Does a bike fit in the back of a ute?

[Captain]

I have one of the work utes that I have just detailed, to sell (end of lease). It's come up really well, so was playing with the idea of selling my car instead of the ute and keeping the ute for everyday driving. I work 5 mins from home, and am it the office 99% of the time anyhow so I don't mind.

The real purpose would be to use the ute to transport the bike to the track. I saw all the stuff you guys bring to the track, and see the advantages of a trailer but I don't need one if I can use the ute.

Anyhow I'll get to the point; will a bike fit in the back? It's a Commodore ute, maybe 6 years old. I doubt I'd use the blackbird as a track bike though, might think about something different....maybe one of those red ones....?

[Johnnie5]

measure tray and measure bike and you will see

afaik bikes fit in commonwhore utes , but need to leave the tailgate down

[FIREBLADE]

i think it should fit if you angle it..

[jasonbw]

Red ones??? Honda??? like a CBR??? :) peeerfect :)

Yep, I've seen it twice (track bike from the the back of a ute), but its kinda ugly... havent seen a long ute used..

The way they've done it was to have it end up with the bike diagonal, really tight fit and very awkward to get it in and out, but it was managable, just not ideal.

Hopefully a RAT does this and can let you know if he/she has an easy technique.?

[triumph]

should fit

[Martin]

It'll fit but you have to do it diagnolly or leave the tailgate down.
If it was a long wheelbase commy ute would be perfect!

[Captain]

I don't mind having the tailgate down, I could even make some modification to make it look 'normal' with the tailgate down. But is it road legal?

No, not a red Honda Jason. I'd like to test ride the 1098, as well as the Triumph but I am going on looks alone at this stage. And anyhow I'm just thinking aloud, haven't really decided anything yet.

[shane]

measure tray and measure bike and you will see

afaik bikes fit in commonwhore utes , but need to leave the tailgate down

Mate, i have a long wheeled based Commo Ute, bikes fit EASY with enough room for a frkn pit bike horazontal behind it.

However, i have also seen the "normal" utes have the tail gate down and they only over hang about half the wheel on the tail gate. in some case the whole rear wheel.

I'm pretty sure that it's road legal, maybe make sure you indicate to other drivers its longer then normal with a orange flag hanging from the tail gate.

My utes going to be awesome for track days, only problem is seeing behind it and doing u-turns, which need about a road the size of a freeway just to turn the bitch around. But that's what ya get with a long ass wheel base.

[Martin]

Ive always wanted one of those long commy utes for bike use!

[shane]

Ive always wanted one of those long commy utes for bike use!

yeh there awesome mate, however just getting the bike up so high is a bit of a bitch but when you get the right tools for the job its no worries!

Used it to pick up Julz bike when he had his off a few months back and he had his disk lock on the front wheel and that made my whole night fuckin hard!

Lucky it was only a 125 and could be picked up pretty easy!

[Martin]

I took the easy way out and bought a trailer. Not a bike trailer but a customised jet ski trailer. Very lightweight and very low. Basically a 9foot by 5foot piece of marine ply on the trailer frame. Works a treat.

[zRoYz]

I use my XR6 ute to transport bikes & the rear wheel will sit on the tray no problem, you have to keep tail gate slightly open to fit bike length ways. I don't like sideways due to tie down points suck. You then hold up tail gate with occy straps hard against wheel so all your other stuff doesn't slide out the back.

I will get a camera happy person to snap a pic of setup at EC 30th to post.

[DanOz]

I'd like to test ride the 1098


Oh oh..... here we go.....
getting into serious two wheels.... :ayyy: :ayyy:
Ciao

[Alex.]

Oh oh..... here we go.....
getting into serious two wheels.... :ayyy: :ayyy:
Ciao

I'll accept some responsibility for the encouragement...

[Pokey]

I use my tray back hilux so i have heaps of room :)
The only problem is the height, even with a ramp the length of the tray the r1 still scrapes the belly pan:cursing: Luckily a small dip in the road or a gutter makes up for it :ayyy:

[Julz01]

yeh there awesome mate, however just getting the bike up so high is a bit of a bitch but when you get the right tools for the job its no worries!

Used it to pick up Julz bike when he had his off a few months back and he had his disk lock on the front wheel and that made my whole night fuckin hard!

Lucky it was only a 125 and could be picked up pretty easy!

hehe, I need to ask you about that when I come back up in a few weeks :p

[lilninja]

hey captain I have the solution for you mate, see this thread!
http://www.nswroadandtrackbikes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2810
lots of room for two bikes heaps of tie down points
:ayyy: :ayyy: :ayyy:

[Captain]

Thanks lilninja,

But the ute I have ............... :confused1:

[lilninja]

Doesnt hurt to try!

[shane]

On the upside we regularly sell utes - mainly commodore utes - and they are so easy to sell, lot's of tradesmen want them. Looking at the condition and mileage you shouln't have any problems. Don't know re price, not familiar with your model.
I found the 'Trading Post' to work best of all (online AND newspaper, the paper version still works better).

You wouldn't have a spare radiator lying around????

[Captain]

Sorry mate, no spares - mechanics do that.

[holdontight]

you can get a thingy don't know what is called from Auto1 that lets you keep your tailgate open & keep all your shit in the back. It has extended sides & a rear gate. You'd have plenty off room and still not lose ya stuf out the back. It is removable in about 5min so it don't have to be on all the time. Ill try to find out what its called.

[Racers Edge]

Heard a story recently from a tyre rep that his ute was hit from behind with the tail gate down & a bike in the back -neither vehicle's insurance would cover him! Might want to check that out.

[Captain]

That's one very important issue, Racers Edge. Hmmmm....
Maybe I should just stick to the bird, it's a lot of fun and an ideal bike for the mix of cruising and track that I have in mind. Anything else will always be a compromise at one level - and I don't think two bikes are for me, I have 3 girls at home that spend spend spend.

[Alex.]

Hey Captain, have a think about getting a trailer. The one that we've got is excellent: light, cheap, and brand-new. It is so much easier taking the bike to the track as you can kick back after a hard day shredding your tyres :ayyy: You'll see ours this Saturday at OP.

All you need to do is add a towbar to the car - dead easy my friend.

[Dunno]

Hey Captain, have a think about getting a trailer. The one that we've got is excellent: light, cheap, and brand-new. It is so much easier taking the bike to the track as you can kick back after a hard day shredding your tyres :ayyy: You'll see ours this Saturday at OP.

All you need to do is add a towbar to the car - dead easy my friend.

How cheap is "cheap" if you dont mind me asking?

[Alex.]

$600 for a bike trailer however as it's a flatbed, you can use it to transport other stuff like rubbish, whitegoods etc. It's perfect for roadbikes :)

[Captain]

Thanks mate but I don't really have anywhere to keep it - I live in a terrace house, in a large complex and whilst I have underground car parking it's already chokers. I guess if it's registred it could stay in the street, but that would be well out of sight .... I don't know.
Then again I might store it at work. Maybe not a bad idea after all. Does it fit two bikes?

[DanOz]

Does it fit two bikes?

:n: starts to sound interesting...... :lmao:

then we go in CODESHARING :rolleyes:

[Captain]

What's CODESHARING?

[Alex.]

Yep, it fits 2 bikes. I'll bring it on Saturday to OP.

[Pokey]

One of my mates has a fold up trailer that seems to be alright, comes set up for one bike but can be adjusted to fit 2
Folds in half and has a set of castor wheels on the bottom to push it into the garage

[lilninja]

One of my mates has a fold up trailer that seems to be alright, comes set up for one bike but can be adjusted to fit 2
Folds in half and has a set of castor wheels on the bottom to push it into the garage

I have seen these! very neat Idea! would have to be stored in doors though as the main bed is made of ply!

[DanOz]

What's CODESHARING?

SHARING= To allow someone to use or enjoy something that one possesses

Two spots on the trailer = room for 2 bikes (but you have only one bike !)

therefore --> one bike on the trailer could end up being a green Triple :lmao:

Ciao

[Alex.]

SHARING= To allow someone to use or enjoy something that one possesses

Two spots on the trailer = room for 2 bikes (but you have only one bike !)

therefore --> one bike on the trailer could end up being a green Triple :lmao:

Ciao


Nice :ayyy:

[fullhouse]

if its a mighty boy.....no lmao

[RUSSELL]

will fit in the back, but with the tailgate down, as long as the rego is displayed, its leagal enuf. if a copper wants to be a prick, just play dumb. only problem with the ute is the height.need extral long ramp, and 2 ppl. look in trading post for cheap one bike trailer, fix it up, weld here paint there. if you get small enuf trailer, they are light enuf to stand them on there arse for storage reasons.......

[Captain]

... if a copper wants to be a prick, just play dumb.......

What do you mean 'play' dumb ? :stupid:

[fullhouse]

lmao

[holdontight]

What do you mean 'play' dumb ? :stupid:

Talk to the cop on his own level:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

[mike-s]

when i got my gsx250 it fitted in the back of a triton with the gate up and the bike tied in straight, it's just a shame the guy didnt tie it down correctly and it tipped 3/4 over after the front wheel bounced out of one of the ruts in the tray he had tied it into. Took the two of us to carry it off the back of the ute as the bright spark only brought a short length of wood, not the 2ish meters we would have needed to roll it off.