Let's start with what is NOT appropriate. NEVER ride your bike up a single runner motorcycle ramp at any height. Ramps designed for riding motorcycles up are usually a minimum of 38 inches wide. These wide ramps provide room to put your feet down for stability should you have to slow or stop on the way up the ramp. In addition, when you back your motorcycle down the ramp you can put your feet on the ramp, grab the brake, pull in the clutch, and slowly back down the ramp using your feet for balance.
There are several types of ramps to choose from including portable ramps, hitch mounted ramps, and bed mounted ramps. Widths typically run from 38 inches to 44 inches. Arched and straight ramps are available. Surfaces include rungs, combination rung and solid surface, solid surface, and mesh.
Portable ramps require manual set up, securing with safety straps, disassembly, and storage. Typically, these ramps are comprised of three ramps connected together by either bolts or a pin. The center ramp usually has a greater weight limit than the two outside ramps. The capacity of the center ramp is greater to allow for the weight of the motorcycle and the rider. The outside ramps are designed for placement of your feet as described above. Many of these ramps can also double as ATV ramps.
The shorter portable ramps are usually straight ramps. They do not have an arch and are designed for loading onto trailers of limited height. These ramps typically fold in thirds.
Longer portable ramps are usually arched ramps. The arch allows the ramp to be shorter relative to a straight ramp by reducing the angle where the ramp, and thus the motorcycle, crests onto the truck or trailer bed. Most of these ramps are three ramps bolted together. They typically fold to ½ of their length while the width to lessen the space required for storage. Some models are designed as three separate ramps and are connected by a pin. An advantage of this style is that by removing the connecting pin, the three individual ramps can then be folded in half for additional storage options as less width is required.
Hitch mounted ramps, as the name implies, mount to the hitch of your truck. The advantages of these ramps include reducing the weight on your tailgate and flip up storage freeing up room in your truck bed or cab for other items.
Bed Mounted ramps are attached to the bed of your truck or trailer. Basically, the ramp slides out from under a platform that your motorcycle ultimately sits on and stores back under the platform. The load is supported by the ramp and bed eliminating stress on the tailgate. The tailgate need not be removed.
(Author: Andy W.)
