Load bed length - carrying motorbikes

Hello all - sorry if this is a daft question.

I was considering buying a 110 and would need to use it to carry around various classic bikes.

However, from the info on the web, it looks like the load bed length is quite short? I was wondering whether the 110 van with just three seats would be best but can't find the bed length anywhere?

Has anybody got experience of carrying motorbikes in the back of a defender?

Many thanks!
Craig

Are you definitely looking for a defender?

I carry lots of cg125s in the back of my disco 2. Lots more room in there than you think.

Hi - yes, mainly a looks thing. I just like the defender more than the disco.

Not sure how long.. But my downhill mountain bike goes is spot on.. Not sure how long it is tho! Il whip a tape measure out tomorrow if I get chance!

Don't have a 110 to hand so can't advise on the load-bed length (must be plenty of people on here who can though?) but remember that the rear door isn't very tall and the load-bed is quite high off the ground so you will need a decent ramp or a couple of spare bodys to lift the bike up.

What sort of bikes are we talking here?
I can tell you now that I don't think there would be a hope in hell of getting my old Jota's into the back of a 110, the Le Mans might have done it (just) as it was so small as might the RE Crusader Sport but personally I wouldn't have considered a LR of any type an ideal vehicle.

Question needs asking, how the hell do you get a motor bike in the back of a fender??????
It takes me all my energy to put the spare wheel in.

Come on some body get a tape measure out and tell the guy how long the load bed is on a 110. Then he can decide if he can lift the bike in or not.

Its more than a foot. Fact.

Calm down! I will tomorrow! Sod going rooting through my garage now!

I have lifted my motor bike into mime, but it is only small..

I think the problem will be the width of the bars through the door.

As mentioned, its irrelevant if the bed is long enough because I doubt you'd get it through the door.

Wagon has a length of roughly 1800mm (door to rear bulkhead)
As previously mentioned you may need a soft top. your biggest limit will be the clearance around rear door

Thanks v much to all for the replies. 1800mm is to the back of the 2nd row of seats I guess? So a van would be longer?

I can see the door would be a problem. As would lifting a Jota! Hmm...

Cheers
Craig

I don't think the width of the door is going to be your biggest problem I hope you have plenty of big strong mates if you are going to try and lift a Laverda Jota. you'd be better off with a trailer, or a smaller bike.

Cmcwilliam said:

So a van would be longer?

Click to expand...

That is for a van back refer to this photo. Specs shown are to where the soft top upright mounting holes are.

why not look at a Hi Cap pick up - no door to worry about, just a tailgate, easier to ramp a bike up (its still way high off the ground though), and bike can go in diagonally if it has to and be very securely strapped in ?

Other alternative might be a 130 or 127 but again the door on a van will almost certainly be an issue with the handlebars on.

If it was me though I genuinely wouldn`t want to try a ramp a classic bike up onto a Landrover, even something where its easier to manouevre the bike like a Hi Cap, its a long way up and down to push a bike on a ramp. I would guess after a season of shows or rallies you will have injured your back.

I`d buy a 110 and a bike trailer

I get them in the back of a 109 van.

Problems i have:
Even with the bike on the diagonal, the door doesn't close properly with a proper bike (a 500 or bigger) normally the bed is a couple of inches short, the tyre catches the door.
It can be tight to get a fairing thru the rear door height wise, normally ok once inside.
It's along way up, definitely a 2 man job.

A BMW tourer with full fairing just won't fit.

It would be much easier with a softtop or pickup b/c the tailgate will give you enough length for anything and no door restrictions. And a winch on the bulkhead would be a huge help.

I remember trying to get a Harley Sportster onto the back of a ute (pick up)
Even with two people it was a nightmare. You will need a winch if you are going to be doing it regularly and a huge lengthwise ramp.

Got an ST70 and a BMW GS, guess which one I can put into the back of my 90 single handed and STILL manage to close the door on?

I'll say the GS.....it's probably in a couple of boxes