Roadracing World – April 2019

By Michael Gougis

I

t's the end of a long, hot day at the track,

and it's time to load. With a paddock full of

tired riders with tired brains making some

questionable decisions, it's almost inevita-

ble that at least one loading attempt will end

badly. Usually, it involves nothing more than

damaged pride and bodywork, but it would be

irritating to spend all day hitting triple-digit

speeds on the straights and dragging knees

in the corners, and then crash the motorcycle

while loading it for the trip home!

Or even sadder would be an early morn-

ing incident where the bike falls over even be-

fore the day starts. The result can be a rider

scrambling for spare levers and taping up fair-

ing damage even before the riding begins.

Loading and unloading is one of those

things that no one thinks about until they get

it completely wrong. A little planning helps

make it go right. It's a little like a dance—know

where your feet and your hands go, and every-

thing else will fall into place.

Loading:

Start by doing an inventory.

Make sure you have sturdy, functioning

tie-downs, and avoid the cheap, skinny ones

from the local discount store. No sense in se-

curing a $15,000+ sportbike with the cheapest

tie-downs you can fi nd, especially when much

stronger and more secure ones are available.

We like Canyon Dancer heavy-duty tie-downs,

which are 1.5 inches wide with strong buckles.

Make sure you've got a solid ramp. Fold-

ing aluminum ramps are awesome because

they can be strapped standing up in the back

of a van, saving valuable fl oor space. Try to

get one of the wider models—the rear tire on

a sportbike is a lot wider than the rear tire on

a dirtbike. And try to avoid ramps with raised

edges. Those are great if the tire fi ts between

the edges, but not if the tire doesn't.

It’s also possible to build your own ramp

out of a length of 2x12-inch board. My approach

is to build the longest ramp that fi ts into the

transport vehicle. Stick an aluminum ramp end

on one end, and you should be set. I've recently

Watch Your

STEP!

LOADING AND UNLOADING:

(Above) Michael Gougis loads a Suzuki GSX-R1000 into his trusty white American van, using a

ramp made from a 2x12 board. (Below, Left) A Baxley Sport Chock drops (or bolts) into place to help

make a van, pickup or trailer a secure way to haul a motorcycle. Step one is rolling the front wheel

into the chock. (Below, Middle) Step two is securing the bike with heavy-duty Canyon Dancer tie-

downs, and if the bike has straight clip-on handlebars, a Bar Harness. (Below, Right) For bikes like

this KTM with tubular handlebars or clip-ons with risers, use soft-ties above the lower triple clamp.

24—Roadracing World, Trackday Directory 2019