Ducati Monster Forum

So I have driven up to Portland to pick up the ol' monster.  It has been in storage at a buddies warehouse for the winter.  I have to get her in the back of the tacoma I drove.  After looking around today the loading docks aren't really going to work as I expected.  I just had a brain fart and thought of something that I wanted to run by the board.

He has two fork lifts on the property.  Would the frame be able to support the weight if I used a bunch of tie-downs to hoist her into the back of the truck?  I can't think of why it wouldn't work, but that sure doesn't mean it will.  I was thinking of something along the line of two (tie-downs) in the front.  Two in the middle, possibly on the frame sliders.  And two on the back around the seat area. I've got tie-downs that are plenty strong.  The lifts can sure deal with the weight and height.  I just want to see her snap in two if I picked her up in the wrong way.

I checked out some ramps another buddy had and they make me real nervous for loading a bike.  They are more snowmobile/atv ramps.  The angle would be super steep for a bike.

I'm still looking at a couple other options, but this would be the easiest if it would work.

Thanks for the input in advance.

I lynched my old M900 in my garage using the grab handles in the rear and the fork tubes under the lower triple in the front

in order to do the suspension setting...nothing got bent from what I could see and it got 16K miles racked-up on the clock afterward....

ymmv as I don't know what model bike you're playing with... i.e. bolt-on rear subframe etc.

2x8 or 2x10 from home depot and a couple guys to help. The forklift idea sounds sketchy. Or buy a proper bike ramp (less then $100) and have the proper tool to unload it.

echoing hbliam in a different way, getting the right tool for the right job seems invaluable...but I guess it depends on how much you value your machine.

that being said, as RAT900 said, knowing what year/model is better in knowing how best to advise...but as a general comment...using straps to the frame sliders....BAD IDEA!!!

Driving the forklift back to your house (to unload) from Portland will be a long trip.  [cheeky]

If you really want to use a forklift, just put the bike on a big pallet, stand on the pallet with the bike, (straddle the bike) and have your buddy raise you and the bike up to the level of the tailgate. Then just roll the bike into the truck...much easier.  ;)

You really should just buy a ramp because as I joked in the beginning, how will you get it back out? When I've used ramps, I just run a bungee cord from the ramp to the trailer hitch to just hold it in place. Just a bit of insurance that the ramp won't move. It's not hard with two people. When unloading, just have one person cover the brake and ease it down the ramp slowly.

After jumping my monster and getting so much air, the headlight fell out during the landing, I can assure you that your bike won't snap in half by lifting it with straps attached to the frame.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xg3/R-202059655/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xg3/R-202059655/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053)

Should have mentioned it's an s2r 1000.  I have a trailer at home that loads and unloads easily.  I just couldn't bring it on this trip.  I think I'm gonna just go buy a proper ramp load her up and then return it.  I don't really have any use for one once I get home.

That idea came to me kind of late last night and now that I've slept on it I don't really think it's the best idea.

EDIT- I should also mention it's not my truck so modifying the bed in any way isn't really an option either.

I've just never been down with that kind of "business."

i have hung mine fron the rafters with the straps attached to the front of the frame by the airbox and the rear under the seat

it actually hung like that for about a year and has no issues.

local party/tool rental place here rents ramps...

Aside from the rider maintaining it  ;D

/threadjack

my vote is for buy a ramp $40 at lowes and comes in quite handy

it got the most maint it has ever seen in that year and a half.

mainly because i didn't ride it and put the new engine in it.  [laugh]

Buy a ramp. The only downside of owning a ramp and a truck is that your riding buddies may call you up to help them if they become stranded.

So let me amend that: Buy a ramp and keep it a secret  [evil]

Please post pics of the resulting carnage [popcorn]

my ex would buy clothes for a specific event then return them.

lots of suck in that

i would say buy a piece of wood to use as a ramp... i used an old door once...
but considering the price of a good piece of wood, may as well just buy a ramp at that point...

I should have known a guy with a bunch of bikes would have a ramp hidden away. I'm good to go. 

I still would have like to seen the forklift method.  Even if it was a ridiculous idea.

I'm sure hes got it in the truck by now and decided to use the strap tied to the forklift method instead of buying more stuff. Getting the bike out is easy. One guy holds the back wheel and lowers it to the ground while the other guy holds the handlebars and works the front brake.

When the front end hits the ground hopefully the headlight won't fall out.  ;)

[Edit] While I was typing you were typing. I'm very disappointed  that you didn't use the forklift. Very disappointed

yes...a missed photo-op

I have loaded mine by myself by using ratchet straps to the ceiling and cranking it up and backing under it. Flip the tank up and hook one on either side of the frame before it narrows to go into the head tube, and run one in the back through the grab handles.  Its only 400lbs,  if there are 3 guys total its also very easy to just pick it up and put it in the bed.

I told you using your monster as a pinata is a bad idea! Even if the tank is filled with beer! [cheeky]

i used a single 2x6 to move my bike into an E-250.... it deflected almost 1/2foot but it got the job done. The 2x6 was true anymore, but i just flipped it around and did it again on the other side and it was straight again.  :P

just saying, you could do it without any problem. When my bike got ran the make the beast with two backs over at home depot. I found two  sections of plywood (the 5 ply) and used that as a ramp.

In hind sight, a ramp on harbor freight is only $80 bucks and would been nicer. just buy the damn thing, trust me it will come into use more than once. And your going to hate your friends for asking you to pick them up all the time. so keep it a secret.

(http://officespam.chattablogs.com/archives/forklift-lifting-a-forklift.GIF)

it jsut doesn't run so well on beer.

why not alochol is flammable...

OK I know I am a bit late on this, but can I ask what is wrong with the bike?

It seems you have mates willing to lend you a truck, a ramp, a warehouse, a forklift ... and a business perhaps not so willing to 'lend' you a ramp. Also mates willing to help you load and unload ... but apparently none willing to drive/pillion you to the warehouse so you can ride the bloody thing home!

Am I missing something?

I say go for it.  I mean, if this guy can load a bobcat like this I figure almost anything is possible.

Bobcat auto loading (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUvcrL9ojjo#lq-lq2-hq-vhq)

I would have had to ride the thing 750 miles home through several mountain passes that had a good chance of snow.  The original plan was to fly up and ride it home.  Then the weather changed, so I drove a truck up.  Some of you may be ok with riding through the snow, but I'm not at the point where I'm gonna try and pull that off.  There ended up only being snow for about 10 miles, but the road was icy as it gets.  The rest of the drive was mellow.  Loading and unloading was a piece of cake.  Bikes back home and as soon as the gravel get swept off the roads from the storm two days ago she'll be getting plenty of use.

Still disappointed that you didn't use the fork lift. Still!










 ;D

JK