How we load a motorcycle
Motorcycles ride upright on the flatbed deck. They're never dragged, never towed on one wheel and never lifted by the forks. The front wheel is braced so the bike can't roll or turn, and soft straps run to solid frame points on both sides, compressing the suspension just enough to hold the bike steady without bottoming it out.
Straps stay off painted bodywork, plastic fairings, the exhaust and brake lines. If your bike has a preferred tie-down point, aftermarket parts or a fragile fairing, tell the driver before loading.
Every kind of bike
- Sport bikes: low fairings and clip-ons, so we tie down to the frame, not the plastic
- Cruisers: heavy bikes with wide bars and low clearance
- Touring bikes and baggers: saddlebags, trunks and extra weight
- Dual-sport and dirt bikes, scooters and mopeds
- Trikes and bikes with sidecars: tell dispatch first so we can plan the load
Non-running and accident-damaged bikes
A bike that won't start, has a flat or a locked-up wheel, or went down in a crash can still be moved safely. Tell dispatch about bent forks, broken levers, missing keys or a wheel that won't turn, so the driver can plan how to load it.
After a crash, call 911 first if anyone is hurt, and take photos for insurance before the bike is moved. You choose where it goes: home, a dealer or the repair shop of your choice. More on that in accident towing.
Where we take motorcycles
Home, a dealer's service department, an independent shop or a storage spot. Wisconsin's riding season is short, so a lot of our bike moves are into and out of winter storage, plus pickups for private sales and new bikes that aren't plated yet. For trips across the state or out of state, see long-distance towing.
What to tell dispatch
- Where the bike is, and whether it's in a garage, on a slope or on gravel
- Year, make, model and type (sport, cruiser, touring, trike)
- Whether it runs, and whether you have the keys
- Any damage: bent forks, flat or locked wheel, broken levers
- Where it's going