moving the MZ

[MattyP]

Hey all,

I'm moving the muz to MT soon, and will do so inside of a uhaul. I've looked into having someone else ship it for me, but it approaches 1/2 the cost of the bike to ship from Wisconsin to Montana. Putting a trailer on the back of a smaller truck is an option, but hauling a trailer across the Minnesota/N Dakota plains and the Montana mountins in January doesn't exactly appeal. I've been reading a bunch of webpostings about shipping bikes inside of a uhaul and it seems very doable (and seeing as how I don't own a car, I have to get a uhaul anyways). I'm just fishing for suggestions from you all - especially if you've moved a skorpion in a uhaul.

Here's my basic plan:

I'll be whipping up a chock from a pallet I have sitting around - mostly to aid in stopping forward and backwards movement. I also have some good quality ratchet straps to attach to the front end of the bike (either to the handlebars or at the handlebar clips - any suggestions there?). I'll also put two ratchet straps on the 'oh shit' handle at the rear of the bike. Ideally I'll be able to anchor these to the wooden deck of the truck failing a wooden deck in the truck I guess I"ll have to punch some holes and anchor them in - this idea I think is especially ripe for suggestions from experienced shippers.

It seems to me that if I keep the pellet nice and wide I'd be able to get away with doing most of the securing to the 'chock' itself rather than punch new holes into the truck - maybe secure a bunch of good heavy stuff around it and my matress and boxspring on either side of the cycle. Is that crazy?

any other wisdom regarding this situation is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
matt

[Fluffy_Dog_1018]

I have moved several bikes (one that I wrecked, a few that I bought) with either a box truck (u-haul type) or a simple cargo van. I prefer the cargo van because it is generally cheaper and I can keep my eye on the bike. I have never used a wheel chock but suppose it would be handy. If you can get or borrow a canyon dancer strap great, but simple ratchet straps will work if you hook them up right. If you don't have them they can be bought at the Depot or Lowes for about $15 for 4.

Here is what I have done. Push the bike in the van as far forward as you can. Put the side stand down temporarily. Take the tires down to maybe 5psi (be sure to have an air tank for the other end of the trip if you do this). Hook one ratchet strap to a point in the van forward of the front wheel. Run the strap around a secure part of one of the fork legs and tighten till just snug. I have found right above the fork brace to be a good place. Repeat this for the other fork. Go to the back of the bike and at a point on the van rear of the back wheel hook another ratchet strap. Run this thru a secure point on the FRAME (not the sub frame). Snug it up and repeat on the other side of the bike. The bike should now be standing on its own secured by the four ratchet straps. Now I have someone compress the front suspension while I snug the front straps tight. I then go and snug the rear straps tight as well (this should compress the rear suspension a bit). Now the bike should be upright, supported by the four straps and rock solid i.e. zero movement front to back and side to side. Tight/secure straps should not rub on the bike in transit and should not leave any marks.

Get a large coffee, fill the tank (on the van) and take off!

Good luck

[MattyP]

Thanks fluff, that sounds pretty good. I just got my hands on a bunch of scrap Styrofoam insulation from a local demo job (pretty sweet score) to put between the bike and the van, should work great (and save my mattress from grease and gas and the like). Now all I have to hope is that I can get the bike to start in this freezing cold Wisconsin winter.

Yours
Matt

[billr]

Hey all,
I'm moving the muz to MT soon, and will do so inside of a uhaul. I've looked into having someone else ship it for me, but it approaches 1/2 the cost of the bike to ship from Wisconsin to Montana. Putting a trailer on the back of a smaller truck is an option, but hauling a trailer across the Minnesota/N Dakota plains and the Montana mountins in January doesn't exactly appeal.
Thanks
matt

Never had to move a bike, but plenty of other rolling items. Sounds like you've got a pretty good plan going. I like the pallet idea.
Be safe on the drive.
I made the I-90 run out to Washington last summer. Lots of snow fences and "Road closed, turn around" signs, along with gates to enforce it. I can imagine what the snow and wind are like there.
Darned beautiful country, though, especially going through the mountains.
Good luck,
Bill R

[MattyP]

I'm shooting to limit myself to just one mountain pass, and that one is pretty little by rocky mountain standards.

Any tips from folks out there about getting her running to help us move her up the ramp in all this cold? I've got the trickle charger on, but she just doesn't want to turn over (course it hasn't been above 20 for the last week or so).

Matt

[billr]

I'm shooting to limit myself to just one mountain pass, and that one is pretty little by rocky mountain standards.

Any tips from folks out there about getting her running to help us move her up the ramp in all this cold? I've got the trickle charger on, but she just doesn't want to turn over (course it hasn't been above 20 for the last week or so).
Matt

Jumper cable from the car battery, short bursts on the starter and not too many...don't want to overheat the starter.
Can you get it inside a garage/storage area and run a space heater for a bit?
Bill R

[MattyP]

I was going to put an electric heating pad on the block for a few hours and give that a whirl - I think it I get that block up above 32 it'd fire right up. I was riding her around into the mid thirties with no trouble.

I don't think its a battery issue, more of a cold fuel issue - hard to vaporize into such a cold chamber - so I think I'll avoid the whole jump start thing. I may push it over to a friends garage if the heating pad doesn't work out. I just want to be able to do it once to twice before I actually load it to be sure it'll happen when I really need it to.

Matt

[Fluffy_Dog_1018]

Old army trick. Drain the motor oil into a 4qt pot and warm it on the stove. Pour it back in the motor and give it 10 minutes to heat the block up. It works like a charm.

Also you won't have to use any cooking oil in that pot for quite a while

[DAVID THOMPSON]

not very effective on a dry sump motor
dave

[Fluffy_Dog_1018]

Duh, right, thanks for the correction.

Took the Traveller out for a nice ride Christmas eve. Pulled up next to a guy on a Goldwing... look on his face was priceless.

[DAVID THOMPSON]

he is still trying to figure out what you were riding
dave

[MZCountryRider]

I'm shooting to limit myself to just one mountain pass, and that one is pretty little by rocky mountain standards.

Any tips from folks out there about getting her running to help us move her up the ramp in all this cold? I've got the trickle charger on, but she just doesn't want to turn over (course it hasn't been above 20 for the last week or so).

Matt

I don't run bikes to move them up a ramp into a trailer or vehicle and I regularly load big, heavy Guzzis (560 lbs.) by myself (5'6", 145 lbs.). The downside of running it up (potential loss of control, fire hazard) outweighs the benefits for me. Can't you get some help if needed and just push it up the ramp?

[Fluffy_Dog_1018]

Matt, getting the bike in and out of the van/truck is (for me at least) the most stressful part of the move. I would not attempt it by myself. Plus it is really nice to have someone hold the bike while you tie it down. Bring $10 to pay a strong teenager to help you. Let us know how the move goes.

[MattyP]

All,

I've got myself some helping hands, just thought it'd be nice to have some engine help if we need it. Thanks for all the tips.

Happy new year all!

matt