Transporting a motorcycle is not just a matter of getting it on a van or trailer, it must be done correctly to do it legally and to cover a minimum of safety.
Here at Trailer Supplies, you will find everything you need to carry merchandise or a motorbike to a specific destination.
Motorcycle transport companies
There are numerous companies specialised in motorcycle transport, especially provincial and national, although there are also shipments abroad. It is convenient to request several estimates, as prices can vary between them, as well as taking into account the conditions imposed by one and the other company.
In general, the first criterion to establish the price is the distance to be covered, but it is not the only one, since the delivery time is also decisive. Companies can expect to put together multiple deliveries so that the price falls, but the delivery time logically increases. This must be looked at carefully to ensure you have the bike on the days when we intend to use it.
Insurance is another aspect to take into account and you have to check if it is included in the price or not, and what the coverages are, as well as whether they are expandable. In fact, although the company itself will be responsible for doing so, it is advisable to check the condition of the motorcycle in order to demonstrate possible subsequent damage.
A determining aspect for calculating the price is whether you want the motorcycle to be transported inside a vehicle – truck or van – or uncovered – trailer or pick-up. The choice is the responsibility of the client, the pros and cons being obvious: better protection against rain and theft if it is indoors, and a lower price abroad.
At the time of delivery, it is necessary to indicate if the motorcycle works and the keys must be delivered, although it is not recommended to leave them in contact. Transport companies often ask that the tires be inflated but there is a disparity regarding the fuel tank, as some prefer that it be empty and others full, so it should be made clear beforehand.
The carrier will also require at the time of collection a collated photocopy of the ID of the owner of the motorcycle and the original documentation, and it is possible that, depending on the company, it may require something more, especially if the motorcycle is going to leave abroad.
Private motorcycle transport
Transporting our motorcycle or that of a friend is a routine every weekend by many users of the field motorcycle and speed circuit. This is an action that requires compliance with a series of regulations related to the transport of goods and that is breached on certain occasions. The problem in many cases the problem will not be the fine, the risk could be not being covered by insurance in the event of an accident. A motorcycle can be carried inside another vehicle or on a trailer, with the same advantages and disadvantages as with the transport company. However, the legal requirements in one case and in another are different.
Motorbike in trailer: legal requirements
The other option is to use a trailer, which hooks onto the car and is much cheaper than buying a van. Obviously, you have to have a place to store it, and the risk in case of a broken belt is greater, because the motorcycle falls onto the road. Another problem is that the load is more exposed both for inclement weather and for the thieves, and there is usually no place for the rest of the load (clothing, gasoline, …) unless we are talking about a closed trailer, much heavier and more difficult to store when not in use.
The advantages, in addition to the purchase price, are many: traveling by car is generally more comfortable than traveling by van, four or five people can go (vans usually have three seats and the central one is sometimes uncomfortable, unless we are talking about mixed vehicles), there is a trunk to carry clothes without taking on the smell of gasoline and at the destination it is easier to get around by car than with a larger van.
motorcycle load trailer Now, there are also some laws that you have to know. We are going to analyse the assumption of those who have the B car license, without any other type to carry trailers. In this case, what the law says is that the MMA (Maximum Authorised Mass) of both the car and the trailer cannot exceed 3,500 kg. There is a caveat in the event that the vehicle or van has an MMA of 3,500 kg, then a 750 kg trailer is allowed to be towed, so the maximum MMA would be 4,250 kg.
Keep in mind that they are divided into MMA trailers equal to or less than 750 kg and trailers with an MMA of more than 750 kg. The former does not require anything particular, except for having a license plate with the same numbering as that of the vehicle that transports it, which is placed at the rear. Car insurance covers damage caused by towing a trailer, although it is advisable to contact the company to notify that a trailer will be used. The latter, those with more than 750 MMA, must be registered in traffic and a specific insurance policy must be contracted. They must also pass the ITV periodically: every two years, the first time, and each pipe from the third.
The third point to keep in mind is to comply with the MMR (Maximum Towable Mass), which is nothing more than the towing capacity of the car. The MMR is made up of two elements: with or without brake. This is a piece of information that comes in the vehicle’s technical data sheet and it is advisable to ask the dealer before buying a car if you plan to load a trailer.
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