How many bikes in a van?

**Vereor** · 05-01-13, 11:31

Just wanted to pick some brains, presumably those that have done a few track days will know.

What's the smallest van you would get to fit 2-3 bikes + kit in?

Not going too far, about an hours drive.

**Olly** · 05-01-13, 11:33

Depends on the bikes, but you'll easily get 2 average sportsbikes in the smallest SWB Transit. Adding a 3rd will need a bit more space, but MWB should do it.

**Vereor** · 05-01-13, 11:34

Excellent, thanks!

Also in case anyone is interested, it looks like there might be a few of the Manchester lot at Oulton park on the 20th March

**Monstyr** · 05-01-13, 11:36

3 , two facing one way and one in the middle facing the other way, with suitable padding and strapping. This also leaves enough dead space to get your ramps and tools and other paraphanalia.

**Vereor** · 05-01-13, 11:37

What size van are you meaning there Monstyr?

**demographic** · 05-01-13, 11:38

Two easy into a short wheel base Transit, never tried three but it should go. Three might involve scraped fairings if they are roadbikes but motocrossers would be a doddle.

**Tomcat** · 05-01-13, 11:38

Originally Posted by Olly

Depends on the bikes, but you'll easily get 2 average sportsbikes in the smallest SWB Transit. Adding a 3rd will need a bit more space, but MWB should do it.

I've had 2 bikes in a SWB tranny many times, it's perfect for that. I've done 3 bikes as well, but it's quite a lot harder, especially sports bikes where you may not want bodywork or exhausts rubbing on each other while you're driving. Also you will struuggle to get riding gear, tools, spares, etc in as well. I'd suggest a bigger van than the minimum SWB if you're taking 3 bikes.

**Danny_Two** · 05-01-13, 11:40

Depends on how much kit, two bikes in a swb transit do able with space in the middle for gear, three would probably fit but getting them in and out would be very interesting. I had a swb transit and I filled it up with one bike and all my shit for racing.

**Vereor** · 05-01-13, 11:46

There's a place near me that will rent out a LWB transit for £50 for the day.

I think that should cover it, and it's fuck all three ways

I just wanted to check in case I then realised it's actually very easy to get three in a SWB transit; but that doesn't seem to be the case.

**Monstyr** · 05-01-13, 11:50

Standard transit, it is easier if you remove trackday fairing but we did it without needing to, one bike was maneouvred right up against the side and secured(upright, not on a sidestand), the second goes in on the other side-admittedly easier if you have a side door, the third should go in between the first two, though a bit of creative shuffling might need to happen as there isnt a whole lot of room to access tie down points by then- also consider removing endcans if needed, these can be bolted back on easily enough.
Might possibly be trickier with some of the bigger bikes though, we did it with various combinations of 600's and 400's (and Ducati's...nice and narrow)

**Vereor** · 05-01-13, 11:52

Ah fuck, I just thought. I'll need a ramp of some sort!

**Danny_Two** · 05-01-13, 11:54

Originally Posted by vereor

Ah fuck, I just thought. I'll need a ramp of some sort!

Club racers universal bike ramps® are widely available, sometime known as planks of wood, or scaffolding planks.

**cheb** · 05-01-13, 11:54

They come up on Ebay occasionally. Failing that, a scaffold plank or some cable tray.

**GiantPygmy** · 05-01-13, 12:00

Originally Posted by vereor

Ah fuck, I just thought. I'll need a ramp of some sort!

PM Weeksy, he got a good one delivered off ebay for silly Money - like I couldn't believe the whole cost would even cover the delivery!

Or a plank.

Oh, and get a thread up in the trackday forum, there's plenty of people near Oulton who might want to join in