans.co.uk/specifications/vauxhall/vivaro/ it was the SWB version.

 

[Kurgan]

It's not going to fit. Handlebar ends are at 47" and the gauges and windshield brackets are higher. Even if it was a few inches shorter, you trying to get the bike in to the van and tied down would be a nightmare. Rent a u-haul open trailer, it's easier to load and tie down. In a rental box van there are no tie down points, nowhere to secure a chock if you have one, etc.

 

[Spider]

I agree that it won't fit standing up. (Mine is on the top of a car lift in my garage, and I have to remove the windscreen and the mirrors to get it to fit comfortably with 54 inches of clearance.) But if you have enough help to muscle it into the van, and some old car tires covered with a moving blanket to lean it on, it could work. Make sure the gas tank is close to empty. I had a Triumph Tiger shipped by U-Ship and it showed up in the back of a Suburban none the worse for wear. But did I say it would take some muscles? You won't be able to roll it into the van at a 45 degree angle, but if you get it in and comfy (without breaking anything) and take it easy around corners coming home, I bet it will work.

 

[tomatocity]

Compress the front suspension with locking straps, remove the mirrors, and load it.

 

[Spider]

OK, I stand somewhat corrected. I just went out and measured mine, and it's 47-1/2 inches (at the highest points) with the mirrors and screen removed, on the side stand with the bars cranked to the right. Two caveats: I have aftermarket bars (might be a little flatter than the stockers, but I do have 1" risers, so they should be close) and I have a Wasp windscreen mount. So you can probably get it in and out of your work van if you lean it way over going through the door, but after that it might stand up (well, maybe not on the center stand). Tie the front down to the front seat mounts (in the van, that is), inflate a couple of air mattresses on each side of it, take it easy and the turns and I bet it will work!

 

[EricV]

Mine's not stock either, (51" at the bars), but I still say don't bother trying with the company van.

Sunny and clear in Pittsburg... why are you not riding it home?

 

[whipit]

I bought a 13 model at Hillview motorsports near Pittsburgh last October, put it straight in my Ford E-150 cargo van. It takes about five min to remove the windscreen and mirrors...possibly the hand guards. quick and easy

 

[Dogdaze]

I just transported mine back to the UK and picked another one up, 1K miles each way in a van, I took the screen and the mirrors off, the height of the bike is 130cm, the van opening was 135cm (2" difference). Not a problem, I locked down the front using the engine plate, the middle from the lower frame on each side and the rear tyre pulling backwards, thus ensuring very little pressure on the suspension (Don't want to blow a seal hitting a few hard bumps). The bike never moved whilst driving (bulkhead had an opening and I could see), felt solid. Do it.

 

[fraserdog]

I assume you would be loading it with a ramp so the bike will be entering the rear of the van at an angle so will be lower anyway not totally upright,most vans have a beam along the the the top of the door opening and when you have cleared that you normally get a couple more inches roof height to play with,i pushed my bike into the r/h front corner of the van behind the bulkhead on full r/h lock,put the sidestand down,compresed the forks a bit and lashed it down from the triple tree into the corner and from the rear wheel to the same corner and it never moved an inch on the journey home.

 

[holligl]

A question for anyone who has transported their bike with a van... I'm picking up a new Super Tenere ES next week from the Pittsburgh area. I have the option of using a company Ford E350 van, the back doors open wide enough, I'm just not too sure if the opening is tall enough; approximately 48 inches.

It looks something like this:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tMPV5tgLkv4/maxresdefault.jpg

The dealer has told me that the bike is approximately 55 inches high with windshield and mirrors. Is there anyone here who can let me know if the bike will fit in one of these vans with the windshield and mirrors removed?

I have the option of renting a much taller van through Enterprise if needed, but would like to save on rental fees by using the company van.

Does the van have a hitch? UHaul motorcycle trailers are pretty cheap to rent (~$35), very easy to load, and tow. The ease of loading and unloading, no dissassembly required, and less risk of damage to the bike, to me would be worth the investment.

 

[dietDrThunder]

Does the van have a hitch? UHaul motorcycle trailers are pretty cheap to rent (~$35), very easy to load, and tow. The ease of loading and unloading, no dissassembly required, and less risk of damage to the bike, to me would be worth the investment.

I'm ultra lazy, so I vote for this. Super easy loading and unloading by yourself, and virtually no chance off mishaps.

Pro Tip: Hook tie-downs to the subframe at the lower front corner of the seat area (pic attached to show what I'm talking about). These tie downs will hold the bike as if it's welded to the trailer. Tie the front down relatively lightly.

 

[IanInTheUsa]

Sunny and clear in Pittsburg... why are you not riding it home?

The logistics of getting from where I live in Jersey to Pitt would make your brain explode. Optimistically, if I used public transport (NJ Transit bus and train, Amtrak, whatever transport there is to get from Pittsburgh to Canonsburg) it would take me about 18 hours! I can jump in a van and be there and back in 10-11!

 

[IanInTheUsa]

Thanks for all the input! I'm not going to risk using the company van, I don't want to drive 5 hours just to find it's too tight. It sounds like it's possible, but I'd want to make the trip as easy as possible. I can get a good mid-week rate with the local Enterprise location using their high roof passenger van with the seats removed, something like this:

https://s3-media1.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/UmBL2QactD2KLzHjDFiroA/o.jpg

The dealer will help load the van, and the Enterprise branch manager has already told me he'd help with the unloading. Best part of renting the van is that the branch is only about 1/2 mile from me.

 

[billyp]

I rented from Enterpise. A cargo van and it worked perfect.Made it easy to load and unload.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I just went from Maryland to Delaware to pick up a vehicle and simply did a 1-way Avis rental car, so I could drop the car and drive the new one home. The AMA discount cut the price a lot.