My bumper mount motorcycle carrier

[mobilekev]

Hi everybody.<br />&nbsp;I didn't want the expense and hassle of a motorcycle trailer so I fabricated this carrier for the back of the van and thought you guys might want to check it out.<br /><br />&nbsp;The support brackets are 6 shelf brackets I got at Home Depot. They're about 6 X 12 and were about $5 each. They wouldn't have been strong enough by themselves so I cut 6 pieces of the u shaped track electricians use to mount boxes etc. about 10 inches long and used them between the brackets and the bumper to beef them up. It comes in 8' lengths and is in the electrical dept.<br /><br />&nbsp;The board is a 2 X 12 X 12' long cut in half. The other half is used for the ramp and stores between the bike and van while underway. A 2 X 2 is bolted on either end to keep the bike from jostling side to side and I also keep the bike in gear as an added safety. The one on the right is removed and the bolts are used in the end of the ramp to keep it from slipping out while loading.<br />&nbsp; The carrier easily handles the weight of my 350 Honda but I also added cables coming down from the door hinges to eyebolts in the 2 X 12 for redundancy. If the van's suspension could handle it it could carry a much larger bike. The cables feed through the wheels to keep the bike on board hopefully even in a wreck. <br /><br />&nbsp;To keep it tied to the van I have a line coming off each hinge and tied to the frame as well as a tiedown strap going around the bike from one hinge to the other. There's also another line that is tied to the door handle that comes over the seat and ties to the bike's frame. This one is handy when I'm loading by myself as it's easy to get the bike up there and use this line to secure it while I lean against it. <br /><br />&nbsp;To unload it I untie the lines and the strap and push on the rear tire itself to get it up over the edge of the ramp. To keep it from rolling I put it in gear and use the clutch for a brake.<br />&nbsp;It's turned out really well and including the trailer brakelights I got at harbor freight wound up costing less than $100.<br /><br />

 

[bk2valve]

Pretty skookum mobilekev...looks like it works well. I have a lighter bike that I built a receiver mount carrier....it works well for me. I am not carrying my bike on this winter's trip though....I like the access to the back doors more than having the bike along....<br /><br />I really like the old XL's . The 350 is an excellent size....I am a little jealous....I like it!!!!<br />Bri

 

[yesican]

My first bike was a 250 Suzuki I bought off my brother.&nbsp; Had so much fun on that thing riding the hill country roads back home.&nbsp; How much does&nbsp;your 350&nbsp;weigh?&nbsp; I've got my 650 KLR that I was thinking of taking with me.&nbsp;

 

[mobilekev]

The Honda's 290lb. It looks like your KLR's around 370. The carrier could handle it if your vehicles' suspension can. <br /><br />&nbsp;My van is a shorty 1/2 ton chevy that's already carrying a fair load but it can handle the bike with the helper springs it came with. The tires are another issue tho and my load range E's on back are pretty maxed out.<br /><br />&nbsp;I should have added I attach the cables with a chain repair link that screws together and turnbuckles to tighten them up.<br /><br />&nbsp;I'll take a few pics and post later today about my Hobo Pannier System <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> Basically two suitcases from Goodwill mounted with a frame made from 1/2" EMT<br /><br />&nbsp;Bring your bike to the RTR. It's gonna be fun fun fun!<br /><br />

 

[mobilekev]

Thanks Bri!<br /><br /> I had to travel a ways to get the Honda but it was worth it. <br /><br />Did a lot of camping on it over the Summer and it's worked out well.

 

[bk2valve]

What is surprising to me is how hard the 175's, the 250's, and the 350's including up to the old 500S thumper is&nbsp; to find....I wouldn't even mind the old twin shock models....I haven't seen one for sale in New Mexico for years....<br />Bri<br /><br />Edited to say: I just looked them up on CL and found one in Las Cruces for $700...hahaha, just as I am leaving for the coast...oh well,<br />Bri

 

[minimotos95]

there's lots of old twin carb&nbsp;XL 350s&nbsp;up here in colorado, most need restored or atleast gone through.<br /><br />thanks for posting Kev, i plan on taking my street legal crf70 with me on the front of the van.&nbsp;i might steal&nbsp;your design,it&nbsp;looks like if you didn't have a bike on there it could also work to hold gas&nbsp;or water cans?&nbsp;i was also looking at something like this* no&nbsp;force on the suspension so the fork and shock seals will last longer&nbsp;but it wouldn't work to well with bikes that are&nbsp;heavier because you need to lift the bike<br /><br />* picture borrowed from 3-up on planetminis, http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u80/yz426quad/P1000196.jpg