How To Properly Load a Dirt bike

I am aware, I shouldn’t have to go over this topic. However, some people just don’t use sound judgment sometimes Anytime you load a motorbike, it’s suppose to go up and stay there until you’re taking it out again.

One of the worst things you can do is haul your bike in a lifted truck. I see people do it, but it just makes me chuckle inside. The higher up the truck bed is, the more difficult and strength it takes to load your bike in it; naturally. So, you want to drive a pick-up using a low bed, or just a trailer for making loading easier, specifically if it’s just you.

Getting Help

The way I’ve always done it is: me and my pops each stand beside a side of the bike. Both of us lift on our side of the forks and handlebars to get the front wheel over the tailgate of the truck. We then lift up the rear of the bike by the swing-arm. Once both wheels of the dirt bike are in the bed of the truck, I hop up inside it to retain the bike before it tips over. Also, before loading the bike, we set the tie-straps out and put the hooks over the loops in the front of the bed to ensure that they are ready once we have the bike up. We then put a tie-strap on one side of the handlebars, then lean the bike over and set the opposite strap on. Then it’s just tightening it down far enough so the dirt bike won’t move.

Being The Lone Hero

For anybody that can’t, or plain just don’t want to get help, there are ways to load a dirt bike yourself. The first way to do it is putting a dirt bike ramp on the tailgate of the truck, and putting a solid bike stand along side of the ramp approximately a foot or two from your tailgate. Push your dirt bike on the handlebars by having a running start up the ramp, stepping on the stand while you push it up, and stepping on the tailgate once you get the bike up. This is difficult at the beginning for smaller people, but if you have enough momentum it will be fairly easy.

A different way of how to load a dirt bike on your own resembles the first, but this time you aren’t using as much strength. Instead, start the bike and put it into first gear. You still require some momentum, however, you can let the bike do a lot of the work by slipping the clutch and giving it a little gas for getting up the ramp. This does require some practice and technique, so if you aren’t confident then I wouldn’t try it alone.

The third solution to load a dirt bike on your own is the way in which I actually it if I do not have help, however it cannot always be done. If you have a hill or slope, back your truck up to it as close as possible. Put a ramp on the tailgate, then push your bike slowly down the hill and onto the ramp. Make sure the tires stay in the middle of the ramp so it stays in one spot. Generally if the hill is steep or just right, you should be able to just walk onto the bed of the truck with the bike and strap it down. Bear in mind that if there is no hill then you certainly won’t be able to try this, so be prepared to improvise if you’re alone.

If all else fails, you can haul your bikes with a motorcycle carrier, that is certainly easy enough for just one person to load.

Since we have a regular or short bed truck, we cannot shut the tailgate using a full size motocross bike. Some people attempt to half-way shut it and strap it I don’t worry about it. I just ensure the two straps are good and tight on the handlebars, and haven’t had any problems with that. It’s fine to use another strap or two at the pegs, frame, swing-arm, or rear wheel of the bike if you are that worried.

Best of luck, and try to not look like a goon when you load your dirt bike!

-Tom Stark

If you to learn more on Hauling Dirt Bikes Without Help, or check out Loading Your Motocross Bike Alone for more tips.