Transporting a Rebel 250

**mycoma** · 07-25-2010, 02:36 PM

Hello, Im going to be picking up a 2007 Rebel 250 that I found on Craigs List in a few days. Going to use 12" Metal ramps 92" long and walk it into my Tacoma Short-bed. So Any tips on strapping it down? Will I get the tailgate closed, I have 60" in the bed.
I have 4- 6Ft Ratchet straps. will that be good enough? Thanks for any tips!

**jax** · 07-25-2010, 02:51 PM

I always put the front wheel into a corner of the front of the truck and as you pull on the tie downs push the front end down and compress the front end it takes 2 people do do it right. One to push down on the front end and one to pull the straps tight. I then strap the rear wheel to both sides of the back of the bed to keep the rear wheel from moving back and forth.

Ride safe

**flitecontrol** · 07-25-2010, 03:03 PM

Think it will fit, but if you have to leave the tailgate down, it's not a problem. If you don't have someone to hold it upright while you attach the straps, leave it on the kickstand. Place rags between the bike and straps to avoid damaging paint. chrome, etc.

Attach a strap with some slack in it to the left fork. Then put one on the right fork and pull the bike almost vertical. Take almost all the slack out of the left strap. Go to the rear of the bike and run a strap from one side of the truck bed, through and around the rim, to a tie down on the other side and snug this strap up. Now tighten the front right strap till the bike is vertical, then tighten the left. The bike will move up and down as you go over bumps, but cannot fall because of the straps. To keep the bike from rolling front to rear, the front strap tie down should be ahead of the point of attachment and the rear behind.

You can use the fourth strap for the ramps!

**Shadow Shack** · 07-25-2010, 06:46 PM

I transported ours in the back of a pre-Tacoma "Pick-Up" Yes, that was their ingenious name for the model back then). Assuming you have a two door truck and a "normal" bed, it's the same bed length, more narrow though. I loaded it straight in and had to leave the tailgate down. Four tie-downs is perfect, two in front/two on the rear, it won't go anywhere.

If you have one of those four door trucks with the abbreviated bed, you'll probably have to go diagonally.

**mycoma** · 07-25-2010, 06:56 PM

Yes, I have the Double Cab truck, with the 5Ft short Bed. So looks like Diagonal will be best.

Thanks for the tips as I never tied down a motorcycle.

Im going to bring a piece of lumber to
put behind the front wheel,hopefully it will stay in place but no big deal if I keep an eye on the straps a few times.

**Fridgitator** · 07-25-2010, 08:36 PM

A minor note, based on something I read elsewhere- When you loosen the straps, do so incrementally all the way around. If you loosen them completely one at a time, the bike could fall over sideways.

**e.419** · 07-26-2010, 01:07 AM

I have an extended cab silverado... I just moved my bike today actually and have moved it several time with leaving the tailgate down putting it staight in the middle and using tie down straps hooked to the handle bars to the corner of the bed... as long as you have the tire pressed up against the cab(or in my case the tool box) and make sure to sinch it down to were there is almost no play on the front shocks it'll ride good forever... JMO

**KnoXouT** · 07-26-2010, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fridgitator

A minor note, based on something I read elsewhere- When you loosen the straps, do so incrementally all the way around. If you loosen them completely one at a time, the bike could fall over sideways.

Been there

**fastpakr** · 07-26-2010, 03:49 PM

I've loaded all of my bikes into short bed pickup trucks at one point or another. All of them have fit with the gate up as long as they're loaded diagonally. Just put them on the side stand and strap them down so they can't fall to either side or roll forward/back and you're all set.

**Shadow Shack** · 07-26-2010, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastpakr

I've loaded all of my bikes into short bed pickup trucks at one point or another. All of them have fit with the gate up as long as they're loaded diagonally. Just put them on the side stand and strap them down so they can't fall to either side or roll forward/back and you're all set.

Now when you say "short bed" are you referring to the old short bed of 6' or the modern four door cab abbreviated 4-5 foot bed?

The 500 Vulcan has similar dimensions to a VLX and I can't get the VLX into my 6' 93 Toyota Pick-Up and close the gate to save my life...however it will close on the wider Tacoma (and I surmise the even wider full sized trucks).

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